Mike Kelley truly understood that his show was a hit when people began arguing about it at a Los Angeles hair salon.

All Kelley wanted was a trim, but when he mentioned that he created 'Revenge,' his stylist began raving about how he loved the high-end fashion on the show, which was his favorite new soap opera. Another customer corrected the stylist and said that the show was really a murder mystery. A third salon patron chimed in with yet another interpretation of the show.

"If you've hit the salon in L.A., you've become a success," Kelley said with a laugh. But the spontaneous debate about the show, which has been a breakout hit for ABC, made him realize "that people can get whatever they want out of this show," whether that's schadenfreude regarding the wealthy, a soapy slice of escapism or a well-paced serial drama with a clue-laden mythology.

For those who have already become addicted to "Revenge," Kelley promised lots of exciting new developments in 2012: At least three new characters, including a love interest for Victoria (Madeleine Stowe), will arrive in the second half of the season, which will also reveal who died on the beach at the engagement party in the series premiere.