Southern Christian Family 'God Called to Be Rich' Flaunts Wealth in New Bravo Reality Series 'Thicker Than Water'
A new reality series billed "Thicker Than Water" featuring the Christian family of Nashville-based gospel jazz artist Ben Tankard, his wife, Jewel, and the wealth "God called" them into, is scheduled to make its debut in November and it's primed to cause a stir.
"This southern family integrates their strong religious conviction with their penchant for the finer things in life. Under the watchful eye of the patriarch and matriarch, the Tankard children, although young adults, still live at home and must abide by Ben and Jewel's rules," notes Bravo in a statement about the show released on Thursday.
"With the belief that 'God wants us all to be millionaires,' the Tankards aim to be the best and brightest in everything they do. Along with their drive comes a healthy dose of rivalry, proving the adage 'You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family,' especially true," the network adds.
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And in a promotional clip from the show on Bravo's website, the Tankards demonstrate why "rich is better."
"The Tankard clan is a blended family. We are the black Brady bunch. We live life on the good side. We live in a 3-level mansion. Seven vehicles to drive, plus I love my airplanes. My finances comes from my musical talent. I've been poor, now I'm rich, believe me, rich is better," declares Ben Tankard in the opening of the video.
"The first time I realized that God wanted us to be rich. I was a senior in college and I saw this phenomenal man and woman of God, standing up preaching the word and honey, ain't nothin' broke about them. I said 'Oh Lord this is the Jesus that I know'," proclaims Jewel Tankard in the clip.
"The Tankards, we do everything big, his and her Mercedes, airplanes, houses, but we're just doing what God called us to do. Sometimes that bothers people but somebody got to have it so why not us?" she adds with a hearty laugh.
The children of the family are then featured highlighting their hopes, dreams and character.
"I'm one of a kind, I'm a businesswoman, I'm a mother and I'm a sister. It hasn't always been easy for me. I've been in trouble with the law and my family but I'm a survivor baby," says Ben's daughter Brooklyn in her introduction.
"In five years, I could see myself being a multimillionaire," says Ben's son Benji Tankard. "Probably owning two hotels, a couple McDonald's, two or three kids. I don't want to be like my dad I want to be better than him. I want to be the man," he adds.
"Being the youngest in my family has its perks. I know just what to say, just what to do, to basically get what I want. It's pretty easy," says Jewel's daughter Cyrene in her sketch.
"Being a millionaire is something that my family talks about a lot but I work my nine to five like it's nobody's business," says Britney, Ben's daughter. "It's kinda like we're a puzzle but I kinda like don't fit. I'm that one piece that you never can find then you find that the next year when you're having the yard sale, that's me," she says.
"Thicker Than Water" is produced by Sirens Media with Rebecca Toth Diefenbach, Valerie Haselton Drescher, Lucilla D'Agostino, Kris Lindquist and Michael Call serving as executive producers. The show will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo.
