![First Look: Alfre Woodard Is President on NBC's 'State of Affairs'](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/images/2014/09/07/alfre-woodard-state-of-affairs.jpg)
ESSENCE’s October cover girl Alfre Woodard returns to the small screen to star in the NBC political drama State of Affairs.
Woodard plays commander-in-chief in the drama being described as “Scandal meets The West Wing.” Former Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl leads as a CIA officer who works closely with Woodard’s President Constance Payton.
State of Affairs premieres Monday, November 17 at 10pm ET on NBC.