There is a distinct New York flavor to “Southern Charm,” the new Bravo series about the wealthy inhabitants of Charleston, S.C.
Turns out, the show’s two executive producers have ties to New York. Virginian Bryan Kestner was in Manhattan for years, working for Keith Barish developing the Planet Hollywood chain. And Kestner’s partner, Whitney Sudler-Smith, is the step-son of the late Goldman Sachs biggie Arthur Altschul. Sudler-Smith, who also appears on the show, directed the hit documentary, “Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston.”
Sudler-Smith’s mother, Patricia Altschul, is one of the show’s stars. She lived for years on Fifth Avenue and an estate on Centre Island in Oyster Bay, LI. But she’s retained her Dixie roots and admonishes her chef, former Warhol Factory boy Robert Dupont: “Don’t Yankify it!”
When a fan noticed that Dupont, who grew up in Connecticut, had previously been featured as Beverly Johnson’s major-domo on “Beverly’s Full House” reality show, Sudler-Smith replied, “He’s movin’ on up.”
All the Yankees seem to be having a ball in Charleston.