''Bringing Up Bates'' (stylized as ''Br1n9ing Up Bates'') is an American
reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
show on
Up TV
UP TV (stylized as UPtv; formerly GMC TV and originally Gospel Music Channel) is an American basic cable television network that was founded to have a focus on gospel music. It has expanded into family-friendly original movies, series, and special ...
. It is centered around Gil and Kelly Bates, their 19 children, and extended family.
On January 18, 2022, Up TV announced the show's cancellation after 10 seasons, with the network stating that they are shifting their focus onto new movies and scripted shows for 2022. The family and film crew had already filmed episodes for season 11 which will not air due to its cancellation.
Background
The Bates family was previously featured on a 2012 TV series called ''United Bates of America'' on
TLC
TLC may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Television
* ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2
* TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network
** TLC (Asia), an A ...
, and it was later announced in October 2014 that the family would return in a new series which would be called ''Bringing Up Bates'' on Up TV. The series debuted on January 1, 2015.
The show follows the daily lives of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates, not far from
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Tennessee, Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Di ...
and their large family of eighteen children. Another child was born in 2012, bringing the number to 19 children.
The high number of children is partly related to their
Fundamental Baptist beliefs that prohibit
contraception
Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
.
Cast
The cast includes William Gilvin "Gil" Bates, Kelly Jo Bates, and their children Zachary, Michaela, Erin, Lawson, Nathan, Alyssa, Tori, Trace, Carlin, Josie, Katie, Jackson, Warden, Isaiah, Addallee, Ellie, Callie, Jud and Jeb.
Episodes
Series overview
Specials
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2 (2015)
Season 3 (2016)
Season 4 (2016)
Season 5 (2017)
Season 6 (2017)
Season 7 (2018)
Season 8 (2019)
Season 9 (2020)
Season 10 (2021)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates Family, The
2010s American reality television series
2015 American television series debuts
Baptist drama television series
English-language television shows
Television shows filmed in Tennessee