Plot Synopsis

UNITED BATES OF AMERICA is a reality series that follows Gil & Kelly Jo Bates and their large brood of 19 children -- 10 girls and 9 boys ranging in age from six-months to 23-years-old -- in the hills of East Tennessee. Each 30-minute episode explores a new family adventure, as they manage the inevitable chaos of their everyday life. Over the course of the season, Kelly Jo and Gil share their love of music and family values -- from homeschooling their children, to goofing off while building chicken coops and whitewater rafting.
The Bates family includes:
Gil: 47-years-old, father and owns the family tree excavation business.
Kelly Jo: 45-years-old, mother and homemaker extraordinaire who loves to cook.
Zach: 23-years-old, oldest brother and recently elected youngest county commissioner in Tennessee.
Michaella: 22-years-old, oldest sister, licensed EMT and nanny.
Erin: 21-years-old, first child to attend college, studying music and teaches piano.
Lawson: 19-years-old, "official" family shopper, runs his own lawn-mowing business.
Nathan: 18-years-old and dad's right hand man in the tree-cutting business.
Alyssa: 17-years-old and spends time on mission trips most recently in Peru with Erin and Tori.
Tori: 16-years-old and plays violin alongside Erin in performances.
Trace: 16-years-old, ready to play ping-pong, football or any other sport with his brothers.
Carlin: 14-years-old, wows the family with her singing as she does laundry and irons.
Josie: 12-years-old and loves to read mystery novels.
Katie: 11-years-old, Kelly Jo's helper with the little kids either brushing hair or tying shoelaces.
Jackson: 10-years-old and causing mischief with his two younger brothers.
Warden: 9-years-old and always willing to lend a hand to his older sisters no matter the task.
Isaiah: 7-years-old and a great future catch with the way he compliments all his sisters.
Addallee: 6-years-old and loves spending time jumping on their trampolines.
Ellie: 5-years-old and likes to swing on their outdoor homemade swings.
Callie: 2-years-old, lights up the room with her smile and laugh.
Judson: 20-months-old and ready to hand over the spotlight to Jeb.
Jeb: 6-months-old and a little trooper despite his medical complications.
The Bates family first appeared on TV when the visited the Duggars in multiple episodes of 17 KIDS AND COUNTING, which earned the Bates their own 60-minute special, "The Bates Family: Baby Makes 19," on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 10pm ET.