In 2014, Bravo brought its Housewives-based reality TV magic to Charleston, South Carolina.
It's the setting of Southern Charm, a light and breezy show about the lives of prominent
families.
There's aging playboy and political scion Thomas, his sharp-tongued ex Kathryn, likable
restaurateur Shep, real estate mogul Cameran, seasoned socialite Patricia, her enigmatic
son Whitney, and lovelorn knitter Craig.
With more than five seasons on the air, here's the stuff you don't know about Southern Charm.
"Maybe I missed something"
Thomas's politics
Thomas Ravenel once had a successful political career, serving as the state treasurer of
South Carolina.
"I'm Thomas Ravenel.
Let's get started"
Then in 2007, he resigned after he was indicted on a federal charge of possession of cocaine
with the intent to distribute.
"I wanna offer a heartfelt apology to the state of South Carolina.
To the people of South Carolina.
And to my family."
But his political ties go back to the '50s via his father, Arthur Jr., so Ravenel wouldn't
be giving up politics forever.
In 2014, Ravenel ran for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina.
Campaigning as an independent candidate after failing to secure the Republican nomination,
he was trounced by incumbent Lindsey Graham, earning just 3.9 percent of the vote.
Those family trees
While much of the cast's roots run deep into Southern history, it's Thomas who frequently
paints himself as the old-money Southern gentleman.
"You're the old grandpa, who's sitting here ranting at the tree making no sense.
I'm telling you that as a friend."
But his ex and mother of his children, Kathryn, comes from a rich heritage as well.
"What?
Huh?
What-huh-me-huh...hello.
Guilty"
Her full name is Kathryn Calhoun Dennis, and she's a direct descendant of John C. Calhoun,
who in the 1800s, served as vice president of the United States under Presidents John
Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.
Cameran's disappearing husband
Cameran Eubanks is the low-key leader of the Southern Charm crew, who keeps the peace with
an above-it-all air.
"I don't care where we're going, I just wanna relax and have a good time"
But with the exception of the arrival of her baby girl in 2017, her personal life is almost
never the subject of an episode.
But it's not that Eubanks is unlucky in love.
She just doesn't want her hubby to be on the show.
She told ET,
"My husband, he has common sense, therefore he chooses to stay off reality television"
In 2014, she married Charleston doctor, Jason Wimberly, whom Bravo reports has no desire
to be on reality TV.
She told WetPaint in 2015,
"I've purposefully chosen to keep [him] out of the picture because I think people who
put their personal life on TV are kind of nuts."
...Uh, no offense to her castmates.
Whitney's crafty side
Whitney Sudler-Smith is the reluctant participant of Southern Charm, enduring his mother Patricia's
eccentric behavior with a smirk.
But Sutler-Smith isn't just a reality mooch, he's a filmmaker in his own right.
After his 1998 indie debut, Bubba and Ike, Sutler-Smith moved on to more serious fare.
He directed, wrote, and produced Ultrasuede, a 2010 documentary about the designer, Halston.
More recently, he's dabbled in reality TV.
Not only does he appear on Southern Charm and serve as an executive producer, he actually
created the whole thing...starring his mom of course.
"We decided look, we're not gonna drink at all...we're just gonna smoke weed the whole
time…"
"That's illegal"
Cameran gone wild
Sure, Cameran presents herself as the belle of Southern Charm.
But maybe that comes with maturity, because she's the only cast member with a background
in softcore porn.
Eubanks appeared in a 2006 installment of the Girls Gone Wild series called Wild World.
"I really don't have any expectations other than it's gonna be wild"
But Eubanks didn't take anything off — instead, she was an on-screen "host."
On a reunion show, Eubanks said that when she made the project:
"I really didn't know what I was doing and I ended up crying to the girls and begging
them to stop taking off their clothes."
Back in 2004, Eubanks started out as a cast member on The Real World, as well as its spin-off,
The Challenge.
"Here's to being single, seeing double and sleeping triple…just kidding that's a good
toast."
"That's not bad."
"Oh Lord!"
But the star isn't ashamed of her reality resumé.
She tweeted in 2016: "I have no idea why people bring it up like it was a bad thing.
The worst thing I did was get drunk."
Patricia's glamorous life
According to Architectural Digest, Patricia Altschul is the "madcap grande dame " of Southern
Charm, as well as the kind of person we should all aspire to be.
"I would just turn around and leave.
And talk to somebody else.
More interesting"
Altschul earned a master's degree in art history and archaeology from George Washington University,
where she was later a professor.
Having been married three times, Patricia moved to Charleston in 2008, dropped a few
bucks on an 1850s mansion, and led its renovation, earning her a special award from the Preservation
Society of Charleston.
"Do not feed your dogs Chex mix out of the bar.
It's a very bad habit to get into.
No no that's it."
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