BravoCon ’22 revealed a plethora of drama among Bravolebrities, but it was also the place The Real Housewives of New York fans learned about a huge change in the series. Not only would RHONY get a completely new cast (kicking out original Housewives like Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, and Sonja Morgan), but two new shows were branching from the transition. A Real Housewives Legacies is in the works and so is an exciting new spinoff that featured Luann and Sonja — Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake.
What has been described as a mix of the reality show that starred Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, The Simple Life, and the sitcom Schitt’s Creek, Welcome to Crappie Lake will show Luann and Sonja as they’ve never been seen before. From the Big Apple to a small town, these best friends and city slickers will roll up their sleeves in this new series.
Where Will Luann And Sonja Be Placed, And What’s Their Mission?
With Luann and Sonja both being diehard New Yorkers, production placed the two big-city women in the small town of Benton, Illinois for an unforgettable experience. According to the US Census, the small town has around 6,700 people living there and is known for Lake Benton and antiquing.
According to Deadline, the Mayor of Benton, Fred Kondritz, needs Luann and Sonja’s help to “boost morale and galvanize the town with [a] new spirit.” Whether it’s renovating a once beloved theatre or fixing up an old playground, Sonja and Luann are in the town to roll up their sleeves and do some good (with plenty of laughs along the way). News of Welcome to Crappie Lake was one of the more important facts that came from BravoCon ’22 because of how loved Sonja and Luann are.
When Is ‘Crappie Lake’ Coming To Screens?
Luann and Sonja were not surprise guests at BravoCon but news of their new spinoff was. While Southern Charm’s Leva Bonaparte’s spinoff Southern Hospitality is set to be released this fall, Welcome to Crappie Lake will take some time.
Variety noted that the new reality series will hit people’s screens on Bravo in 2023. There’s no word as of this article’s publishing if it will be on Peacock at the same time, but time will tell in the new year.
Sonja And Luann Were Spotted Filming Last Summer
Luann and Sonja were a part of some of RHONY’s best moments over the years. Fans saw the rise and fall of Luann’s divorces, Sonja’s issues with her brownstone on the Upper East Side, and even cracks in their friendship. But now that the two will no longer be on RHONY, a spinoff starring the two will be the fix Bravo fans need.
In July (before news of RHONY’s new transition was released) Page Six shared that people saw Sonja and Luann filming a secret project in Illinois. The website shared, “Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan’s private plane touched down in southern Illinois Wednesday to begin filming their upcoming reality show,” where the mayor and a red carpet were there to greet them. At BravoCon (via Vulture), Sonja told fans that the two friends filmed for six weeks and only had “three days off.”
Luann And Sonja Two Fish Out Of Water (Literally)
Luann and Sonja had some unrelatable moments throughout their time on RHONY, especially coming from vast wealth. This is why Bravo fans are dying to get to know the 2023 cast of The Real Housewives of New York so badly; to see how they compare. But it looks like Crappie Lake will show a new side to the women.
Bravo described the show (via TV Insider) as “Luann and Sonja have their work cut out for them as they embrace their new temporary home.” The network continued, “Whether searching for the town’s famous crappie fish in the lake with their bare hands or going mudding with monster trucks, one thing is for certain — with Luann and Sonja in charge and out of their element, hijinks and hilarity are sure to follow.”
Well-Known Producers Are In Charge Of The RHONY Spinoff
What makes The Real Housewives a fantastic franchise outside the cast are the producers and editors that Bravo hired. According to the show’s IMDb profile, 3BMG and Jeff Jenkins Productions are in control.
Hiring these production companies proves that the network has faith in Luann and Sonja’s show. 3BMG is known for producing shows like Netflix’s Bling Empire and My Unorthodox Life. Meanwhile. Jeff Jenkins has worked on projects like Netflix’s Coming Out Colton, E!’s Total Divas, The Simple Life, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and more.
Welcome To Crappie Lake Got Emotional
Since Luann and Sonja have one of the best friendships in The Real Housewives of New York, fans can’t wait to see the two in action in a new town.
However, it’s not all fun and games. According to Vulture, Luann said that things got “emotional” while filming. “What I like about the new show is it’s a comedy, and it’s about do-goodery. We do a lot of good things for the town and it was very emotional for us.” In the end, Luann did hilariously say that she loved working with Sonja “When [she] didn’t want to kill her.”
A Sneak Peek Was Shown At BravoCon
While there’s no official trailer for Welcome to Crappie Lake as of this article’s publishing, TV Insider explained that a sneak peek of the reality show was shown at BravoCon. The website wrote, “BravoCon attendees saw the two RHONY emigrés attend a Testicle Festival, where animal testicles were the delicacy du jour.”
Along with a testicle festival, Bravo gave some insight into what fans can expect to see, which was everything from monster trucks to fishing to renovations. These two women came a long way from the city. Because the women can only rely on each other, it’s doubtful any large fights are going to ensue between Luann and Sonja like there might have been on RHONY.
