If you think it was rushed when you saw it, you should've seen it on the
first day. Maybe it's just nerves, but I don't get the feeling that they are just sitting around the table having fun; it's too forced, as you said. Their theme music should be "The Flight of the Bumble Bees"!
By the way, I love Mario Batali and Michael Symon on the show. Their segments are the only ones worth watching, imho.
When the moderator(?), Clinton Kelly, cuts for a commercial, I always look at the clock and think to myself, "Is it over, already?"... he always seems like he's wrapping up the show.
Maybe it's just first-week jitters. I hope so.