Deadline reports that ABC just cut down this season’s Scandal episode order from 22 to 18, most likely because of Kerry Washignton’s pregnancy.
Although the network didn’t give an official reason for the cutback on the number of episodes, it is known that the shooting of the final four episodes of this season would collide with Kerry Washington’s due date.
Since Washington or, better yet, her character Olivia Pope is the lead character and appears in the majority of the show’s scenes, it would be unthinkable to make either of them take a leave of absence.
There isn’t any other plausible reason for this cut, since Scandal is as successful as it gets: its last ratings revealed that show is up 50% in total viewers, when compared with last year’s ratings.