Could the Cancelation of ‘Counting On’ Lead to the End of ‘Bringing Up Bates’?
For more than a decade, two ultra-conservative Christian families have ruled the niche reality TV world. Now, things are in flux. Fans of the Bates family’s show, Bringing Up Bates, fear a cancelation is imminent. They worry that the recent arrest of Josh Duggar and the subsequent cancelation of TLC’s Counting On could spell doom for the Bateses.
‘Bringing Up Bates’ just wrapped its 10th season
The 10th season of Bringing Up Bates was an exciting one. Premiering in April 2021, the season followed several pregnancies and romances. During the season’s 10 episodes, both Nathan Bates and Lawson Bates revealed their new relationship statuses.
Nathan introduced his girlfriend, Esther Keyes, to the family. The couple recently became engaged. UpTV’s cameras also captured Lawson’s deepening relationship with Tiffany Espensen. Lawson and Tiffany have been dating since February 2021. While they don’t seem ready to say “I Do” just yet, fans think they are getting close.
There is plenty more news that will eventually come from the Bates family, fans surmise. They want to see it all on Bringing Up Bates, but they worry a scandal could end the reality TV show. The scandal has nothing to do with the Bates family directly but touches the social circle they run in.
Fans worry that the cancelation of ‘Counting On’ could be a problem for the Bates family
The Bates family is forever linked to the Duggars. The world came to know them on the Duggar family’s original TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting, and they received their reality TV show from it. Now, fans are worried that the link could be trouble for the Bateses, even though they haven’t appeared to have much contact with Josh Duggar or his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, in recent years. Could the Bateses lose their TV show because they are linked to the 33-year-old used car salesman? It’s certainly possible but doesn’t seem likely.
Nothing seems particularly out of the ordinary, and the Bates family has been strategic in how they’ve handled the arrest of someone in their close social circle. In short, they haven’t said much about him, choosing to distance themselves from the Duggars instead of speaking on the topic. The strategy might be just enough to ensure their show continues for at least another season.
Has the ‘Bringing Up Bates’ been renewed or canceled?
There has been no word from UpTV on the Bates family’s TV show, but that doesn’t mean anything is amiss. Bringing Up Bates just finished airing its 10th season last month. UpTV traditionally doesn’t announce a new season until they are close to premiering it, so a lack of information doesn’t necessarily mean the show won’t be renewed.
What could be cause for concern is the abbreviated nature of the show’s 10th season. The show’s 10th season included just 10 episodes. Season 9 of Bringing Up Bates featured 22 episodes. Some Bates family followers fear the abbreviated season could mean that UpTV plans for the end of the show. There is another possible explanation for the short season, though. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic could be to blame for the lack of episodes. For now, fans will need to wait and see.
