Shonda Rhimes and ‘Shondaland’ stars speak up for Clinton — in the real world

Thursday night is often owned by Shonda Rhimes and her hit shows: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder.” As that lineup launched tonight — and, probably not coincidentally, as the Republican candidates were preparing to take the stage for yet another debate — Rhimes and three of her female stars released a video supporting Democrat Hillary Clinton.

While her opponents were on CNN describing Clinton in unflattering terms and Olivia Pope was on ABC lecturing the fictional president on his sex life, the women of Shondaland were on YouTube describing the former secretary of state as “complex” and “brilliant.”

“I make television filled with the kind of characters I imagine we can all be,” says Rhimes, in a sentence intercut with Kerry Washington (who plays Olivia Pope on “Scandal”), Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey on “Grey’s Anatomy”) and Viola Davis (Annalise Keating in “How to Get Away With Murder”). “Strong, but flawed. Human, but extraordinary. Our characters are on television, but the real world has Hillary Clinton — a bona fide, rolls up her sleeves, fights for what’s right, in it for you, won’t back down champion for all of us.”

Clinton tweeted her thanks for the video just moments before the debate and “Scandal” began. None of the Republican candidates responded immediately, because they were apparently otherwise engaged.