Don't be tardy for more 'Dina's Party.' HGTV has ordered 13 more episodes of the party-planning reality series with former 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Dina Manzo.

"Dina's enthusiastic fan base has followed her to HGTV and embraced her entertaining new series," Kathleen Finch, general manager of HGTV, said in a statement. "She really knows how to take a special moment and translate it into an unforgettable party."

Chances are you know Dina Manzo from her time on Bravo's 'Real Housewives of New Jersey.' It's hard to forget her feud with Danielle Staub, the resulting drama -- table flips, gag orders and so much more -- and Manzo's famous exit from the reality series, which was attributed to Staub's antics.

However, it's been more than a year since Manzo said goodbye to 'Housewives' and reality TV as a whole, but when HGTV came a-callin', Manzo said she couldn't refuse their call.

"When I left 'Housewives' I had no intentions of coming back on TV at all," Manzo told AOL TV. "This opportunity came to me and I spoke with my husband and I said, 'You know, not for nothing, I love HGTV. This is what I love to do and you know how happy event planning makes me.'"

With her husband's blessing and the assurance her family and foundation wouldn't be affected by the series, Manzo said it was an easy decision. "I said 'Why not?' I love what I do, I love my team."

Most people don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on fancy fabrics and one-of-a-kind fixtures for their homes.

Enter designer Sabrina Soto, whom you might recognize from one one of the many HGTV shows she's appeared on (most recently, as the home staging expert 'Real Estate Intervention'). In her new series, 'The High Low Project,' which premieres Sat., Sept. 3 at 8:30PM ET, Soto creates lavish rooms for homeowners on tight budgets.

But instead of breaking the bank with her designs, Soto uses the high-end furnishings as inspiration -- creating luxurious rooms that, if the homeowners approve (and really, who wouldn't), she recreates on their budget. That means $31,000 bedrooms for just $4,500 -- a fraction of the original price.

AOL TV chatted with Soto over the summer, and the designer dished on her recent move to New York, what she loves about her new gig, and how she found the HGTV job in the first place.

A familiar face to reality TV viewers will pop up on the Aug. 15 episode of 'Design Star.' Ex-'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Dina Manzo will help Vern Yip and Genevieve Gorder judge the '24-Hour Wedding' challenge.

A party-planner, Dina's profession and skill will come in handy judging the contestants who must create a fantasy wedding reception based on the wishes of the bride and groom.

The contestants will have to use the couple's theme and color, as well as deal with seating, lighting and space planning arrangements all within 24-hours.

Following the 'Design Star' (Mon., 9PM ET on HGTV) episode will be a sneak peek of Dina's new HGTV party-planning series 'Dina's Party' (sneak peek Aug. 15, 10PM on HGTV).

"We throw a party a week at people's homes," Dina told AOL TV. "We completely transform these everyday houses of all sizes and all shapes, into a great party.

On Monday's premiere of the sixth season of HGTV's 'Design Star,' the first challenge saw the designers pair up to decorate rooms in a ginormous New York apartment. It yielded some excellent results -- and more than a few disasters.

Most importantly, we got to know the 12 finalists, who range from a Type-A former newscaster to a criminologist.

After the jump, read my first impressions of the contestants and share your own in the comments.

After five seasons, the formula for HGTV's 'Design Star' could get a little stale. Could being the operative word -- thank goodness it didn't!

On tonight's Season 6 premiere (9PM ET on HGTV), you'll notice a few show shake-ups -- including a move to Monday nights -- before meeting a new crop of 12 ultra-talented and very diverse designers, including a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader/breast cancer survivor and a five-time Emmy-winning New York TV news reporter.

The judging panel will look the same -- HGTV mainstays Genevieve Gorder, Candice Olson and Vern Yip are back -- but 'Design Star' has a brand new host and a weekly design mentor who happens to have a very familiar face. Tanika Ray ('HGTV'd') takes over hosting duties, while David Bromstad, the very first 'Design Star' winner, returns to mentor the current crop of contestants.

Below, judges Gorder, Olson and Yip share five more things to know about the new season.

'Design Star' is back for Season 6 (premieres Mon., July 11, 9PM ET on HGTV), with 12 talented designers vying for their own HGTV show.

We love the reality competition for the innovative designs, shopping meltdowns and the heated style debates, but we also adore the banter between judges Genevieve Gorder, Candice Olson and Vern Yip.


This season, they're adding a few new twists, with previous 'Design Star' winner and current host of 'Color Splash' David Bromstad acting as a mentor for the wannabe TV designers, and 'HGTV'd' host Tanika Ray doing host duty here as well.

But we've got a nice bonus for the show's fans as well: we're giving away a $100 American Express Gift Card to one lucky reader, courtesy of HGTV's 'Design Star.'

We've seen a lot of dramatic living space transformations on HGTV over the years, but the network's star designers and crew really deserve some special recognition for what they pulled off on this week's 'HGTV'd' (Mon., 9PM ET on HGTV).

Tasked with transforming a bland and unused living/dining area into something inspiring for the large but struggling Mars family, designer Sabrina Soto created a completely modern multi-purpose room where the 12 family members could meet for food, coffee, and fun.

The uniquely fascinating romance between rapper-turned-actor Ice T and his model wife Coco will now grace TV screens.

E! announced today that it has ordered eight episodes of 'Ice Loves Coco,' a reality series chronicling the marriage of the 'Law & Order: SVU' actor and his wife, who is attempting some sort of "solo career," according to the press release. The pair has been married for ten years.

In other TV news ...

• If The CW Picks up 'One Tree Hill' for a ninth season, all of the core stars will be back. Bethany Joy Galeotti, Sophia Bush, Austin Nichols, Robert Buckley, Jana Kramer and Lisa Goldstein have all signed on for another season. James Lafferty hasn't signed yet, but will most likely return on a part-time basis. [TV Line]

• HGTV renewed several of its most popular shows, including 'House Hunters,' 'House Hunters International' and 'Property Virgins.' Also returning for more are 'My First Place,' 'For Rent,' 'Real Estate Intervention' and 'Holmes Inspection.' [Variety]

• 'Repo Games' doesn't premiere until tonight, but there's drama already. A man allegedly shot at the show's production team in Las Vegas yesterday. Naturally, cameras captured the incident. [THR]

Dina Manzo, former star of Bravo's 'Real Housewives of New Jersey,' is heading to HGTV in a new party-planning series.

According to Variety, the untitled series will follow Manzo and her events company Design Affairs. Each episode will focus on a different job.

"Dina is an accomplished interior designer and also runs a thriving event planning business," Kathleen Finch, general manager of HGTV, said. "Her 'Real Housewives' fans will be very surprised to see this side of her. Dina brings a unique set of skills to HGTV."

'HGTV Design Star' season 5 winner Emily Henderson knows the secrets to styling a room, but she also knows the secret to being a good TV host: Not to act like a host at all!

When Henderson spoke to me by phone recently, she said one of the biggest lessons she took away from 'Design Star' was just to be herself. "Nobody wants to watch a real person perform," she said, "they want to see an actor perform."

In her new show, 'Secrets From a Stylist' (premiering Sat., 9PM ET), Henderson redecorates a room based on a style diagnostic of the owners. She transforms the space based on one style, then takes it to another level by layering on another -- giving the show two big reveal moments.

As she worked to fix a rug emergency, Henderson chatted about her new show. Read on to see what she said about her own personal style, her budget-conscious tips to updating a room and what to expect from the first season.

Emily Henderson had one of the most compelling arcs on this season of HGTV's 'Design Star.' The Portland, Ore. native went from uncertain underdog in the season's first challenge to determined finalist in the last few episodes.

In last Sunday's finale, she pulled it all together with a stunning New York apartment space and a spunky hosting reel to win the competition and a shot at hosting her own show.

So what will Emily's new show look like? We'll get a taste when she makes over the home of 'Glee' co-creator Ian Brennan this Sunday (10PM ET) on her first HGTV special, 'Secrets from a Stylist.'

I chatted with the new Design Star earlier this week about her new show, her stressful stint as a reality TV competitor, and what it feels like to hear Vern Yip call you a winner.

(S05E01) 'Design Star' is back with new contestants, new challenges and a more hands-on approach from its trio of shrewd and savvy judges.

Former host Clive Pearse has been edged out this season to give chief critics Vern Yip, Candice Olson and Genevieve Gorder more screen time. I'm still not completely sold on this change. I miss Pearse's breezy charm and acerbic asides, but I'm looking forward to hearing more opinion and commentary from the judges.

I'm also looking forward to seeing the contestants work in New York City, the perfect place to show off edgy, urban and upscale designs.

When it comes time to think about some of the best shows on television, the list usually comprises major network programs that get the most attention. But as my top shows have come to a close this season, I've been forced to venture into unknown territories. Upon doing so, I've found some real contenders that have entertained me more than 'The Office,' '30 Rock' and all my other standbys did this year.

Those shows are on HGTV.

Yes, I know that it sounds ridiculous to believe that a channel about "home and garden" could actually captivate audiences, but it can. As a relatively new homeowner, I've found all sorts of great interior design ideas from the channel. I'm also keen on watching first-time home buyers try their luck at buying that first place. Not only does it examine common pitfalls when buying a house, it also sheds some light on how we got into this housing crisis with buyers attempting to own a home that's outside of their budget.

HGTV's breakout hit reality series, 'Design Star,' is getting back into an Empire state of mind.

The fifth season of the show returns to its original location, New York. But that's not the only change in store, according to judge Genevieve Gorder, who spoke to TV Squad by phone yesterday.

Gorder and fellow judges Vern Yip and Candice Olsen take on hosting duties from Clive Pearse. They get more involved in creating the challenges, following the contestants' work from start to finish and mentoring them throughout the entire design process.

A fabulous season is in store for viewers, one that was "a lot more fun," Gorder said.

Check out what else she had to say about 'HGTV Design Star.'