Sticky & Sweet - "Top Chef Just Desserts" Returns August 24

The B team is back with a second season of "Top Chef - Just Desserts."

True, the B team has the charming and knowledgeable Gail Simmons over from the big boy "Top Chef" show to host the proceedings, but season two of the show suffers from the same problem as the first - sweet stuff gets repetitive pretty fast. The variety of dishes the chefs crank out flatlines pretty early, so we're left with the contestants' personalities for entertainment. The second season crop threatens to fail to deliver on that front.

The one contestant that even sticks in your mind is the inept, "how-did-he-even-get-on-this-show?" guy. That's a problem. It might be due to two team challenges in a single episode which left little room for quality time with individuals. The two-person quick fire proves again that new contestants rarely watch previous seasons. Guys, if they've brought you to a soda shop, it's not for a snack. Start thinking noveau ice cream treats!

There's a bit of glimmer of hope in pastry school owner Chris Hanmer, who seems poised to crank out some serious good eats, and the promise of anger-fueled drama from Orlando Santos, owner of a Pittsburgh chocolate shop, who seems defensive but talented.

Also tasty is the genial presence of silver-haired French chef Hubert Keller, sorely needed to balance out head judge Johnny Iuzzini, back for a second season and still not cracking a smile. Johnny is so badass-cum-dour that you'd swear he cooks with salt instead of sugar; even his positive critiques of dishes sound like condemnations.

Food Republic contributing editor Dannielle Kyrillos rounds out the judging panel, filling the "wait, there were four judges?" role.

Even with the weakness of the first episode, it's probably worth tuning in for a few more as guest judges from Beastie Boys' Adam Horovitz and the cast of "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" are promised (the Veruca Salt - just sayin').