• bravo

Tonight at 9 p.m. on Bravo, local heroines/chefs Ashley Merriman (of Branzino) and Robin Leventhal (formerly of Crave) continue to vie for the Top Chef crown. Last week featured:

• Leventhal getting immunity from a complicated team challenge—which involved prepping clams/prawns/lobsters/chops—by pulling a gold poker chip out of a hat borne into the kitchen by approximately 19 spangled/feathered showgirls (the already insanely complicated show is set in Las Vegas, so it's going! to! involve! more! chance! than! ever! as everyone keeps saying over and over)

• "Jersey Mike," Mike Isabella, establishing himself as the season a-hole by making at least two completely sexist comments (one of which involved a no-chick's-gonna-beat-me sentiment, another of which involved calling Leventhal an "old lady" who he "didn't have to worry about")

• Ron Duprat (pictured, because look! at! him!) describing his terrifying emigration by boat from Haiti, being somewhat incomprehensible but lovably jovial as well as gigantic, and doing very well

• Ashley Merriman working away quietly, not getting a lot of attention, but looking damn competent

• Wolfgang Puck as a judge hurling doughnuts and being hilarious ("A doughnut should not be like a football"—throws the doughnut in question across the room—"it should be fluffy, like a cloud!")

• Padma's cleavage

• The making of a dish using seitan, the maker of which dish then got kicked off the show ("It's like a vegan bar midnight special," Padma said in a distinctly underwhelmed tone)

Previews of the rest of the season indicate that Leventhal's cancer-survivorship is going to cause some nuttiness, e.g., “She told everyone she fucking had cancer—that’s a pretty good way to win.” Leventhal also will lose her cool once or twice, it appears. Meanwhile, it looks like Merriman continues to work away quietly, looking damn competent.

Viewing parties tonight may be found at Faire on Capitol Hill and the Bottleneck Lounge on Madison. If you know of any more, put 'em in comments.

All season six bios and more collateral crap than you can shake a stick at here.