'Bringing up Bates': Nathan Bates courting a girl, EP speaks out on comparison with Duggar family

The upcoming episode will feature Nathan Bates' courtship with a girl named Ashley Salyer, contrary to the rumors he is courting a Duggar girl.

Without admitting that he is courting Ashley, Nate said, "I've been thinking and praying over the past, you know, four or five months that me and Ashley have been talking. And, you know, there's always things that you never know until they happen."

As reported by Inquisitr, the recent episode showed how the Bates family seems to like Ashley's presence in Nate's life. With the Bates girls asking Ashley for advice on redecorating their bedroom, she was even seen giving Nate side hugs. On the other hand, the two might have to work their way around a long-distance relationship, given that Ashley is currently studying New York.

With a big and religious family like the Bateses, most viewers compare them to the similarly-known family, the Duggars. The Observer recently asked "Bringing up Bates" executive producer Matthew Hightower's take on the comparison between the two families. "I understand that you have to ask about that because it's something that the public is talking about, I'm just really not sure how to respond except to say, yes, there are similarities between the families, but you really can't compare them to each other just as you can't compare any two other families. They're very different from each other in many, many ways, and I think that's all that needs to be said about this," he explained.

Weddings and babies are common among huge families like the Bateses. Since some of the kids are already grown-ups and have already moved out, Hightower believes that scheduling is the greatest challenge the reality show faces. With kids moving as far as Atlanta and Chicago, the series makes sure that everyone remains part of the continuing story.

Given that the youngest of the kids is four years old with the eldest being 27, Hightower does not see the reality series concluding anytime soon. "My wife will cringe when I say this," he laughs, "but I don't see this ending anytime soon. As the kids grow and their lives expand there is an endless amount of storylines to interest an audience. The little ones are so adorable; it's just fun to watch them change and grow. And, let's not forget about the second generation as well. Yep, this could go on for a long, long time," he told The Observer.

"Bringing up Bates" airs Thursdays on UP TV.