New Show: Bringing Up Bates!

Long time, no see!

This blog has been a bit neglected since the Bate's TLC show, United Bates of America, was cancelled. However, get ready for more regular posts because the Bate's have a new show!

Bringing Up Bates premieres Thursday, Janurary 1 on the UP Network at 9pm EST.

Episode descriptions for the first 3 episodes are below:

January 1 at 9pm EST:

Bringing Up Bates: Meet the Bates  

 Meet the super-sized Bates family: Parents Gil and Kelly Jo Bates have 19 kids, 3 kids-in-law, and their first grandbaby on the way! The house is buzzing as the family gathers for dinner, including married couples Zach & Whitney -- who are expecting baby Bradley in one month – and Erin & Chad. As Kelly Jo and the girls plan a baby shower for Whitney, Gil and the older boys are off to a tree cutting job. Later, Erin shares that she had another miscarriage and is struggling to get pregnant. On the day of the shower, chaos ensues when Trace gets into a car accident and sibling Alyssa and her husband, John, arrive from Florida with news of their own.

January 8 at 9pm EST:

Bringing Up Bates: Courtship and Marriage 

Newlywed Erin Bates is adjusting to married life, going from a house with 18 siblings to a house with just her husband, Chad. To help ease the transition to a quiet house and help the heartache of another miscarriage, she hosts her younger siblings for a sleepover. Meanwhile, eldest daughter Michaela is in courtship with a young man named Brandon, who is away at seminary school in Texas. She wants to surprise him with a visit, but how will that go over with the Bates family’s strict courtship and intimacy rules? Then, at Zach and Whitney’s final ultrasound before the birth, the couple gets honest about having a baby – and if they’ll follow in Zach's parents' footsteps in every sense. Later, at an OBGYN check-up, Erin and Chad get news that impacts their desire to start a family.

Thursday, January 15 at 9pm EST:

Bringing Up Bates: Bates Gone Wild 

Nothing like driving lessons and a camping trip to bring out family dynamics. As the Bates family gears up to rough it outdoors – how do they pack for so many and move the troops all at once? – Tori and Carlin’s nerves are rattled by older brothers Zach and Lawson as they practice one last time for their driving test. Later, settling in at the campsite proves challenging as not everyone is thrilled to be in the wild. Then as Gil, Kelly Jo and the older kids take a canoe trip, 16-year old Carlin babysits 8 younger siblings. As daunting as it seems, she fares better than the adults do on the canoe trip.

Here's to a successful return to television for the Bates! Leave them your well wishes in the comments.