this is "nightline." tonight, naked speed dating, bondage class? >> the energy that you bring to the scene makes the match. >> is this the end of marriage as we know it? >> this is the perfect time to explore what we're into. >> we're hitting the streets at hotel suites of new orleans with couples from the swingers convention. >> i'm electronic afraid to ask. what exactly goes on in here? >> anything that people want to go on in here. >> can nonmonogamy, as they call it, really improve your relationship? plus, our robin roberts on set, actually, on three sets. scandal. >> i know that. >> the office. >> grey's anatomy. >> they can relate to under the circumstances. that's why they tune in. >> and how to get away with murder. >> what's not to love?

>> we're with the leading ladies of thursday night. this is where tv magic is made, but even they don't know what's in store for their characters. so, tonight, we're pulling back the curtain. but first, the "nightline" five. ♪ it's time to bring it out in the open. it's time to drop your pants for underwearness. a cause to support the over 65 million people who may need depend underwear. show them they're not alone and show off a pair of depends. because wearing a different kind of underwear is no big deal. join us. support the cause and get a free sample at underwearness.com. >> number one in just 60 seconds.

good evening. if you and your spouse are allowed to sleep with anyone you want, is that still a marriage? if you are in an open relationship, what kind of message does that send to your children? these are the kinds of weighty issues that participants at the new orleans swingers convention probably would rather not wrestle with when they're trying to enjoy naked speed dating or bondage class, but abc's ryan owens went and asked them anyway. >> reporter: new orleans knows a good party. and the home of mardi gras really knows a good parade. >> this is a swinger pride parade. we're going to show the world that we're proud of who we are. >> reporter: but even the big easy has never seen one like this. >> hold on tight. >> we're about to roll down bourbon street, baby. >> reporter: welcome to the first ever swingers pride parade. down a busy bourbon street. yes, couples who sleep with others with the full consent and

often full cooperation of their partners. the pride parade is just a tiny and tame example of what you'll find at naughty in n'awlins, an annual swingers convention. "nightline" got an all-access pass. so, naked speed dating? >> yeah, today is naked speed dating. >> reporter: at least as much access as we could handle. >> first thing is bondage. >> reporter: of this year's gathering of 1,300 swingers from around the country, all based at a boar bone street hotel. among them, 28-year-old holli and 37-year-old mychal bell. they have been married two years and swinging longer than that. how does it not ruin a marriage to be with all these other people? >> not everyone that's a swinger is sexually involved with other people. you know? and if she was with another man, i'm okay with that, as long as it's a decision that holli made personally. being a swinger is about a community, where you can be with

wonderful people that have an open mind. don't hurt anybody. >> reporter: it turns out michael and holli are sort of the brad and angelina of this convention. >> at the end of the day, it's about us. >> we're 100% emotionally mon nothing mouse. we're not worried. >> reporter: isn't that sort of taking the easy way out? >> absolutely. >> reporter: i'm totally mon nothing mouse with you but i'm going to screw everybody we want. >> we're not. there's rules. there's boundaries. michael, my gorgeous wife holli. >> reporter: they host the show "swing" in its fourth season on "playboy tv." and they've become ambassadors of the lifestyle. early on, we also meet john and jackie melfi. married swingers from dallas. they're getting a sneak peek at the sex play rooms at the hotel. >> play in that white room tomorrow night. >> reporter: complete with 65 mattresses the convention asset

up. >> this one's nice. they do a really good job setting these up. >> reporter: for the melfis, this convention is more business than pleasure. they own swingers clubs in dallas and one here in new orleans. are you really married if you can just sleep with whoever you want? is that really a marriage? >> absolutely. >> absolutely. i don't have to stop loving him in order to have feelings for someone else. and that's pretty spectacular. >> reporter: you guys are not just swingers, you're parents. what about that? don't you worry about being role models to your kids and what they might think of this? >> i think we're good role models. we instill in our children honesty between your spouse and everyone. and that's really important, i think, in growing up and becoming an adult. >> i'm here to tell the world, i'm a kinky guy. >> reporter: the next day, we catch up with bob hannaford, the event's organizer and our tour guy into a world unlike anything you've seen. >> we've taken the meeting space and changed it into something magical. >> reporter: every night at

11:00 sharp, these play rooms open up for couples to explore. >> reporter: what exactly goes on in here? >> anything that people want to go on in here. >> reporter: for bob, the swinger lifestyle is a full-time job. with a staff of seven, he runs a number of so-called couples cruises. and he's hired 45 people to help run this convention. >> people will come in here and they can leave it open, which is more inviting. they're saying, we're open to people joining us. >> reporter: i want people to understand, this is just a regular meeting room. next week, they'll be guys selling insurance in here. >> there were conference tables in here yesterday. >> reporter: and now beds. how many rooms are there like this? >> the entire floor. >> reporter: a lot of people think, this is just an excuse to cheat on their spouse. >> cheaters don't tell their spouse. these people are here together. i think that's the big difference. >> reporter: but doesn't the act of swinging, doesn't that threaten marriage as we know it? >> think about how many divorces there are. and most of it is infidelity. this is not infidelity.

they're doing it together. how many people are breaking up every day? >> reporter: back now to the seminars. 20 in all. things like naked speed dating and bondage for beginners. >> sure. >> reporter: this is the layout of the day. we'll head to naked speed dating next. >> reporter: demand is so high, they have to close it off. >> it's full. you have to get here early. >> reporter: some people might think everybody here is an adonis or bash bea. there's all shapes and sizes. i know. >> we have couples in their 20s, couples in their 70s. and we have big, we have small, we have everything in between. we're just society. >> reporter: just a little more na naked. we head to another seminar. wrong dungeon. there's the maid. what kind of tip do you leave her? a few doors down, we find the introductory bondage class. >> this is my assistant dolly. and bondage can be a fun thing.

>> reporter: all of these classes, we should point out, emphasize safe sex. >> once you have them in an interesting place, you can work with the fear. >> reporter: he also just said he has a class tomorrow on flogging, which is even more intense, apparently. most of these couples have been to the convention before. many have been swinging for decades. but we did find some newbies. lisa and jake green from new york city got married just two years ago. >> we're both in our mid 20s. if we live to 80, that's a lot of years with the same person. so, looking for excitement and keep things different. >> yeah, we feel like this is the perfect time to start exploring what we're into. >> reporter: it seems like this could easily ruin a marriage, especially a new one. are you worried about that? >> no, not at all. because we communicate really well and if any of us were ever uncomfortable with something, we would just stop. >> it's brought us closer so far. >> yeah. >> reporter: that's sort of the party line here, that opening up

a relationship can strengthen it. surprisingly, many of the women here told us it's oddly liberating. >> it's very empowering, as a woman, to step outside of that man's world and do something for myself. and not only do it for myself, but then to receive affirmation from him, it had me hooked from that. >> reporter: and clearly, she's not the only one. remember michael and hollholli? they had a busy weekend. >> there's tons of stories we can tell. >> reporter: even the strongest advocates of swinging warn couples, this will not fix a bad marriage. >> it will expose the problems and people who weren't communicating are going to get even worse and they're going to end. >> reporter: but for thousands, maybe millions of couples, this works. and they aren't shy about showing it off. i'm ryan owens for "nightline" in new orleans.

coming up here on "nightline," our robin roberts goes behind the scenes with the three leading ladies of thursday night primetime. kerry washington, ellen pompeo and viola davis, revealing the secrets behind their tv magic. (woman) the constipation and belly pain feel like a knot. how can i ease this pain? (man) when i can't go, it's like bricks piling up. i wish i could find some relief. (announcer) ask your doctor about linzess--

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primetime network television is a battlefield. and one of the fiercest and most successful gladiators is shonda rhimes, the brains be hihind scandal, grey's anatomy and how to get away with murder. on this premiere night, "gma's"

robin roberts goes on the set and behind the scenes with the stars of these three shows. >> reporter: oh. >> welcome. >> reporter: pope and associates. from the walk to those jaw-dropping outfits, and, of course, that catch phrase we've all come to love. >> it's handled. >> reporter: kerry washington is one of the hottest stars on tv. >> so, this is the beautiful office. >> reporter: and "nightline" was granted rare access backstage with the star at the studios of shondaland, where all the drama comes to life. this is your office. >> olivia pope's office. this is the couch where you see me interrogate lots of new clients. do you want your career to survive? >> of course i do. >> then let me do my job. >> reporter: do you get excited when it's a new season, first day of school again? >> absolutely. i mean, we get excited for every single episode. but particularly because, you know, we have the big cliff hangers in our season finales. so, we were all waiting with

baited breath to know where olivia's plane was going. this is where olivia pope lives. >> reporter: it's beautiful! >> it is beautiful. >> reporter: scandal super fans call themselves gladiators. escaping into the fast-paced underworld of presidential politics. >> the gladiator thing is something that particularly warms my heart because we didn't come up with that phrase. that wasn't something that the cast came up with or that abc marketing or publicity came up with. that was a fan on twitter very early on who loved the pilot and loved that scene. >> i want to be a gladiator. >> and they said, can we call ourselves gladiators? yeah, of course, and it just took off. >> reporter: it did. and people think of themselves, if they could be here, on this couch, with the wine. >> with the wine. >> reporter: sitting right here and talking to you and hoping you can handle it, fix it, all those things. i mean, i'm just living a

fantasy right now. another fantasy in those one of a kind olivia pope outfits. like this gorgeous gold gown. the trendy trench coat. and that white hat. kerry recently announced a launch of her new olivia pope-inspired scandal collection for the limited. >> you look stunning. >> reporter: and this season, kerry's jug ming an entirely new role, too. >> go home! i'm fine. now, you're a mon, so, this is the first time you have to go to work. >> that's true. >> reporter: is it different for you? >> to be able to work with and for shonda is off is privilege, because she is a working mom. she's got three shows and three kids. to be part of a community of artists of working moms, ellen pompeo is a working mom. there's a lot of working parents, dads and moms, and it's sort of a -- it's just a beautiful extension of that sense of family. we're all a family. >> reporter: tv titan shonda rhimes has taken over thursdays on abc.

with the historic trifecta of scandal, grey's anatomy and the brand new show -- >> how to get away with murder. >> reporter: just a couple of stages down from scandal, we caught up with the newest member of that shondaland family, viola davis. >> come into my abode. >> reporter: i like what you've done with the place. she plays tough as nails criminal law professor anna lease keating. >> consider this your immunity idol. >> reporter: she's a far cry from the downtrodden characters viola said she's typically cast in, like her oscar nominated roles in "the help." >> you is kind, you is smart, you can important. >> reporter: and "doubt." >> what do you want from me? >> reporter: oh, my goodness. so, what is it like, tv? huh? >> tv is a marathon. it's a marathon. but i'm enjoying just developing this character.

>> reporter: must be exciting for you. >> i'm sitting with her and i'm enjoying her power, her level of manipulation, you know, her sexiness. i have a husband and a lover. >> oh, my god. >> get out. >> reporter: is there competition between your movies, tv, acting -- >> i don't feel any competition. i know that there's a level of film being better than tv and theater being, like, i'm the lower rung of the ladder, but i think it's the material. it's the material that makes me feel like i'm not the third girl from the left, up know? >> reporter: it was peter nowak a former writer on scandal and grey's, who originally pitched the concept. >> how did you come up with this idea? >> i've always liked the idea of normal people in extreme circumstances. and when you think of trying to create something loud to cut through all the clutter of tv, this seemed very exciting to me. and in kind of a sick way. >> the body stays where it is.

>> the body gets us caught. >> reporter: inside this law school classroom. >> think, mr. gibbons. >> reporter: cut throat competition to become number one. >> also referred to as intent was to kill mr. kaufman. >> that's right. >> reporter: the series that started it all for shonda rhimes was grey's anatomy. and ellen pompeo has been her leading lady since day one. i can't believe it's been 11 seasons. >> you can't? we can't. >> we can't, either. >> reporter: betsy beard, executive producer of all three shows alongside shonda. >> it's the first child and there is nothing like the first child and the first child has done everything they can to help support each child that's come along. >> reporter: right. >> the characters keep changing and developing. >> cristina, i think derek is dead. >> the writing stays sharp and the characters stay sharp and you guys keep bringing this amazing new energy every season and every season feels different. >> i don't want to fail again. >> let's make you a doctor.

>> reporter: you have an i.d. for me? ellen takes me to that iconic pop rating room. >> it's been in this thing the whole time. >> get it in here and see if we can save it. >> reporter: what do you think it is about this show that people just can't get enough of? >> everybody's been to a hospital. the hospital is ripe with emotion. and there's a situation for drama. and that makes for good writing. good acting. >> consider it handled. >> reporter: for kerry washington, it's the chemistry with her scandal cast mate that makes the intense magic come to life. to be in such an intense show, you guys have a blast with one another. >> i think that's part of why we can dive into all of the intensity, is because we have a lot of fun. yesterday, we work eed an 18-ho day, but on the weekend, we actually get together to watch the episodes and spend more time together. we really, really love each other. >> our thanks to robin roberts.

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finally tonight, the shocking story of that 12-year-old from wisconsin who police say was lured into the woods by her own friends who then stabbed her 19 times and left herrer if dead. now, the victims parents are speaking out to our david muir about the first moment they saw her after the attack. her miraculous survival. and the mysterious slebder man. >> i said, you're going to be okay. it's going to be fine. but i could see that she was covered, her arms and her legs

and her abdomen were covered in stab wounds. and all i hear is, there's five on her arm, there's seven on her leg and i'm thinking, seven, what? and one of the nurses says, all right, i count 19 and then the second nurse said, i count 19, as well. >> where on earth do you think she got the strength to crawl out of those woods? >> she said, i wanted to live. >> nearly five hours after their 12-year-old daughter crawled out of those woods, the two other 12-year-olds at that sleepover are found. the girls tell police they are headed to find a mansion, where they believe that fictional internet character truly lived, slender man. police say they were hoping to impress him. >> what an explosive story. tomorrow night on "20/20," an experiment in schools all over america, revealing just how popular slender man really is. that's "out of the woods" at 10:00 p.m., right here on abc. want to thank you for watching abc news tonight. tune into "gma" first thing in the morning. and as always, we're online 24

swlsh24/7 at abcnews.com. thanks for watching and good night. [dramatic music] ♪ >> yeah! [cheers and applause] yeah! whoa! oh, my-- thank you. welcome to the show, everybody. i'm terry crews. you might know me from brooklyn nine-nine. >> yeah! [cheers and applause] >> but i'm also so happy

to be the brand-new host of millionaire! [cheers and applause] so let's get things rolling. our first contestant needed to take in a roommate to keep the bills from piling up. the only problem is, she's newly married, and three is a crowd, so let's get her some cash, like now. >> yeah! [cheers and applause] >> please welcome, from new york city, melissa pigden. [cheers and applause] oh, how you doing? how you doing, melissa? how you doing? >> i'm doing good, terry. >> okay, now, how are you making this work? you're newly married, and you got a roommate. >> i know. >> what's going on? >> well, right now, i'm in grad school, and living in new york is pretty expensive. >> mm-hmm. >> so luckily, we have a great roommate, who we love, but it'd be great to get out of there and have our own space. >> let me tell you, my kids get on my nerves. [laughter] okay, and i made them, so, i mean, how do