In typical Patricia Altschul fashion, she did not hold back when it came to discussing Southern Charm in her newly released memoir, Eat, Drink and Remarry.
“I can’t imagine that that many people are so passionate about Bravo, but I appreciate the generosity and the appreciation of the fans,” Altschul, 84, told Us Weekly exclusively while discussing the book, published on Tuesday, November 11. “They always make you feel good.”
As the story goes, Altschul’s son, Whitney Sudler-Smith, met Thomas Ravenel, Shep Rose and Craig Conover after they moved to Charleston. Initially, he “imagined making a documentary film,” she wrote.
“He reconfigured the concept as a reality television show chronicling the adventures, misadventures, and mating rituals of freewheeling Charleston socialites — a combination of Animal House and Downton Abbey,” Altschul recalled in the book. “The genius of his idea was that he would focus on male behavior, the inner workings of the ‘bro’ culture, and the dramas that play out among men as they navigate friendships and romantic relationships.”
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And so, Southern Charm was born. The show premiered on Bravo in March 2014, becoming an instant hit and kicking off a cultural phenomenon — including the term “Peter Pan Syndrome,” a way to describe men who refuse to grow up and settle down.)
Sudler-Smith first told his mom that after “five minutes” they would be done filming the show in her historic home. “We know how that went,” she quipped. “We’re filming our tenth season as I write.”
Keep scrolling for Altschul’s biggest revelations about Southern Charm in her new memoir:
Her 1st Time Filming
Altschul recalled her first time filming for the show to be “impromptu… and reluctant.” At the time, she just wanted “the crew out of the house as quickly as possible.” Initially, Altschul decided to say “whatever popped into my head” and, well, nothing has changed since.
“Gradually, I became a regular on Southern Charm with a defined role,” she wrote, noting that Sudler-Smith’s dream for the show came true.
“The guys and the girls channeled Animal House with their sexcapades, feuds, and over-the-top behavior, and I paid homage to Downton Abbey by playing the Dowager Countess of Charleston,” she wrote. “All I had to do was be myself.”
Discussing the Show’s Hookup Culture
Altschul joked that she needs a“a Venn diagram to chart Southern Charm‘s various flirtations, one-night stands, love affairs, and breakups” through the years.
“I find the constant recycling a mystery, especially when the motivation for hooking up with a friend’s current or ex-partner is revenge,” she added. “We didn’t have revenge sex in my day — we had revenge marriage, meaning if you want to get back at a caddish boyfriend, find someone better and marry them. Which makes much more of an impact.”
Altschul wrote that “every season” she finds herself asking “why this group insists on fishing in the same pond and sleeping with each other.” She compared the “incestuous” nature of the show to Peyton Place.
The Gentleman’s Dinner — And Friendship With the Boys
Even when the show is not filming, Rose, Conover and Austen Kroll are “fixtures” at Altschul’s home.
“They come over to have a beer and hang out with Whitney. I’m like the den mother at a halfway house,” she joked. “My mother always said you are the company you keep, so it looks like I’m a B-list f***boy!”
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Every year, she hopes their “juvenile behavior” will eventually subside, but the annual gentleman’s dinner is proof that her hopes have not yet been realized.
“I fall into the same trap every time,” she wrote. “I plan an impressive meal, set a beautiful table, and try to elevate the conversation, imagining this will be the night when boys become men, but they don’t.”
Friendship With Madison LeCroy
Altschul was friends with LeCroy before the show started — for 18 years and counting.
“I always admired her for her work ethic, talent, and great outlook and watched her come up through the ranks, from doing simple blowouts to coloring and cuts,” she wrote. “Then, she became the best hairstylist in Charleston.”
Altschul hinted at a possible podcast (they were tossing around the title “Eat, Drink and Remarry”) between her and LeCroy in the book — a possibility that’s still on the table.
“The trouble is, we’re both so busy that it’s hard to find a time when we can even get together,” Altschul told Us.
Attending the Reunions
Every season, Altschul skips out on the Southern Charm reunion, with the 10th season being the only one she will ever attend.
“If I have something to say, I say it during filming — whatever pops into my head at the time. And I’m truthful,” she explained. “I don’t feel the need to be cross-examined after the fact. Quite frankly, I think reunions are beneath me, and my absence says more than my presence ever would.”
