Question: The American television drama series "Scandal", the third season, was created by Shonda Rhimes, Scandal is an American political thriller television series starring Kerry Washington, first debuted on ABC on which date?

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Sweet Baby (Scandal): "Sweet Baby" is the pilot episode of the American political thriller television series "Scandal", which aired on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on April 5, 2012.  The episode was written by showrunner Shonda Rhimes and directed by Paul McGuigan.  The episode introduces main character Olivia Pope, a crisis manager with her own firm, Olivia Pope & Associates, and its staff Stephen Finch, Harrison Wright, Abigail "Abby" Whelan, Huck and newly hired Quinn Perkins.  Other main cast members include the staff at the White House in Washington D.C., President Fitzgerald "Fitz" Thomas Grant III, and White House Chief of Staff Cyrus Beene.

The Price of Free and Fair Elections: "The Price of Free and Fair Elections" is the 18th episode and season finale of the third season of the American political thriller television series "Scandal", and is the 47th overall episode.  It aired on April 17, 2014 on ABC in the United States.  The episode was written by showrunner Shonda Rhimes and executive producer Mark Wilding and directed by executive producer Tom Verica.  The season finale was originally supposed to be the 22nd episode, but because of the show's lead Kerry Washington's pregnancy, the episode count was trimmed by ABC by four episodes, leading the season finale to be the 18th episode.

Run (Scandal): "Run" is the tenth episode, serving as a mid-season premiere of the fourth season of the American political thriller television series "Scandal", and is the 57th overall episode, which aired on ABC on January 29, 2015.  The episode was written by showrunner Shonda Rhimes and directed by executive producer Tom Verica.  The episode serves as a bottle episode, in which the episode focuses solely on Olivia's kidnapping and her captivity in a jail cell, which she shares with a cellmate named Ian McLeod.  The episode features the fewest series regulars of any episode of the series, with only four regulars appearing: Olivia Pope, Jake Ballard, President Fitzgerald "Fitz" Grant lll and Abby Whelan.

Kerry Washington: Kerry Marisa Washington (born January 31, 1977) is an American actress.  Since 2012, Washington has gained wide public recognition for starring in the ABC drama "Scandal", a Shonda Rhimes series in which she plays Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert to politicians and power brokers in Washington DC.  For her role, she has been nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series.

Heavy Is the Head (Scandal): "Heavy Is the Head" is the season premiere of the fifth season of the American political thriller television series "Scandal", and the 70th episode overall.  It aired on September 24, 2015 on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States.  The episode was written by showrunner Shonda Rhimes and directed by executive producer Tom Verica.  The episode focuses on the newly mended relationship with Olivia and Fitz, in addition to the scandal in which the Princess of Caledonia is killed and Olivia is hired to make sure the Royal family's private life stays private.

Olivia Pope: Olivia Carolyn Pope is a fictional character portrayed by Kerry Washington (and as a child by Yara Shahidi), created by Shonda Rhimes and partially based on Judy Smith for the political drama television series "Scandal".  Pope is a Washington, D.C.-based crisis manager who runs her own firm, Pope & Associates, that specializes in political situations.  The character has become a widely watched fashion and style trendsetter.

List of Scandal episodes: "Scandal" is an American political thriller television series created by Shonda Rhimes, which premiered on ABC on April 5, 2012.

Scandal (season 3): The third season of the American television drama series "Scandal", created by Shonda Rhimes, began on October 3, 2013, in the United States, on ABC, and consisted of 18 episodes.  The season was produced by ABC Studios, in association with ShondaLand Production Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes.

Scandal (season 2): The second season of the American television drama series "Scandal", created by Shonda Rhimes, began on September 27, 2012, in the United States, on ABC, and consisted of 22 episodes.  The season was produced by ABC Studios, in association with ShondaLand Production Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes.  The program airs at the same time in Canada through the City television system with simsubbing of the ABC feed.

Scandal (TV series): Scandal is an American political thriller television series starring Kerry Washington.  Created by Shonda Rhimes, it debuted on ABC on April 5, 2012.  Kerry Washington's character, Olivia Pope, is partially based on former George H.W. Bush administration press aide Judy Smith, who serves as a co-executive producer.

Supporting paragraphs: Scandal (season 3) Scandal (TV series)
Answer: April 5, 2012