"Bringing Up Bates" patriarch Gil Bates celebrated his 50th birthday on January 1, and the milestone birthday was shown on last night's episode of the reality series. 

Bates and his wife, Kelly Jo, are parents to 19 children who helped plan a surprise party for their father's big day. 

The season finale featured the children decorating their home, organising food and drink areas, and practising skits for live entertainment during the party. 

"It was feeling a little overwhelming," Carlin, 16, admitted. 

Kelly took her husband to a bed and breakfast to distract him from the festivities at home, while the children prepared for the arrival of over 100 guests. Gil cried tears of joy when he entered the home. 

The successful series has been picked up for a second season, and UP TV General Manager and EVP Amy Winter said the family continues to gain new fans. 

"Since its premiere in January, 'Bring Up Bates' has been a major success story for us," she said.

The series has grown steadily each week as more and more viewers, along with other family members, tune in to see the daily lifestyle of this uncommon, unimaginable, ever expanding but totally relatable, loving family. 

It's a show that entertains the whole family which makes it perfectly suited for our brand. We are very happy to bring it back for another season and look forward to sharing the new trials, new triumphs and new grandbabies in the upcoming season."

The family-friendly UP channel, short for Uplifting Entertainment. is the former Gospel Music Channel, and features original programming, popular syndicated shows such as "Super Nanny" and "Growing Pains," and now, reality shows.

The Bates are friends with the Duggars of TLC's "19 Kids &Counting," and also have 19 children.