Bruce Willis returns to the stage in Sam Shepard’s acclaimed comedy “True West” (7 p.m., Showtime), taped before a live audience in 2001. Willis brings a dark wit and a palpable sense of danger to his performance as Lee, the petty thief brother of Austin (Chad Smith), an Ivy League-educated screenwriter.

Austin is house-sitting his mother’s (Danielle Kennedy) California home while working on a new screenplay. His filthy, scheming brother unexpectedly arrives to interrupt his creative solitude. As the brothers bicker, we can see that they share a mutual contempt, spiked with curiosity and envy. The bedraggled Lee really gets Austin’s goat when he pitches a movie idea to Austin’s slick Hollywood connection (Andrew Alburger).

“True West” is a production of the Company of Fools regional theater, founded by Willis in 1997 in his adopted hometown of Hailey, Idaho. This performance of “True West” has been dedicated to the memory of Willis’ younger brother Robert, who died of pancreatic cancer last June.

“Rank” (9 p.m., E!) commemorates the late King of Rock ‘n’ Roll with a countdown of “The 25 Reasons We Love Elvis.” Apparently, the “reasons” include his suede jump suits, his signature sideburns and Graceland, his family home and the current world headquarters of Elvis Inc. Host Brooke Burns interviews Presley friends, fans and colleagues, including Eddie Murphy, Steven Tyler, Kurt Russell, Dick Clark and Sam Phillips. Friday will mark the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death.

Aamir Khan, one of India’s top heartthrobs, stars in the opulent Bombay produced musical “Lagaan: Once Upon a Time In India” (10:45 p.m., Starz). Khan plays a cricket-playing rebel who challenges British colonial taskmasters by beating them at their own game. Like most “Bollywood” extravaganzas, “Lagaan” combines comedy, drama, political intrigue and elaborate musical numbers. This film received a 2001 nomination for Best Foreign Film.

Tonight’s other highlights

A street illusionist spends three days encased in ice in the 2000 magic special “David Blaine: Frozen in Time” (7 p.m., ABC). This repeat includes new footage and commentary by Blaine.

Shelby (Halle Berry) begins to think twice about her rebellious plans to marry a jazz musician as the 1998 television drama “The Wedding” (8 p.m., ABC) concludes.

Television sport’s most controversial commentator is recalled in the repeat profile “Howard Cosell: Telling it Like it is” (7 p.m., HBO).

Scheduled on “48 Hours” (9 p.m., CBS): Suspicion falls on a wealthy art dealer after he survives the car crash that killed his wife.

Series notes

“Dog” is new … Doug tries to get Carrie tipsy so she will forget about his diet on “King of Queens” (7 p.m., CBS) … Joe Rogan hosts “Fear Factor” (7 p.m., NBC) … Lipschulz discovers a long lost son on “Boston Public” (7 p.m., Fox) … Nikki attracts a younger man on “The Parkers” (7 p.m., UPN) … A contentious dinner party on “7th Heaven” (7 p.m., WB). Corporate softball on “Yes, Dear” (7:30 p.m., CBS) … On two episodes of “One on One” (UPN), Flex dates an older woman (7:30 p.m.), and there’s a Thanksgiving romance (8:30 p.m.).

Robert pretends to be Ray to impress a date on “Everybody Loves Raymond” (8 p.m., CBS) … Brooke Burns hosts “Dog Eat Dog” (8 p.m., NBC) … On back-to-back episodes of “Titus” (Fox), Amy’s secret (8 p.m.), Titus befriends a touch-feeling seminar leader (David Hyde Pierce) (8:30 p.m.) … Joan confronts her stodgy boss on “Girlfriends” (8 p.m., UPN) … An invisible entity threatens Lex on “Smallville” (8 p.m., WB) … John speaks to some local youngsters on “Becker” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … A corrections officer and his wife entertain three potential suitors for their daughter on “Meet My Folks” (9 p.m., NBC).