Film buffs will enjoy “AFI’s Master Class — The Art of Collaboration” (7 p.m., TCM). Director Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams sit down in a small studio theater and discuss nearly 40 years of working together on movies and their scores.

You don’t have to be a huge fan of Spielberg’s body of work to find the conversation stimulating. Spielberg generously praises many other filmmakers and musicians for inspiring him. He cites the dissonant, modern, almost jazzy Alex North score featured in a fight-to-the-death scene in Stanley Kubrick’s “Spartacus.” We’re shown the romance scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s creepy thriller “Vertigo,” and Spielberg explains how odd and dull it would seem without composer Bernard Herrmann’s score to guide, even manipulate, our emotions.

Watching “Collaboration,” I wasn’t only struck by Spielberg and Williams’ four-decade partnership. I was at a loss to think of any other modern director so closely associated with original soundtrack music. As Williams explains, he still composes on paper and on his piano, then executes his compositions with a full orchestra.

Many directors have replaced that approach with “greatest hits” soundtracks. At their best, say, Martin Scorsese’s use of pop music in “Goodfellas,” they work very well. In other cases, they seem more driven by marketing than art. At their worst, music is simply used to move along a predictable montage.

Spielberg is old enough to have formed his sensibilities before the advent of MTV and music videos. He recalls first being smitten by Williams’ score for another director’s movie. “I had to go out and buy the LP,” he gushed, before reflecting, “You remember those? Right?”

Tonight’s other highlights

• Sue spreads rumors on “Glee” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Thanksgiving goes haywire on “New Girl” (8 p.m., Fox).

• Burt’s parents arrive on “Raising Hope” (8:30 p.m., Fox).

• Memories serve on “Unforgettable” (9 p.m., CBS).

• A lesson learned the hard way on “Parenthood” (9 p.m., NBC).

• A bloodless end on “Body of Proof” (9 p.m., ABC).

• A new rival threatens business on “Sons of Anarchy” (9 p.m., FX).

Cult choice

Tom Cruise stars as an elfin creature in the 1985 fantasy “Legend” (8 p.m., HBO Family), directed by Ridley Scott.

Series notes

An investigation leads to Kabul on “NCIS” (7 p.m., CBS) … “The Biggest Loser” (7 p.m., NBC) … Ensnared in gossip on “Last Man Standing” (7 p.m., ABC) … A viral video makes for bad politics on “90210” (7 p.m., CW) … Kenny makes a bad impression on “Man Up!” (7:30 p.m., ABC) … Sam vanishes in Sudan on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (8 p.m., CBS).