Hate to say it, but last night’s Food Network premiere of Sugar Rush, featuring Cakelove’s Warren Brown, gets mixed reviews from us. On one hand, Brown is great to look at and has fun with his interviewees. But on the other hand, he’s like a smiling deer in headlights when it’s just him and the camera. Next time, do a few head rolls and shake out those lanky limbs, Warren.

If we had a third hand, we might point out that the show must have been in the hopper for ages. In the first segment, which featured Duff Goldman from Charm City Cakes, Brown helps make a cannon cake that shoots fireworks for Independence Day. Last time we checked the calendar, it was October. Timeliness does not seem to be an issue for the folks at Food.

The theme of the show was celebrations and for that Brown contributed a recipe for raspberry chocolate parfaits. Not a horrible choice but is a parfait really all that festive? We were really looking for Brown’s molten-chocolate-filled Buzz Ball, a true party in every bite.

Once Brown relaxes in front of the camera and the producers keep the time of year in mind, the show might be worthwhile. Until then, we’ll watch out of loyalty to the Hometown Boy Who Made Good and in the hopes that he’ll tell us how to make that Buzz Ball at home.