TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"American Masters: David Hockney: The Colors of Music," 9 p.m., PBS. David Hockney, now 70, has been a wildly prolific and far-ranging artist. For one grand stretch, he made glowing sets for operas. That phase faded as Hockney was hit by congenital hearing problems. Fortunately, this documentary caught some of his final shows; it was a period so productive that one opera company hired Hockney first, before choosing a director. There are plenty of slow moments here, as Hockney tries to talk about a process that simply isn't verbal. But there are also glowing visuals, backed by the music of Wagner, Mozart, Puccini, Stravinsky and more.

OF NOTE

"Sarah, Plain and Tall" (1991), 6 p.m., Hallmark. Next week, Glenn Close gives a fierce portrait in the cable series "Damages." To admire her range, catch this totally opposite portrayal. Close plays a good-spirited Easterner, moving to the stoic prairie life, in Christopher Walken's home. It's a gently well-crafted film.

"So You Think You Can Dance," 7 p.m., Fox. We're down to a dozen dancers now, most of them extremely talented. Two will be eliminated Thursday.

"Rescue Me," 7 p.m., FX. Last week, the guys received the jolting news that their former chief had committed suicide instead of moving to a desk job. Now the new chief arrives, played by Jerry Adler, Meanwhile, Franco proposes marriage, Sean proposes divorce and Tommy humiliates himself at a hockey game.

"Ferrets: The Pursuit of Excellence," 8 p.m., PBS. You know you're in another world when you hear a woman announce: "To me, ferrets are my reason for living." Another woman says her family understands that after work, she must spend three hours with her ferrets. It's an odd world that viewers will alternately consider funny, sad, charming or pathetic. Fortunately, it's all freshened with lots of bouncy music and pictures that are fun — assuming that you like viewing a house filled with weasel-like creatures.

"American Inventor," 8 p.m., ABC. As the semi-finals get closer, here are auditions from Houston and Tampa.

"Last Comic Standing," 8 p.m., NBC. The good news is that the auditions are over now and the finalists are ready to compete. The bad news: The show is back to the 8 p.m. slot, where it can be overwhelmed by Fox's zestful dance show.

"Traveler" finale, 9 p.m., ABC. As this series opened, two guys were framed for a deadly bombing. They soon learned they had been set up by their college pal Will Traveler - except that isn't his real name and they know nothing about him. It was a good idea, but never drew an audience. Tonight's "season finale" is likely to be the series finale; the guys finally catch up with Will.

"CSI:NY," 9 p.m., CBS. The murder victim seems to have misinterpreted the Bible story: He built an ark - then charged people to be on it.