Here's How the Locals Reacted to Luann & Sonja Coming to Town For Welcome to Crappie Lake (VIDEO)

Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan are taking a break from New York City to live it up in small-town America in their brand-new series, Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake, which kicks off on Sunday, July 9.

The Real Housewives of New York City alums are heading to Benton, Illinois, a town with a population of nearly 7,000, to help rebuild their community after being devasted by the pandemic. Luann and Sonja's tasks include organizing a variety show, reviving a local theater, and building connections with the town’s residents.

When the Bravolebs aren’t working, they’ll remain out of their element and live like a local throughout their visit. The pair will spend their spare time participating in activities like searching for the famous crappie fish in the lake with their bare hands, going mudding with monster trucks, and of course, they’ll be up to their mischievous ways.

While Luann and Sonja are eager to start their project to improve the town’s spirits, it’s unclear if the residents of Benton share the same enthusiasm about having two RHONY alums in the area. That is until now!

Benton residents react to Luann De Lesseps and Sonja Morgan coming to town

In the clip above, Benton locals chat with BravoTV.com to reveal their feelings about having Luann and Sonja around. Plus, they share if they had any preconceived notions about the RHONY alums.

“I wasn’t for sure who would get off the plane,” Austin, a dog groomer, says in the video. Austin goes on to explain that he recognized Luann and Sonja from “social media” and shares how he expected the dynamic duo to behave. Let him explain, above.

Sonja Morgan and Luann Delesseps pose for a Crappie Lake Season 1 portrait together.

As previously mentioned, Luann and Sonja are responsible for building relationships with the locals, and they appear to be successful in doing so. Alex, a Benton firefighter, reveals that one of the ladies got his “number” to stay in touch during their stay in town. To find out which RHONY alum made the connection, check out the video above. 

Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan Are Back! Get a First Look at Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake

Hear more Benton natives discussing their thoughts on Luann and Sonja by pressing play on the clip above. And check out the full video to find out which local rented The Real Housewives of New York City online to get familiar with the two Housewives.

When does Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake premiere?

Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake kicks off with back-to-back half-hour episodes on Sunday, July 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The show will move into its regular timeslot on Sunday, July 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes will be available to stream next day on Peacock.