It's fun watching a bunch of babies scream at each other in a kitchen full of sharp knives, boiling oil, and fire. The obnoxiousness on the most recent season of "Top Chef" brought us tears, arrogance, balled-up fists, and a horrible joke about cancer. There was also a lot of fine cooking, but compared to "Top Chef Masters," those contestants look like the cast of "Romper Room." So, welcome back, masters! The fun begins Wednesday, April 7 at 11 PM ET/PT; the following week, it moves to its regular time, 10 PM ET/PT. More after the jump.

James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter is reporting today that Art Smith, Oprah Winfrey's longtime personal chef, will get his own cooking show on TLC next year. The show will be called "Craving Comfort," and talk about America's comfort foods. Now, I like Art Smith: He was great on "Top Chef Masters," above, and I love comfort food. But really, was there any doubt that Art Smith would find his own TV celebrity? He's affable and everything, sure. But remember, he works for Oprah. It's a wonder that he doesn't have his own network by now.

Oprah might be abandoning her own show, but she's still a kingmaker. Check it out: Oprah's health guru -- Dr. Oz -- got his own show; Oprah's hack psychologist -- Dr. Phil -- got his own show; and Oprah's favorite muppet cooking personality -- Rachael Ray (last seen feuding with Martha Stewart) -- got her own show. So really, if I were the talented, charismatic, and funny Art Smith, I'd be thinking it's about time. But then, Oprah would ring her room-service bell and demand an egg white omelet with ground rhino horn succotash, and I'd go back to work. Because it is Oprah after all.

Nothing trips up contestants on "Top Chef" more than dessert. Even the masters in the clip above dread making it. Thus, Bravo is casting a new show for pastry chefs, "Top Chef: Just Desserts." It is expected to debut in 2010, and the addition would give the franchise a year-round presence with "Top Chef Masters" being picked up for a second season. More after the jump.

"Top Chef Masters" and it has been picked up for a second season, Variety reports. Kelly Choi will be back as host in 2010, with judges Gael Greene, James Oseland, Jay Rayner, and Gail Simmons.

The show is a wonderful idea: it benefits charity, which gave the famous chefs in Season 1 good reason to be competitive, even though they've made their names, and therefore don't have so much to prove. It's also nice to see how different the show is when the contestants don't strut around with so much bravado (exception: Michael Chiarello). But most importantly, the show gives fans a glimpse at how difficult the challenges are -- even for the best chefs in the country. How can we not have even more appreciation for the relative youngsters on "Top Chef" when we see culinary stars flop on a Quickfire?

Stefan Richter did not make too many friends on "Top Chef," but seemed to have the Season 5 title well in hand -- only to lose to a chef that some people (me) think was the worst chef ever to win, Hosea Rosenberg. Well, maybe Rosenberg is in a tie with Season 2 winner Ilan Hall for that claim.

Regardless: Richter took the loss well enough, perhaps because he knew he would not define his career with a Bravo reality show. In the clip above, Richter discusses his love for Santa Monica while searching for great fish (not hard to find there), and it is not a coincidence that his name is now attached to Santa Monica's L.A. Farm.

The L.A. Times reviewed the restaurant -- dubbed Stefan's at L.A. Farm -- and critic S. Irene Virbila was brave enough to admit that she never saw him on the show. This is probably a good thing. Her verdict on Richter's food? Delicious. Read the review here.

Rick Bayless won "Top Chef Masters" last night after wowing the critics (and the five past "Top Chef" winners) with his Oaxacan black mole sauce. Mole is notoriously difficult to prepare -- Bayless's creation had 23 ingredients -- and the chef claimed to have spent 20 years mastering his version.

Bayless grew up in Oklahoma City (where his family owned a barbecue restaurant), and is largely self-taught in Mexican cuisine. He earned a total of $110,000 for his Frontera Farmer Foundation on the show, and was such a nice, gracious guy (proof above) that we'll overlook the fact that his brother Skip is the most obnoxious troll on ESPN.

Didn't we all kind of know that Hubert Keller was the man to beat after he rocked the dorm-room challenge? Not that Rick Bayless has no shot, but Hubert seems primed to win next week's finale. Michael "What's My Name?" Chiarello also advanced, edging out Anita Lo, who had to pack her knives.

While seeing Anita make her exit was a little disappointing, it wasn't as disappointing as seeing the wannabe master chefs from "Top Chef" seasons past make asses of themselves. Sure, it is to be expected from a hack like Spike, but Dale really lowered the bar on what had been an honorable, drama-free series (FOR CHARITY!) by basically challenging Michael Chiarello to a fight in the kitchen. And yes, Michael was pretty irritating with the whole "What's my name?" bit, but guess what? This is "Top Chef Masters," emphasis on "masters." Chiarello is not some punk who is trying to launch his career and gain a little fame via a reality show.

Anyway, Hubert won with Scottish salmon and a corn pancake with caviar asparagus spears. After the jump, you can find out how to make the winning dish, hear what Hubert and Anita had to say, and watch the "What's my name?" video.

Michael Chiarello's quinoa spaghetti wowed "Top Chef Masters" last night, and Art Smith packed his knives.

"I thought there was such good food on the tables," Chiarello said of the competition. "I didn't see any mistakes in anybody's food. I thought they were conceptually well developed, but this one dish seemed to hit the mark and I went home with the prize."

In the elimination challenge, the chefs had to cook for Zooey Deschanel, a vegan who is allergic to soy and gluten and, oh by the way, just happens to be in the current movie "(500) Days of Summer"! That's synergy, people. More on the night's competition after the jump.

It was a mysterious evening on "Top Chef Masters": the kitchen wizards had to make a meal from a boxful of ingredients chosen by their competitors. (See video, above.) Also mystifying: how tiny 8-year-old Ciana managed to sing like that on "America's Got Talent," and why anyone would want to take his ex-wife to Kosovo, as Teddy did on "The Philanthropist." After the jump, find the answer to all of life's questions (or at least what you missed on TV last night).

There is something refreshing about watching master chefs compete instead of people who have yet to make a name for themselves -- especially when everyone is competing for charity (instead of self-interest).

In tonight's episode, the chefs pack a box full of food for a competitor to cook. Watch the video above, and then ask yourself what kind of box Ilan Hall would have packed for Marcel Vigneron during Season 2.

After the jump are Web-only interviews with Art Smith, Jonathan Waxman, Roy Yamaguchi, and Michael Cimarusti.