I’m chatting about guilty pleasure television with Naima Simone. We’d love to hear from you if you’re a Scandal fan or if there’s a show we need to add to our TBW list. Feel free to chat with us in the comment section of our conversation on Facebook!

Nina Crespo:
What hooked you onto the television series Scandal?

Naima Simone:
You know, actually, I was a late bloomer to Scandal. I kept reading posts about it all over Facebook with people talking about Olivia and Fitz like they were real! LOL! Arguing over them, rooting for them, just going crazy. So finally, I was home one Saturday, nothing to do, and decided to watch the first episode on Netflix. I watched the entire first season that weekend! Between Olivia herself–FIERCE!!–and the forbidden love story along with the Law & Order-on-crack shenanigans…it was over. Oh! And let’s not forget her wardrobe…

Nina:
Law & Order-on-crack-shenanigans. LOL! You do have a way with words. I was late to the party on Scandal, too. I binged watched seasons for days. Okay, obvious question, who’s your favorite character and why? Bet I know the answer. And yes, I’m still giving you “the look” because you said that you would kick me off of the island so you could have him all to yourself.

Naima:
See…you may think I’m about to cheat with this question, but I’m not. Because these two characters are flipsides of the same coin. Jake and Huck. Jake is sane. Huck? Seeeeriously straddling that line. Jake is charming and can be social and affable. You see Huck on the sidewalk, you’re crossing to the other side of the street ’cause that wild-eyed stare is a tad bit unsettling. Plus he doesn’t do small talk. Buuuut…they’re both ruthless, cold, trained killers. Even though Huck appears a little more unhinged, both can be merciless–especially if someone they love is threatened. Actually, to me, Jake is the scarier of the two because he can appear friendly and even harmless. This is also why I find him INCREDIBLY sexy, by the way… And also, they share an ironclad code of honor. Which is sexier. All that to say my fave character is Jake/Huck. 🙂

Nina:
Hmm. So, based on your analysis, and since we’re both on #TeamJake, what does that say about us?

Naima:
Uhh, it says one of two things. Either we love strong, complicated, alpha men…or we’re both going to end up starring on episodes of Snapped and Deadly Women. Strangely, I’m not as off put by the latter as I should be…hee-hee!

Nina:
Ha! (Excuse me as I clean spit-out wine from my computer). Strangely, I’m onboard with that explanation!

Speaking of wine, Jake getting stabbed last season had me gulping glasses of it until the next episode. Is there a scene or plot line on Scandal that you loved, totally shocked you, had you yelling at the TV or made you cry?

Naima: 
YAAAAAAHHHHSS-UH!! Jake getting stabbed had me about to pull a Hell-No-We-Won’t-Go on Shonda Rhimes! LOL!! I was grieving, mad, shocked… One plot line that had me shocked, like WT%$#@??!! was when we found out Olivia’s mother was not only alive, but a freakin’ terrorist! Yooooo!!! First, we thought she was dead. Then when we found out she was alive, we believed she was a victim of Papa Pope’s twisted schemes. THEN, to discover she was the Big Evil all along? Worse than Papa Pope?? Awesome! Oh…and I love every Papa Pope diatribe. He’s the best at ’em!

Nina:
I know! That was just crazy, and you’re right. No one can lay it out there like Papa Pope. I’d also have to add Cyrus’s plot lines to the list. I actually felt sorry for him when he lost his first husband, but oddly, at the same time, I couldn’t hate Jake.

I’m also hooked on The Musketeers on BBC America. One fantastic reason. Luke Pasqualino.  He’s giving Jake a run for his money on my drool-worthy TV characters list. What about TV shows, which one’s are on your hot to watch list?

Naima:
A friend of mine told me about The Musketeers! I haven’t watched it yet though, but I need to see if it’s on Netflix. My fave BBC America show is Sherlock. Oh, Benedict Cumberbatch, yes sexy thang, you! Not to mention, it’s just an awesome show, too. 🙂 Other shows that I looooove are Arrow, The Flash, Evolution of Evil, Scream and a ton of reality TV shows. Bravo, WE and VHI are my pimps! LOL!!

Nina:
I’m with you on Arrow, but if I get into my series list, this conversation will never end. So, back to Scandal–what are you hoping or possibly dreading to see happen this season?

Naima:
I’m hoping to see Jake make it through the season. That’s number one. I’d hate for this to be a repeat of the Grey’s Anatomy debacle. *side-eye* Then, I would love to see Liv choose Jake over Fitz. I’d also love to see Huck’s wife get the axe…painfully. Snitches get stitches, yo!! I would LOVE to see Cyrus actually fall in love with his boy toy hubby!  I want to see Liv get over on Papa Pope at least once! And what do I dread seeing happen? Liv going back to Fitz…boooooo!!!

Nina:
Yay! #TeamJake all the way. Huck’s wife. Agreed! Well, I could chat with you forever, but unfortunately, it has to end. One last question. What would you buy for a dollar?

Naima:
You are talking to a woman whose husband stops at the $1 Store first in grocery shopping before he heads to Walmart and Aldi. What can I NOT buy for a dollar is the question! I buy earbuds, book lights, pizza snacks, Christmas decorations, big bottles of Arizona teas, Cherry Cokes, flip-flops… Yeah, I’m up on the $1 Store. 😀 But something I haven’t found there that I would buy? Wal-Dryl!

Nina:
Dollar Store? Our husbands must be twins! Mine keeps dragging me in there under protest. I end up buying crazy stuff I don’t need like a lifetime supply of cheap masking tape or a giant, plastic, green crayon. What the heck is Wal-Dryl?

Naima:
LOLOL!! What?? Everyone needs a giant, plastic, green crayon! My kids are so acquainted with the Dollar Store, when they walk in they’re like, “Hi, Lola!” to the cashier, because yes, they’re on a first name basis with the cashiers. *smh* I just duck and head for the snack aisle and my Arizona tea. And Wal-Dryl is the ambrosia of allergy-challenged sufferers everywhere. Cheaper than Benadryl but works just as niiiice. You get all floaty as your nasal passages clear and your eyes stop watering. My husband accuses me of taking it like candy…I beg to differ, sir! I have allergies. *sniff. sniff* See? Allergies!

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All right, people. Tag! You’re it. ;)​ You’ve learned more about us now tell us about you. Log into Facebook and join the conversation. You can also find us on Thursday nights tweeting about, you guessed it. Scandal!!! We also can’t resist getting our tweets in about How to Get Away with Murder. See you there 🙂

Naima’s page: https://www.facebook.com/naima.simone.3

Nina’s page: (must be logged in to access it.)
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNinaCrespo