If you haven’t checked out Netflix’s hit show, Insatiable, now is a perfect time to binge watch. This dark comedy features Debbie Ryan as Patty, who with the help of lawyer and highly sought after pageant coach Bob Armstrong (Dallas Roberts) she goes from being underestimated and ignored to a pageant girl that is a force to be reckoned with. However, what people may not know is that Insatiable is loosely based on a real life attorney and famed pageant coach Bill Alverson, who is also a producer on the show. Check out my exclusive interview with him below!
How did the concept for Insatiable come about?
The concept for insatiable came out of a NY Times magazine article and video attached with it. It was called the Pageant King of Alabama. That started a flurry of activity that led to a reality show called “Coach Charming”, which aired on TLC. At the same time, CBS bought my life rights to develop a TV scripted series on my life. What was odd is that I think I was the first person in Hollywood to have both a reality and scripted tv show going on at the same time.
It is pretty well known that you were the inspiration for Insatiable as well as the inspiration for Bob Armstrong. America saw a brief part of your life on your TLC reality show, Coach Charming and you have even been called the pageant whisperer by ABC News. I saw how you coach and how you were honest yet tough with the women you coached. It also showed some fun antics with your kids including a photo shoot. What did your kids think of Insatiable when they first heard about it and how the main character is loosely based on you?
My kids had already been through so much with the reality show as they were all in it, so they had the advantage of press and public attention. They knew that this was in development and of course wanted to see how they would be portrayed. There are definite aspects with Brick, the character who plays my son. The writers decided not to involve my daughters and in fact wrote that my daughter was off in the military to explain her absence. All in all they thought it was funny.
Did you spend a lot of time with Dallas Roberts who plays a fictional version of you? If so what did you talk to him about or teach him.
I did spend quite a bit of time with Dallas. He is a Julliard trained actor and very competent. He has never played such a character and it was fun to watch him “learn me.” Initially we spent a week in Los Angeles just hanging out and eating, going out with the writer and my daughter Blanche, and then we went to his gym. I put him through a workout routine and also shopping. Dallas wore tevas and socks. There was nothing about him really that was like me. We became friends and when I was in NYC we would meet for drinks and dinner. When we both were in LA we would do the same. There are some Facebook pictures of Dallas hanging out with me and my daughters the week of the premiere. He constantly studied me but it never felt invasive
Insatiable is a bit if a dark comedy, with some murders. Were you ever worried about how it would be perceived or were you confident that people would understand it was a comedy and a parody of pageantry?
After the reality show, I realized people draw their own conclusions and after coming out after that show, my don’t give a damn meter was high. So, in essence I really didn’t care. You can’t live your life for other’s perceptions, but you should also always respect others as well.
As a producer for Insatiable, what was the one thing that surprised you or that was a challenge you encountered as a producer?
My role was always one of information, when they have a question they ask me. I wasn’t in the writers room until [the] second season so that those individuals would get to know my personality. The one thing that was a challenge I think was to explain when we talked how to maintain the belief factor that the character was in fact a lawyer – it’s referenced but Bob Armstrong shows some vulnerability that I don’t have now, but clearly did with my sexuality. Bob Barnard also is my personification of how I was after coming out.
How did you balance being a father, a lawyer a pageant coach and a producer all at the same time?
The good lord made where I do best with a full plate- so got to be good with the calendar.
The pilot was orginally shot for the CW but was picked up by Netflix instead, how much freedom did Netflix give the show over the content and script?
Tons of freedom. I think the show had such bigger wings at Netflix because we didn’t have constraints with dialogue etc.
Did you have to spend a lot of time with Debbie Ryan to prepare her to walk the walk of a pageant queen?
Not necessarily a lot of time, but we did work. Remember her character was not familiar with pageants or walks so literally like her character in the show she learned.
Any chance we might see Debbie on the Miss America 2.0 stage any time soon?
I have no idea. It would be great right?
There is a lot of things that are dramatized about pageants in Insatiable, what do you think is the most overly dramatized thing about pageants in Insatiable?
The backstage. Coaches and people don’t go backstage, but thats where a lot of our story line took place- including murder.
What do you think is the most misunderstood or misrepresented thing about pageants in society?
People think that pageants demoralize women, which I find to be quite the opposite. Pageant prepare girls to be strong wonder women and present themselves as such. We see that through the development of the characters of Patty and Magnolia- even with crazy Patty.
How do you think pageants can help prepare people for life? Or what are the good things about pageants?
Pageants open you up to the ability to present yourself the way you desire and help you hone in on those skills.
What is one thing that you think people don’t understand about pageants?
That it makes you better prepared to engage socially. So many times we see people being awkward in public, but not a pageant girl.
Winning and losing aside, What do you think is the one thing that people need to have or need to understand if they decide to compete in a pageant?
The commitment to work, evaluate and examine yourself.
How much input did you have into the story line of Bob Armstrong as well as the overall story line of Patty?
The input was my life actually. The beginning episode of Patty in court actually was derived from life experience with me as an attorney and the Lauren Gussis took that the created the story. Lauren and I started talking in 2015 with this project and I was very transparent about my life and experiences and then the stories grew.
Will there be a season 3? If so do you have any hints or exclusive sneak peaks?
Ah, we can only hope!