LIVE TWITTER CHAT WITH "SCANDAL" STARS TO TAKE PLACE TONIGHT DURING SERIES' HOTLY-ANTICIPATED PREMIERE

Prior to the Premiere, the Cast of "Scandal" Will Be Live Chatting Via Ustream

In honor of the premiere episode, fans of ABC's new Shonda Rhimes' drama, "Scandal," will be able to submit questions and receive real-time responses from cast members during both the East and West Coast broadcasts of the premiere, tonight, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, from 10:01-11:00 p.m., ET/PT. The following cast members are participating in the live Twitter chat:

East Coast Broadcast:

Kerry Washington @kerrywashington

Guillermo Diaz @guillermodiazyo

Katie Lowes @KatieQLowes

Darby Stanchfield @darbystnchfld

West Coast Broadcast:

Columbus Short @ColumbusShort1

Joshua Malina @JoshMalina

Prior to the premiere of "Scandal" on the East Coast, Kerry Washington, Katie Lowes and Darby Stanchfield will be live chatting via Ustream, from 7:30-8:00 p.m., ET. Viewers and fans can see the cast at http://www.ustream.tv/kerrywashington.

In the premiere episode, young lawyer Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes) is offered a job with Olivia Pope & Associates, and she is in awe. Olivia and her team of "gladiators in suits" will do whatever it takes to make their clients' problems go away, and newbie Quinn is initiated into the group with trial by fire on Day One -- when a White House intern accuses the President of having an affair. Olivia is the only one the White House trusts to diffuse the problem, but as she gets deeper into the situation, Quinn soon realizes Olivia's clients aren't the only ones with secrets.

"Scandal" stars Kerry Washington ("Ray") as Olivia Pope, Henry Ian Cusick ("Lost") as Stephen Finch, Columbus Short ("Stomp the Yard") as Harrison Wright, Guillermo Diaz ("Half-Baked") as Huck, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Tony Goldwyn ("Ghost") as President Fitzgerald Grant and Jeff Perry ("Grey's Anatomy") as Cyrus Beene.

"Scandal" is written by Shonda Rhimes ("Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice"). Rhimes and Betsy Beers ("Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice") are executive producers. Judy Smith is co-executive producer. Paul McGuigan (BBC's "Sherlock") is the director. "Scandal" is produced by ABC Studios.