‘Scandal’ Season 3 premiere: Looks like ABC has found its hit drama

“Scandal� is back -- with its highest ratings yet.

ABC’s political thriller starring Kerry Washington as a Beltway crisis manager returned for Season 3 Thursday with a series-best 10.5 million total viewers, according to Nielsen.

Maybe more important, the season premiere easily won its 10 p.m. time slot and was the second best-rated program of the night -- surpassed only by CBS’ sitcom smash “The Big Bang Theory.�

PHOTOS: Leading ladies of the fall TV season

That sure looks like a hit.

So how’d it happen? “Scandal� -- which got mixed reviews from critics -- saw its ratings swing up last season, as viewers discovered the same mix of real-world workplace settings and juicy soap-opera conventions that creator Shonda Rhimes exploited in “Grey’s Anatomy.�

Also, it probably didn’t hurt that BET started airing repeats from the first two seasons in the weeks leading up to the Season 3 premiere.

Whatever the explanation, ABC has a 10 p.m. hit on its hands.

And these days, just uttering the phrase “10 p.m. hit� is news for broadcasters.

What do you think of “Scandal�?

ALSO:

ABC’s ‘Lucky 7’ becomes first cancellation of fall season

‘Breaking Bad’: Albuquerque newspaper runs obit for Walter White

Stephen Colbert hosts wedding on air for couple thwarted by shutdown