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TV's portrayal of life in America's most famous residency

By Robert Isenberg
Special to MSN TV

The White House may be the world's strangest living quarters. On the one hand, it's a giant, beautiful mansion in the middle of Washington, D.C. On the other hand, it's also an office ... more building that bustles with aides and pages and chiefs-of-staffs. It's hard to imagine living in such a place, where you both take a shower and decide whether to send Black Ops to rescue hostages.

You might say that everybody "knows" the White House, but few of us really know the White House.

That might explain why the country's most famous domicile changes so dramatically from TV show to TV show. Each president seems to live a completely different lifestyle, and each administration seems to govern in a different universe. In honor of "Scandal," which premiered on April 5, here are some of our favorite versions of White House life--from docudramas to thrillers to full-on sitcoms.

Bing: More about 'Scandal' | Watch clips and more

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"Scandal" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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