Comic, writer, actor and producer Steve Martin receives praise from his peers as well as the 2005 Mark Twain Prize on a two-hour special “Kennedy Center Presents” (8 p.m., PBS).

PBS recently revised its schedule, expanding this presentation from 90 minutes to a full two hours to incorporate a wealth of gags from Martin as well as his appreciative colleagues, including Larry David and Lily Tomlin. This is fitting, since any salute to Martin, or even a summary of his life and career, has a lot of ground to cover.

Martin was part of an Emmy-winning writing team for the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” back when that show was touching nerves and daring censors back in the late 1960s. Martin was a frequent participant on “Saturday Night Live” during that show’s formative years. While best known for his participation in “Wild & Crazy Guy” skits with Dan Aykroyd, my favorite Martin “SNL” skit has to be his “Dancing in the Dark” routine with Gilda Radner, a whimsical salute to the black-and-white romantic musicals of the 1930s.

Never one to be typecast, Martin followed up the huge success of his 1979 screen comedy “The Jerk” with the ambitious “Pennies from Heaven,” a musical fantasy by British television writer Dennis Potter, set in the Depression. Although “Pennies” failed to find a large audience, it’s a haunting, memorable film.

Martin has been host at the Oscars with wit and understatement. He also has been host on “Saturday Night Live” 13 times – more than anyone else. He has carved out a reputation as a literary humorist in The New Yorker Magazine. He currently stars in “Shop Girl,” a film adapted from his recent novella.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Unfinished business on “E-Ring” (7 p.m., NBC).

¢ Skyler’s kind words are misinterpreted on the second season premiere of “Stacked” (7:30 p.m., Fox).

¢ Vacationing families are targeted for murder on “Criminal Minds” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ Home shopping drama on “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ Sawyer’s wound festers on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ David Caruso guest stars on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).