'Shakeups, Steak, and Showtime' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Shakeups, Steak, and Showtime!"

• Lawson is thrilled to receive a bunch of copies of his new CD. “When you finally get a mastered product on a disk, that’s something special, and being able to bring it in and show the family, it’s a really cool moment,” says the budding country musician. “When the boxes showed up at the door, I was just praising the Lord.”
• Lawson is preparing for a big charity concert in Knoxville benefiting the East Tennessee Children’s hospital.
• Zach and Whitney drop Bradley and Kaci off at the family’s house so they can go on a dinner date. It’s their first time eating at Ye Olde Steak House, the restaurant where Gil and Kelly used to order celebratory meals from when they had a baby.
• The “little” Bates couple will soon celebrate their three-year wedding anniversary. Zach has recently switched from night shifts to day shifts. Bradley always waits eagerly by the door for his dad to come home.
• “Do you remember though when we first got married and you asked me if you could be a cop?” Whitney asks Zach. “I was like, ‘No, you can’t be a cop; no way.’ Now I can’t imagine you doing anything different.”
• “I’m loving my job, but more than anything, I love having a family,” shares Zach.
• Emily Ann Roberts is unable to make it to the charity concert, so Lawson asks Carlin to sing Emily Ann's parts. Carlin says there is no way she can fill Emily Ann’s shoes, but Lawson believes in her.
• It’s the evening of the show, and the music is scheduled to start in 45 minutes. The computer system goes down, and the family members and friend who are helping are having difficulty scanning the tickets.
• “There was a little bit of confusion,” says Kelly. “A little bit of confusion?” responds Gil. “Maybe a lot of confusion,” corrects Kelly.
• The show finally starts, and the fans are hyped up. Lawson is disappointed when he forgets the words to one of his songs, but he quickly moves past it. “Mess-ups happen, but taking it light and watching people’s reactions, making sure they’re enjoying themselves, I think is a lot more important than perfection,” says Lawson.
• Lawson and Carlin’s “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” duet ends up sounding great.
• At the end of the concert, Lawson brings AJ and two other kids from the children’s hospital up on stage to sing “Jesus Loves Me.”
• “Here are little kids that are very sick,” says proud father Gil. “They have been through some of the hardest times in life, and yet, they’re there to sing a song to encourage us. It was a moving moment.”
• “I can’t even begin to say how proud I was of Lawson,” says Zach. “The hardest person in the world to impress is your big brother, and Lawson has impressed me above and beyond.”

Season 5 Premiere Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Summer Lovin', Guitar Strummin and a Surprise a Comin'"...

• The Bates head to The Wilds overnight camp in North Carolina to pick up Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah. This is the first time any Bates kids have gone to sleepaway camp without the rest of the clan. Bobby Smith, Tori's boyfriend, is a counselor at the camp.
• Tori gives an update on her relationship with Bobby: "We've been together for about a year now, like officially, unofficially, like technically but not technically. We're together but we're not together. It's confusing. We're gonna get married."
• "Bobby was interested in a courtship," shares Gil. "I said, 'Well you need to get to know each other a little more before we really move into something more official.' So it looks like they're moving in that direction, and we'll see what happens." 
• Bobby lives in Tampa, Florida, and also goes to school in Florida, while Tori lives and attends school near Knoxville, Tennessee.  
• "I think every parent wants to see their children happy," says Kelly. "And of course if Bobby's anywhere nearby...Tori is bubbling over, so as a parent, I'll be anxious to see where her future is leading over the next few months.
• Bobby gives the Bates a tour of the camp. The first stop is the giant swing. "I saw the cables, I saw the spring, I saw that thing, and I knew, this is something my wife would never do," states Gil. The kids know their mom will never agree to ride if she knows how it works, so they don't tell her. She goes into it thinking it's a calm, romantic ride.
• When Kelly realizes what's happening, it's too late. "What are y'all doing to me?" she shouts. "This is not a ride, this is a torture contraption!" The Bates mom screams the entire time. 
• Next stop is the lake, which features jumping platforms, a giant blob, and ziplines. 
• Back in Tennessee, Lawson is preparing for a short concert tour to showcase his new CD. He heads to the studio to record vocals, accompanied by Kelly and Josie. "My mom is my number one supporter, and I appreciate all of her encouragement," says Lawson. The first song is a duet with Emily Ann Roberts. 
• "When you see your child strive for something, you can't help but be proud as a mom," says Kelly, beaming.
• Later, Gil, Lawson, Nathan, and Carlin help Trace practice for his Dixie Stampede audition. In addition to trick riding, Trace is going to have to learn showmanship and dancing. 
• Dancing is something the Bates have never done. Kelly says her son might have to take some lessons. "Dancing is not in my comfort zone," admits Trace. 
• "I don't think I ever dreamed I would see the day when my mom would be encouraging anyone in my family to take dance lessons," says Zach, smiling. "We're all starting to realize that there are extremes with everything, but what's your heart? Are you wanting to do this in a good, uplifting, and appropriate way, or is this more in a negative connotation?"
• "We never really danced as a family, probably because a lot of the teenage dancing gets a little bit too close for comfort for Gil...," says Kelly. The Bates parents admit they are having to reevaluate now that the kids are growing up.
• "[Trace] kind of was the shy one, but he's coming out of this box, and he's finding out who he is on his own without following in his brothers' shadows," says Kelly.
• At Zach and Whitney's house, the family of four enjoys time together on one of Zach's days off. He is in law enforcement and works 12-hour shifts, which is difficult for his wife and kids. They head over to Gil and Kelly's house for a family day with the whole clan (minus the Websters--or so everyone thinks--and Keilens).
• After everyone arrives, longtime friend Mrs. Dingus surprises the family with a visit. She is carrying flowers and a basket of gifts. The Bates automatically assume someone is pregnant. The kids are even asking Mom if she's expecting. Everyone gathers around, and Mrs. Dingus passes out the gifts. Inside are two of Alyssa and John's maternity photos. They are expecting a baby girl whose name will be Lexi Mae. The family is shocked. They run outside to greet the Websters.
• "I don't think there's any...emotional word to capture what you feel like when you find out you're going to have a new granddaughter," says Gil.

Gil Bates the Tree-Trimmer

We have one more preview of tonight's show to share with you all. Lawson, Nathan, and Carlin Bates share comments while watching themselves and the rest of the family visit Alyssa and John Webster during Christmas 2014. Hardworking Gil brings equipment all the way from Tennessee to trim a tree for his daughter and son-in-law.

Bringing Up Bates "From the Couch: The Bates Go To Florida" airs tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT on UP. Come back to the blog after the show to read our written recap.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Recap: 'Bates Dish It Out"

Bringing Up Bates "Bates Dish It Out"

• Zach and Chad work together to make a little bed for Bradley. “…The man has never-ending talents,” says Tori of Chad. “He’s amazing.”
• Lawson joins his producer, Andy Leftwich, at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville to continue work on his upcoming album. “I’m always nervous going into the studio,” admits Lawson. “There’s so much going into it. You want to make sure you’re getting what you want out of it.”
• “I think Lawson is seeing his music career really starting to grow,” shares Kelly. “Yes it requires talent…but I think a large majority of it is knowing the right people, being at the right place at the right time.” Stay tuned for details on Lawson's fall tour.
• Emily Ann Roberts, who recently scored second place on The Voice, joins Lawson in the recording studio. The two vocalists give viewers a sneak peek of one of the duets they are performing together. Surprisingly, it's a heartbreak song. 
• Trace: “Why do you do a breakup song when you should be doing a love song or something?”
• Lawson: “Hey, you sing about what’s real to you.”
• Nathan: “All that he’s ever known is breakups, so that’s what’s real to him.”
• “I feel really, really blessed to be a part of this,” shares Emily Ann. “I’m really thankful that Lawson invited me to be on his record. I think it’s going to be incredible.” 
• According to Callie, “Emily Ann has a voice like an angel.”
• Back in East Tennessee, everyone heads out the door to eat lunch at Austin’s Steak and Homestyle Buffet, an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord. Gil and Kelly say it has been a while since their family has been to a buffet.
• “The kids going to a buffet is like turning a child loose in a candy store,” explains Gil. “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips."
• Most of the family members eat way too much, but not Tori. “You know what Tori did?” says Carlin. “Tori felt great afterwards ‘cause she walks in the buffet and what does she get at a buffet? A SALAD! So then, she started eating her big salad, so then I felt bad, so I had to get me a salad. So I ate that plus everything else, and so then I really felt bad.” 

The song playing in the background towards the end of the episode is "Bring A Little Joy," performed by Jasmine Ash. 

Driver's Ed with the Bates Family

It's time for Josie Bates and Katie Bates to learn how to drive! You would think that after teaching nine children to operate a motor vehicle Gil and Kelly Bates would be professional driver's ed instructors, but as you'll see in this week's episode, it's still a chaotic ordeal.

In the extended scene below, Josie and Katie join Kelly, Lawson, and Carlin in the 15-passenger van to learn the basics.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Carlin: 'I was seriously running out of breath'

As we mentioned in this morning's blog post, UP has an exciting Bates family special in store for you tomorrow at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

In the following sneak peek clip, Lawson, Nathan, Trace, Carlin, Katie, and Josie reveal what was going through their minds during the pursuit driving simulation at the Police Academy. Do you remember Carlin's comment about meeting "her dead"? Find out what she really meant to say...

Photo/video courtesy of UP

"Bringing Up Bates" Episode Summaries

The all-new UP original series Bringing Up Bates premieres in two days! Let's see what's in store for the Bates family in the first three episodes...

Thursday, January 1, 9:00pm ET
Bringing Up Bates “Meet the Bates” (60 min) 
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.

Thursday, January 8, 9:00pm ET
Bringing Up Bates “Courtship and Marriage” (30 min)
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 Michael is in a 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, 9:00pm ET
Bringing Up Bates “Bates Gone Wild” (30 min) 
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.

Photo: Courtesy of UP