Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan have come a long way since first touching down in Benton, Illinois for Bravo’s Welcome to Crappie Lake. After an eight-episode season filled with Crappie Hours, Testicle Festivals, and a singular one-night stand, Morgan tells Decider that her six-week adventure in the small, Midwestern town was her “biggest accomplishment” in life so far.
In the show, the former Real Housewives of New York City stars ditch the glitz and glam to renovate Benton — and while these small-town girls at heart quickly become known for their playful hijinks, they undoubtedly do a successful job in reinvigorating the town.
Whether it be flashing their thong during a Christmas in July party — which Morgan jokes was “only for Benton” — or butting heads while directing the Benton Follies that are later saved by the “incredible” Paula Abdul, these two made their grand return to Bravo one to behold.
While speaking with us ahead of Welcome to Crappie Lake’s season finale, Morgan — who says it “feels good to be working again” — reveals that she’s “manifesting” a Season 2. She also dishes on what we can expect from The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY LEGACY — and expresses her hopes for the new RHONY cast to “do well,” despite feeling”sad” that the OGs won’t get to carry on the show.
The last time we spoke was before Crappie Lake had premiered. Since then, it’s become a fan-favorite. Does that surprise you? Or did you know this would be a hit?
In my heart of hearts, I knew people were gonna love it because it was just slapstick funny. But at the same time, you really got to see Benton and the people there and how wonderful they were. Their big saying there is “Benton Proud.” So I knew people were gonna feel the same way we were. It was a perfect match for us.
It’s been almost two years since RHONY Season 13 ended. How has it been coming back to Bravo?
Oh, it feels so good to be working again. I mean, they always ask me, “Did you know where you were going?” I didn’t ask for it — I just said, ‘When.’ I hadn’t filmed for a while and I was just happy to get back to work and to be with my girl Luann. We’re really good friends and it gave us a chance to spend some good quality time together doing things that matter.
But, yeah, it feels good to be working. And it’s just an extra bonus that we get to do what we do in our everyday life, which is our philanthropy and giving back. Plus, we both have our tours. She does her cabaret and I do Sonja in Your City comedy-improv. So to get on stage and do the variety show was perfect. It was the perfect culmination of six weeks with the talent we fell in love with. You know, we just fell in love with Benton and the people there.
Between the Christmas in July, the Benton Follies and the Testy Festy, did you have a favorite and a least favorite event?
Well, they already had Christmas in July. They already had the Testy Festy. We just brought it to a whole new level. And here we are sitting at Rockefeller Center — we tried to have our tree as big as the one here, almost.
But the variety show, I’m proudest of because it really was me and Luann bringing it together and the people of the town. Because you have all these parents who have kids that are very talented. You had parents whose children were going to gymnastics and cheerleading practice and dance class three to four times a week and to be able to bring that all together — and Paula Abdul — it’s something that they’re going to have every year. It’s going to be an ongoing fundraiser and a way to show off their talent.
At one point, Luann says Walmart is her new favorite store. What are your thoughts? Have you been back much since leaving Benton?
I’ve always been a Walmart, Target girl. This outfit I’m wearing is Sonja Morgan New York and it is at Walmarts. I am looking for a new partner, but, yeah, I’ve always been a Walmart girl.
The thing is with the motel — I know it’s a motel [and] you’re not going to get more than $99 a night and I know what people expect from a motel. I love the motels in Palm Springs. So that’s what I was envisioning. I worked mostly on the garden there to pop — you know, when you drive by to see some color. The gutter work was amazing — to bring it to this century. But I think it was pretty funny how Luann went crazy with the pink and the little twinkle lights and it’s her own world. It’s pretty funny. I think she should be able to get $120 for that room.
For the Christmas in July party, a lot of Benton residents poked fun at your sexy Santa outfits. What do you say to those people?
I didn’t see that episode yet — just to be honest, because I’m so busy on my comedy tour right now. But I did read something somewhere quickly. I think it was on an airplane and they said, “Staying very much in brand — Sonja bent over and her thong was showing.” And I’m like, “Well, at least I’m not going commando. OK? I really stepped it up. I have underwear on.” Only for Benton.
You and Luann almost escaped the season without drama — until it came to your different directing styles with the Benton Follies. Do you think you would direct another show with her?
I would because, you know, working together there’s a compromise and we’re used to it as being Real Housewives for what? Thirteen seasons. It’s like conflict, resolution, keep it moving. Also, we both were so entwined with the community that we knew we had to butt heads and come to a compromise. And we both have different creative styles, which is great. We brought something to the table, individually.
Oh, just the song itself. Oh, my god. We really clashed on the song and what it should be about and who should be in the show and who we would eliminate. It’s tough because I wanted everyone and she wanted it to be America’s Got Talent. The pressure was high on her side — and the director too. He really runs a good show there.
I think you guys balanced each other out well.
Yeah, I’m bigger picture, like overall what’s going on and I can read the audience. It’s all about the parents buying tickets and making them feel good. And then Luann’s more about the detail — like her room [at the Benton Motel] is all about the detail and I’m looking at the whole motel and doing the gardening and making sure it runs well and functions well and is still affordable. So yeah, we brought it together. I was married to a man who was like that — very detail oriented. That keeps me grounded — and I keep Luann floating. So it’s fun.
You guys also got to write a song for Benton. If you could choose a favorite one of Luann’s songs, which would it be and why?
It’s hard. They’re all so catchy and I love them. I don’t know. I love “Chic C’est la Vie.” It’s just so easy. It rolls off your tongue. But “Money Can’t Buy You Class” is always a good one because I always feel I’m the brash, bawdy one. I get a lot of feedback from my viewers and they say, “No matter how down and dirty you get, or how much you drink — dancing on tables, you have class.” So I like that because money can’t buy you class and acting classy doesn’t make you classy. Being yourself sometimes can be more elegant, because you’re not being defensive all the time.
Do you listen to her Pandora Station? Did you know that it existed?
No. I do Spotify. My daughter and I do Spotify. I bought that stock. I’m just a fan of Spotify — with commercials because I don’t want to pay the extra dollar.
I loved when you guys brought Paula Abdul on — especially the part where it seemed like you were taking your own dance lessons from her off to the side. What was that moment like for you?
Incredible. Because we knew over the years that Paula is always up to giving back and she loves working with kids. We know this. So we texted her and she was actually flying from L.A. to New York so she could touch down in Benton. And we knew we weren’t wasting her time because these kids, like I said, they’re very serious about their craft. Even the singers, they sing at church — but they can do the “Star Spangled Banner” that good. I knew she’d be interested in helping these kids because they were already so talented. And she made a big difference in a very short time. It was awesome having her there. I mean she’s very inspiring because a busy lady like that with 11 million records — if she can do it, anyone can be there for somebody else.
I hope we’re gonna get another town soon because as much as I’d like to go back to Benton — because I have family there now — I just want to help another town. I want to see the way other people live in another town and what their needs are and how I can help because together, Luann and I were able to do it and I’m really proud of that. It’s a real feel-good.
There was a really emotional goodbye when you guys left Benton — even some of the residents teared up. Were you more surprised about how emotional you became leaving or at how emotional the residents became?
I think I was more surprised with them because they’re very Benton Proud. They are natural with you — but I wouldn’t say that they’re very emotional all the time. I think it took them time to understand that we could get down and dirty and that they could trust us to get the job done. So they were there for us to help us. So when we were leaving each other, I mean, I was so upset.
I flew people in to stay at my house because I have it rented and in between it’s empty, so why not? And you know, they helped me with my house. I was very emotional with Craig. I got very close to him and his brother and his family, his wife, we had a fish fry together. They’re gonna come back up in November — him and the new mayor [will] help me with my house because I have renters now and I need things zhuzhed up again and so they love helping me. And I love showing them New York City. So yeah, I’ve had a few guests from Benton.
I love that you guys stayed close — especially since it’s been a whole year since you filmed.
Yeah! Oh, my god. I never even put that together. It’s been a year since I’ve been down there. But I’ve seen everybody. I had the Benton Motel owner and her girlfriends and some of the producers [stay over]. I’ve seen them and I talked to them all the time — texting. We don’t talk, we text. My show in St. Louis — they all came because that’s two hours away.
They know how wacky I am because we would hang out in the parking lot together and we’d do the tailgating. I’m used to doing that at the polo matches with some champagne and caviar. There, you do it with hot dogs and they bring the beer and I bring the Sonja Sangria. It’s all give and take. It all comes together — Crappie Hour — and then it goes on in the parking lot after Luann goes to bed because she wasn’t drinking.
The party never ends!
We always have a great night! And then I fall down.
It’s not a good night unless someone falls down, I think.
Right. I didn’t drink that much there because I knew I’d have to get up early and be functioning for work. But the Sonja Sangria is easy. It’s very easy to drink sangria and go to bed and get up and work.
Is there anything you learned about yourself during your stay in Benton?
I basically learned a lot about me and Luann — that we can get the [stuff done]. That was a long list from the mayor and it just added up so quickly. We’re always quick to say yes, we’re very can-do, hands-on girls, coming from small towns. She’s one of seven kids. I’m one of four. So we’re used to working as a team and getting things done but I’m impressed that we did it — for real.
We had to reach out to different sources. I always make the joke: Who do I have to eff in this town to get something? And we had to reach out further to get the jungle gym which [was] coming from California. They had to drive six days. We took somebody else’s jungle gym that was on hold for them for another two months and they said, “No no, you can take ours and we’ll wait for another one.” Everyone had to give something to get — the fencing for the doggy run [and] all the different things that came together for the Christmas in July [party]. That’s all on trade-out or we had to just get an extreme discount.
When we talked at the beginning of the season, you and Luann said you would be open to doing another season — maybe somewhere else. Is there any update on that? Are you still interested in renovating another town?
Well, nothing I can announce. That will have to come from Bravo. But of course I’m manifesting that dream and I know the feedback I’m getting on my socials and my LinkedIn — people are asking me, “Can you come here next? We could really use this, we could use that.” You’d be surprised how diverse each town becomes [with] what they need. They all like the variety show idea because that is the key — bringing the community together and it’s a year-round fundraiser while highlighting your talent.
Luann was just a guest judge on Project Runway. If you could crossover with any other Bravo show, what would it be and why?
I don’t know. You know, I was invited to do Project Runway. I just wasn’t available. I have a fashion background, I went to FIT, I have my collections — the under 200 and over … But I think I’m more, at this point, than just fashion. I’m a philanthropist. I’m an entertainer. I like to, at this age, share my wisdom with people, be inspirational. It’s more than fashion. So I wouldn’t say Project Runway. I wouldn’t say Real Housewives because then you’re one of seven girls being very entertaining, and they’re just little snippets of drama — very highlighted moments. I don’t know what show I would do.
I love my show. I love Crappie Lake. That’s my biggest accomplishment in my life so far — is to be able to do that. It’s just such a feel-good thing to walk around and know I have a community there that actually gets me and I get them.
Next up: RHONY: Legacy is premiering in December. What are your thoughts on Peacock swapping seasons and moving up the premiere date?
I think it says a lot about us legends. As you know, OGs, people want us. They want to know: is Luann drinking again? Is Sonja — did she sell that damn townhouse? Does Ramona need to wear a diaper now after Colombia? They just want to know what we’re doing. They’ve been with us and they’ve heard everything from our lives and they want to know where we are. We inspire them because we’ve all been through so much. We still are doing it in heels — but at our age and after what we’ve been through, all the ups and downs. We are in a fishbowl and still handling it pretty darn well. How many hours? Andy [Cohen] said in his first book that it takes eight hours for one episode. So we really have been very vulnerable for a very long time in front of our viewers who love us. When they heard about Ultimate Girls Trip: Legacy, that was it. It was catnip. They need us. They miss us. They’re a part of our lives. They know everything. They feel like they know you already.
It was pretty sad that we lost the 14th [season of RHONY]. I wouldn’t say there ever will be a 14th [season] of us. But I want RHONY — the new show — to do very well. I want them to do well but it’s just going to be different in a different lane.
So yeah, if I can do another RHUGT right away with my girls in a fancy place like St. Barts and the Caribbean, speaking French, shopping — not that I spare that easy. I don’t part with my dollars that quickly, but I did buy a pair of shoes in St. Barts. Spoiler!
I’m so excited to see it.
You’re gonna love it and that’s why they’re bringing it out before the other Ultimate Girls Trip. What happened with me and Luann was magic — seeing their girls together — and they’re missing Ramona and Dorinda. There’s just no way around it. I would have loved to have had Tinsley and some of our other friends — Jill — but maybe on another one. The chemistry between all of us was so perfect. We were just like all sisters. It was real sisterhood on this trip. And we had our drama but like we say, “Conflict, resolution, keep it moving.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake is currently streaming on Peacock.
