Get ready for “Top Chef” overload tonight. The sixth season of Bravo’s brilliant reality show premieres at 9 p.m. tonight with an extra long episode. That’ll be followed at 10:15 p.m. by the season finale of “Top Chef Masters,” with Rick Bayless, Hubert Keller and Michael Chiarello battling for the title.

I think what appeals to me the most about “Top Chef” is that unlike most reality shows, this one features extremely talented competitors doing what they do best. It’s not about personality or stupid stunts, it’s hands-on talent that determines the winner. Whether or not you like the winners – and often I haven’t – it’s hard to argue that they aren’t skilled enough to win.

Tonight’s premiere starts with one of the classic “Top Chef” Quickfire challenges: the mise en place relay, where chefs are in a relay race of cutting, slicing, dicing and whipping ingredients. It’s always fun to watch. The timing of it is a little weird though, with an ungainly 17 competitors and coming so soon after “Top Chef Masters” has their own mise en place challenge.

Click this link for a preview of tonight’s action.

Keep an eye on the three Bay Area competitors: Mattin, the French guy with the Where’s Waldo kerchief; Preeti, who has problems opening the clams; and professional caterer Laurine.