Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Housewives spinoff has humor, innuendo, drinking, swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Luanne & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LUANNE & SONJA: WELCOME TO CRAPPIE LAKE is an unscripted series featuring two of the Real Housewives of New York City helping to revitalize an Illinois town. When L.A. reality show producer and Benton native Russell Jay-Staglik, along with the Benton City Council, invite Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan to help revitalize their city after the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo travels to the Midwest to throw themselves into charitable work. For five weeks they live in the local Benton Motel, and spend their time helping residents with improvement projects, including creating an outdoor dog space for the local animal shelter and building a playground. They also look for creative ways to energize the town, including hosting a local talent show. When they're not working, the two participate in some local pastimes, including riding a monster truck, catfish fishing at what the locals refer to as Crappie Lake, and checking out the local watering holes. It isn't the Big Apple, but Luann and Sonja are committed to helping Benton out, and to having a good time while doing it.
Is It Any Good?
The Real Housewives of New York City spinoff offers your typical fish-out-of-water viewing experience, with the socialites living and working in a small Midwestern city. Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan's behavior is often silly and over the top, all of which is designed for laughs. However, to their credit, nothing that they do pokes fun at the local residents or their culture. Whether this is due to their relationship with Russell Jay-Staglik, the country's dire need for post-COVID recovery, or simply due to a real sense of kindness and respect is not discussed. But many of the projects they work on, albeit seemingly simple, help the town in some way. Check in with Luanne & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake for light Real Housewives entertainment with some heart.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ways celebrities have attempted to help different communities over the years. Have they all been successful in their efforts?
Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan act very differently on Luanne & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake than they do on the Real Housewives of New York City. Why? Which version do you think most closely resembles who they are in real life?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 9, 2023
- Cast : LuAnn de Lesseps , Sonja Morgan
- Network : Peacock
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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