January 2, 2015
'Bringing Up Bates': Duggar Spin-Off Show Airs on UP TV
EDGE READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Well, no one could ever accuse them of being original.
For those who couldn't get enough of that weekly wholesome homo-hating hootenanny called "19 Kids and Counting," the UP TV network, formerly GMC TV and originally Gospel Music Channel has debuted "Bringing Up Bates," a reality series about another big brood who just so happen to be good friends with the Duggars.
Airing Thursdays at 9 P.M. Eastern time, "Bringing Up Bates" follows the lives of father Gil, 49, master of the Bates clan, his wife Kelly Jo,47 and their very large very Christian family. He's owner of a tree-cutting service and she spends her time managing the house and works as a homeschool teacher. Gil and Kelly Jo are the proud parents of 19 children all of whom play musical instruments.
Deja Vu?
According to the blog Duggars Without Pity, Bates family patriarch Gil is on the Board of Directors of Gothard's Institute for Basic Life Principles. Bill Gothard, author of the homeschooling program that both Duggar and Bates family use (Advance Training Institute), came under fire in 2014 amid allegations of abuse from female members.
The Bates family have made cameo appearances on "19 Kids and Counting."
If all of this sounds familiar, it is. "Bringing Up Bates" is a reboot of the failed reality series "United Bates of America" which ran for one season on TLC in 2012.
