Kerry Washington’s “Scandal” has been given a full-season order from ABC, along with new sitcom The Neighbors. Current in its second season, “Scandal” was scheduled for 13 episodes, but that number has been extended to a total of 22. Lead by “Grey’s Anatomy” producer Shonda Rhimes, “Scandal” was perhaps the biggest surprise of the spring 2012 TV lineup, garnering strong reviews as a mid-season replacement. The political drama has pulled in over six million viewers for each of its four episodes during the fall.
ABC recently announced that “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off “Private Practice” would end after its current season, making the extension for “Scandal” all the more likely. The back-nine order precedes extensions of “Nashville” and “Last Resort,” two of ABC’s popular new shows. “The Neighbors” has relatively poor reviews, but has been a serviceable lead-in to “Modern Family.”