TODAY

Sony Hamlin. Michael Dukakis, Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate and his wife are guest, followed by MIT Professor Noam Chomsky, who will talk about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Ch. 4, 9 a.m. 1 hour.

The Way it Was-Sports. A look at the famous Rocky Graziano-Sugar Ray Robinson middleweight championship fight in 1952. Graziano finished his career with this fight, going in a 3-1 underdog and the brawling, sentimental favorite, but coming out a bruised and beaten fighter with a 67-10-6 final record. Robinson--who ended up with an impressive 175-19-6 record--announced his first retirement nine months after this fight. Unfortunately, Curt Gowdy is the host. Ch. 2, 8 p.m. 1/2 hour.

Citizen Kane [1941]. Produced by Orson Welles, directed by Welles, and starring Welles, this American film classic is about the rise and fall of a newspaper emperor, Charles Foster Kane, a shallow disguise for his real-life counterpart, William Randolph Hearst. Hearst was so enraged by Welles's film that he suppressed it in many areas of the country. Welles co-authored the script too, with Herman J. Mankiewicz, who later had a major altercation with Hearst when he crashed into a car belonging to a friend of the newspaper king--right outside one of Hearst's lavish estates. You have to see this film just for its visual effects, including "chiaroscuro lighting." Ch. 56, 10 p.m. B/W, 2 1/2 hours.

Wide World Special. Walter Cronkite, interviewed by Dick Cavett, will speak on his news preparation, Watergate, and possible government attempts to suppress the media. Cronkite and Cavett should make a rare duo: the straight-forward user and the witty abuser of language, the scientist and the alchemist of current events on television. Ch. 5, 12:30 a.m. 1 1/2 hours.

FRIDAY

Catch-44. Members of the World Socialist Party discuss the upcoming National Party Meeting to be held in Boston. Ch. 44, 9 p.m. 1/2 hour.

Knute Rockne, All American [1940]. The life story of college football's greatest coach, starring Pat O'Brien. A couple of years ago Patty returned to Notre Dame to give a fantastic reenactment of the inimitable half-time pep-talk in the film when Knute Rockne inspired a losing Notre Dame team to "hit one for the Gipper." (George Gipp, one of the greatest running backs in all of football died in his senior year at N.D.). This was the night before a football game, and the atmosphere was something like a cross between ancient fertility rites and classical Bacchanalia. After O'Brien's speech several thousand wine-besotted "Fighting Irishmen" stormed off in vain pursuit of fisticuffs reminiscent of the Fenian invasion of Canada. Ronald Reagan plays the part of the dying George "Gipper" Gipp wonderfully. Ch. 56, 10 p.m. B/W

SATURDAY

NBA Basketball. The Boston Celtics open their season against the Buffalo Braves at Buffalo. Ch. 4, 8 p.m. Live.

A Day at the Races [1937]. Great stuff by the Marx Brothers. Ch. 5, 11:15 p.m. B/W, 2 hours, 10 min.

SUNDAY

The Big Store [1941]. Excellent stuff by the Marx Brothers. Ch. 5, 2 p.m. B/W, 2 hours.

A Night at the Opera [1939]. The without-a-doubt-no-questions-asked-all-complex-time-bestest-of-the-most-magisterial stuff by the Marx Brothers. Ch. 5, 5 p.m. B/W, 2 hours.

MONDAY