Shonda Rhimes and writer-turned-showrunner Chris Van Dusen go back 17 years, to his first job as her assistant just out of USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program.
He soon transitioned to a writer on “Grey’s Anatomy” and was executive story editor of “Scandal” before taking on “Bridgerton,” Shondaland and Van Dusen’s first scripted series at Netflix, where Rhimes has a rich TV deal.
Those years built a valuable shorthand for their shared sensibilities that came in handy on “Bridgerton,” Netflix’s most-watched show ever — 82 million households watched in its first 28 days, per the streamer’s own unconfirmed reports — which yielded 12 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.Rhimes cheered on Van Dusen’s vision of a new slant on the period romance.
“From the beginning, she gave me the creative room and freedom to make the period show I’ve always wanted to see,” said Van Dusen on the phone.
“I
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