And so it is for the Food Network, which found itself with a competitor for its hit series "The Next Food Network Star." Bravo launched "Top Chef," last year and in some circles that series has grabbed the lion's share of the buzz.

"The Next Food Network Star" returns for a third season this Sunday, and longtime fans will notice a number of changes in the show. Some of them are no doubt in response to "Top Chef," but many of them seem to reflect the success of last season's winner, Guy Fieri. Fieri has turned into one of hot new chefs on the network, and he recently rolled out a second Food Network series, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." (Click here for my interview with Fieri).

Fieri's success seems to have given the network more motivation to raise the profile of the show, and that's reflected in the fact that three of the network's on-air talents make an appearance in episode one. This series is a big deal for the Food Network, and the pace and budget of the show seemed to have been ratcheted up quite a bit this time around.

Like in previous incarnations, this season's contestants encompass a wide range of looks and skills, although there may be a few too many caterers for my liking. After a quick intro, the contestants are quickly thrown into three cooking challenges, including one that requires them to decorate a wedding cake. That challenge--hosted by "Ace Of Cakes" star Duff Goldman-brings out the worst instincts in some of the contestants. Some of the resulting cakes look as if a smurf exploded on them, and only about half of them are even remotely appropriate for a wedding. (Click here for my interview with Duff Goldman).

As it turns out, the winning cake will be part of a real wedding ceremony, and the real-life reception will be catered by the contestants. They break up into two teams, and are given money and not much time to create, cook and present their dishes to the bridal party.

This segment is hosted by "Dinner Impossible" star Robert Irvine, who attempts to keep the teams on track and on time. I don't envy his challenge, since keeping these teams focused is the cooking equivalent of herding house cats.

Without giving away too much, it's not an exaggeration to say that both teams make some really dumb missteps and one team manages to run out of food and leave their serving stations empty.

"The Next Food Network Star" has always been an entertaining show, and if the first episode is any indication, this season will be the best yet. Several of the contestants already seemed poised for a breakout, including financial planner Tommy Grella, ex-Marine Josh Garcia and homemaker Amy Finley.

Upcoming challenges reflect the network's desire to open up the show and make it more challenging. The finalists will battle "on the road" for three of the season's nine episodes, including a visit to an army barracks in Fort Dix, N.J., to create a comfort dish for 75 soldiers, a visit to the New Jersey Nets arena in East Rutherford, N.J., to put a unique stamp on stadium food and a cook-off at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival in Miami.

If the show has a flaw, it's that in some way it's a victim of its own success. Like any successful reality show, once people realize that appearing on the show has some promotional value, the series is bombarded with contestants who aren't necessarily as interested in the prize as they are in appearing on TV and boosting their careers.

This season of "Next Food Network Star" seems to have a few participants who potentially fall into that category. Rory Schepisi seems to be one example of that trend, since this is the second reality series appearance for her (the first being the 2005 CMT show "Popularity Contest.") In fact, she was recently quoted as hoping that her appearance on the show would boost the success of her new restaurant, located in Vega, Texas. "It's going to entice people who are traveling who might have seen the show to say, 'Hey, you know what? I remember Rory's restaurant's in Vega. Let's get off and get on Route 66 and go check it out,'" Schepisi told a Ft. Worth newspaper reporter.

Now, using a TV appearance as a career boost isn't a crime. But it's a fine line between having ambitious participants and having people who care less about the show and its purpose than how much face time is available in each episode. The success of "The Next Food Network Star" has been its focus on the cooking, and I'm hopeful it remains that way this season. I don't mind a lot of personality in a chef. But I don't want them to forget that they're appearing on the "Food" Network.

But despite my slight qualms, the show is still the best way to spend a Sunday evening. "The Next Food Network Star" is a roller coaster ride for foodies, and one of the best reality shows on television.

"The Next Food Network Star" premieres on the Food Network on Sunday, June 3rd, 2007.