Bravo's 'Southern Charm Savannah' features Atlanta native Hannah Pearson starting May 8

This was originally posted on Monday, May 8, 2017 by Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

I'm on vacation from May 5 to May 16 so I am not posting any breaking news at that time. In the interim, I am posting a few things I wrote in advance. If you are seeking breaking entertainment news, check out Jenn Brett's buzz column at buzz.blog.ajc.com or Melissa Ruggieri's music.blog.ajc.com

Bravo, always seeking variations of the "Real Housewives" genre, found enough success from its "Southern Charm" series out of Charleston that it added versions in New Orleans and Savannah.

The Savannah "Southern Charm," which debuts Monday at 10 p.m, features five long-time Savannah residents and one woman from the Atlanta area who moved to the Spanish Moss-laden Southern city five years ago, Hannah Pearson.

In an interview, the 29 year old said she was a last-second addition to the cast, which includes her long-time boyfriend Louis Oswald. The show's publicity team notes that he quit a corporate job to strike out on his own with JL the Brand, a collection of bright and vibrant men's dress socks with fun patterns. But they also dub him a "mama's boy."

The previews don't really provide much of a feel for who Pearson is but several of her castmates generate conflict. "I'm definitely not the person who stirs the pot," she said. "I hope I'm the voice of reason. I think I lead a pretty undramatic life but all this crazy stuff happens."

Savannah provides the show a lovely tableau.

"It's this beautiful old city that hasn't been touched," Pearson said. "My apartment is an old warehouse building. Savannah is going through this revival. The creative energy is exciting. It's old and new coming together. There's SCAD. It's a river town but there's a beach. It has an open container law. It's a lot of fun."

She grew up in Jonesboro with her three sisters, stay-at-home mom and real estate developer dad in comfortable environs by a lake in Jonesboro. She graduated Woodward Academy and the University of Georgia. Seeking an entry into the fashion world, she worked in New York for a bit, then managed a boutique in Buckhead. She then changed gears and got into sales with a trucking company.

Five years ago, she had a choice to work in Birmingham, Pensacola or Savannah. She was drawn to the majestic, walking friendly city of Savannah. She met her boyfriend soon after moving there. She said they are in no hurry to get married but the societal pressure is there. Her parents got divorced while she was in college and issues with her dad crop up on the show.

"It's scary to open this up," Pearson admits. "I know I'm opening myself up to judgment of whoever is out there. But hopefully others will understand what I've gone through since my parents got divorced."

Pearson said the show features people who really have long-time ties. "So some of the conflict you see, those are very real," she said. "When Louis does things that upset me, that's real. These are not just a random group put in a house."

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TV PREVIEW

"Southern Charm Savannah," 10 p.m. Mondays, Bravo, starting May 8

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