Unpacking The Toolbox

During their rewatch of this shocking episode all about President Fitz’ affair with a young intern, Katie and Guillermo decided there was no better guest to bring on than the infamous Amanda Tanner herself, Liza Weil. Liza opens up about her difficulties during the audition process, all the way to the moment she asked to be in the harness when Amanda Tanner was pulled out of the river. Plus, Katie and Guillermo discuss hiking, enormous wine glasses and the necessity of letting out a little air during tense scenes… which of course means fart sounds galore. 

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Katie and Guillermo gush about how cool Harrison was in the early episodes of Scandal as the OPA team handles a twist-filled case. Huckleberry Quinn throws in some twists of their own as they discuss epic monologues, how hard it can be to cry under pressure, and… Tony Goldwyn’s abs? Plus, they both share some very personal feelings about the episode, and a possible connection they found on the dark web. 

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Katie and Guillermo dive into the second episode of Scandal while sharing some dirty little secrets of their own: Guillermo has a piece of the Scandal set in his home and Katie was terrified of having an on-screen fling with Gideon Wallace, played by Brendan Hines. It’s an episode that breaks down continuity errors, G’s special fan encounters, and… champion figure skater Oksana Baiul.

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The one-and-only creator of Scandal, Shonda Rhimes joins Katie and Guillermo in their inaugural episode of Unpacking The Toolbox, covering the famous pilot that started it all. Guillermo is shocked to learn where “Gladiators in suits” came from, and Katie shares her once in a lifetime casting story. Plus, Shonda discusses never-before-heard details about the development process for the show, but not before Katie and Guillermo applaud themselves for still fitting into their Scandal shirts from ten years ago.

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Linda Lowy, casting director for major productions including so many of Shondaland’s hit series, shares the unbelievable story of how she found her way into Hollywood. Plus, Katie, Guillermo and Betsy dive into the many secret functions of a casting director and how much the casting process has improved.

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The incredibly talented Lyn Paolo joins Katie, Guillermo and Betsy to unpack the industry with a focus on costume design from period pieces to DC politics. Lyn’s path to success was one of hard work and creating deep bonds that have stood the test of time. Plus, everyone wears clothes… So how does Lyn navigate something that everyone might have an opinion on?

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Multi-talented composer Chad Fischer joins Katie, Guillermo and Betsy to unpack the career path of a lesser-known but vital role in all productions. Betsy and Chad break down the intricacies of scoring television. And Chad walks everyone through his incredible trajectory from indie drummer to master composer, filled a little bit of luck and a whole heap of hard work in every aspect of music and sound.

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Joining Katie, Guillermo and Betsy to unpack his career path is Oscar-winning makeup artist Sergio Lopez-Rivera. His love for fashion and design at a young age led him on an incredible journey from Spain to LA, beginning as a driver for some famous names that led to a breakout career filled with heartfelt moments.

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In solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and in the hopes to bring meaningful, exciting content to their fans, Katie and Guillermo, with the help of Shondaland executive producer, Betsy Beers, will be delivering BONUS EPISODES, bringing on unsung guests in the industry to discuss their journey to TV/Film notoriety, and "Unpack The Industry" for the fans. The first episode takes a deep dive into the crazy paths to success for both Katie and Guillermo. DON'T WORRY, GLADIATORS! Once the strike is over, we will be back to the rewatch episodes you know and love!

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Everyone wants to know-- who is the mole?? Katie and Guillermo unpack this plot-heavy episode with legendary producer, Betsy Beers. Betsy's executive produced every Shondaland hit series and is a wealth of Scandal lore, including insight into how the show got started and her close relationship with Shonda Rhimes. Betsy was the host of the original Scandal podcast with her co-host Shonda, back before podcasting was cool. This episode was recorded on May 31, 2023. 

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