'Scandal' season 6 update: Show returns, but not before US presidential inauguration

For fans of Shonda Rhime’s "Scandal," there is both good news and bad news. The good news is that the show is set to return to screens in 2017. The last episode aired was of season 5.

The season 6 premiere was due to be aired on Jan. 9, 2017. However, the date has now been pushed back to one week later, which means you will get to see the premiere not before Jan. 26. That is to say, fans of the show will have to wait a few days more to see their favorite characters in action again.

Why is the premiere delayed?

For all die-hard fans wondering why the release date has been pushed back, you have the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 to blame. As reported by E Online, ABC has decided to air a 20/20 special, "America's First Family: The Trumps Go to Washington" in the slot where "Scandal" was supposed to be aired, at 10AM EST. The mid-season premiere of "Grey’s Anatomy," also created by Shonda Rhimes, has also been pushed back for the same reason.

PaleyFest 2017

Other shows will also be returning to screen in 2017, according to The Hollywood Reporter. These include "The Walking Dead," "Pretty Little Liars," "The Late Late Show" and "Bob’s Burgers," among others.

PaleyFest 2017 has announced its lineup, and all these shows are included. "For 34 years, PaleyFest has grown in size, presence and prestige — solidifying its spot on the Los Angeles cultural and popular landscape," Paley Center for Media CEO Maureen J. Reidy said in a statement on Jan. 7.

"We are so proud to present this incredible PaleyFest 2017 lineup as the centerpiece in our year-round Paley Center programming. This year’s festival brings together fans and introduces new audiences to the stars and creators of television’s most talked about and popular shows," Reidy added.

PaleyFest will start on March 17. "Scandal" is one of the shows included in their lineup.