“Bringing Up Bates” Tells All About Being on a Reality Show

“Bringing Up Bates” is a reality show about a family with 19 kids who live in Tennessee airing on UP TV. Yes, they are friends with the Duggar family who’s show “19 Kids and Counting” airs on TLC.  Actually, you have seen the Bates family appear on the Duggar’s show several times.  And since TLC already had one show with 19 kids aka the Duggar family, the Bates were approached by another cable network.

Its the strongest original series ever, it  has been renewed for a second season. The reality series started fast out of the gate with its premiere on New Year’s Day and has continued to grow ever since. Its most recent premiere episode, on February 26, was the highest rated episode to date with an average audience delivery of 786,527  and a #6 ranking among all ad-supported cable networks.

In “Bringing Up Bates,” UP viewers look in on the ever-changing family dynamics of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates and their 19 kids, aged 2 to 25, along with their new grandchild and two more on the way. In this supersized, tight-knit Tennessee family, daily chaos is multiplied exponentially – but so are the joyful and poignant moments that life can bring.

“Since its premiere in January, ‘Bringing Up Bates’ has been a major success story for us,” said Amy Winter, EVP/GM, UP. “The series has grown steadily each week as more and more viewers, along with other family members, tune in to see the daily lifestyle of this uncommon, unimaginable, ever expanding, but totally relatable, loving family. It’s a show that entertains the whole family which makes it perfectly suited for our brand. We are very happy to bring it back for another season and look forward to sharing new trials, new triumphs and new grandbabies in the upcoming season.”

When we  asked mom, Kelly, about if being on a reality show was something they had considered,” being on a tv show was not something we were seeking,  we were approached by ABC  Nightline. We  were  very hesitant. After our Nightline for ABC  appearance, we decided to do it.  There were so many challenges, we had to learn how to talk to a camera, come outside or ourselves, share our faith and our family. We have been  so encouraged by our viewers.  We go thru the same struggles as other people with one child  or in our case 19 children.”

Gil Bates, Father of the Bates Clan, tell us what his  experience from the show has taught him, “it has  forced us  to formulate what you believe and what your thoughts are and put into words what you think for other people. It also helps our children come out of the box and be more expressive. We have learned a lot. UP has worked well with us and having a total of 24 people including spouses and grandchildren.  It’s a lot of people and they have  been very patient.”

Take a look at this week’s episode when the family goes to Florida to visit daughter Alyssa and her husband, John. Life is different in Florida than Tennessee and things get interesting when the ultra-conservative clan hit the beach – some have never set foot in the ocean. The family then spends a day at a local aquarium and then visits an orange grove where they get a wild truck ride on the biggest monster truck they’ve ever seen!