TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"A Raisin in the Sun," 7 p.m., ABC. In 1959, Lorraine Hansberry created an extraordinary play. Characters raged with fear or anger. Each was so richly written that the audience could root for any of them. Twice before, "Raisin" was adapted into superb movies. This one is even better. Phylicia Rashad is rock-solid as Lena, collecting her husband's $10,000 life insurance policy. Sean Combs is her son, Walter Lee, desperate to escape his dead-end job. Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan are his wife and sister. Their dreams collide passionately. Kenny Leon has molded perfect performances. And yes, that includes Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy. He steps into the soul of a man desperate for one shot at life.

OF NOTE

"American Experience: Buffalo Bill," 9 p.m., PBS. Bill Cody was America's first cultural import, this interesting documentary says. He was, for a time, a real cowboy. Then he packaged the Wild West experience into big, brash arena shows.

"Moment of Truth" (Fox) or "Deal or No Deal" (NBC), each 7 p.m. Two game shows collide in prime time. "Deal" is the better one, merely loud and empty; tonight, half of its briefcases have $1 million each. "Truth" is merely dark and nasty; in tonight's episode, it's quite proud of getting a woman to say she would leave her husband for her old boyfriend.

"Welcome to the Captain," 7:30 p.m., CBS. Josh and Hope are separately comforted after their breakup.

"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," 8 p.m., Fox. Sarah breaks into the apartment of Ellison, the FBI agent, and finds dossiers on her past. That leads her to the psychiatrist who made her life miserable. Also, to get information, Cameron takes a ballet class; the world may not be ready for an android ballerina.

"The New Adventures of Old Christine," 8:30 p.m., CBS. Christine feels torn when her son's soccer practice runs late and she strands Mr. Harris.

"In Treatment," 7:30 p.m., HBO. This is the start of an emotional week for Paul, the formerly even-keeled therapist. The trouble starts tonight with a shattered Laura.

"Medium," 9 p.m., NBC. Needing work, Allison is hired by a defense attorney she usually opposes. The problem: Her dreams say the client is guilty.