THURSDAY

Prescription: Food. An examination of hunger and malnutrition among children. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D-Mass.) is a guest. Ch. 5, 7 p.m. 1 hour.

Advocates. In Florida, judges cut out of the G. Harrold Carswell cloth have ruled that The Miami Herald must print replies from political candidates it criticizes in editorials. The Herald has appealed, and the case is now pending before the Supreme Court. Tonight, the Advocates explores the Herald case and related First Amendment issues. Ch. 2, 8 p.m. 1 hour.

Dick Cavett. Ninety minutes of Sen. Sam Ervin (D-N.C.) Ch. 5, 12:30 a.m. 1 1/2 hours.

FRIDAY

Today. A tribute to Lord Byron on the 150th anniversary of his death. Ch. 4, 7 p.m. 2 hours.

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1970). Vittorio de Sica's film about a Jewish family in fascist Italy, circa 1938. With Dominique Sanda and Helmut Berger. Ch. 4, 9:30 p.m. Color, 1 1/2 hours.

SATURDAY

Gunsmoke. Matt Dillon, who has been whipping it out of his holster for 19 years, finally whips it out of his pants: Tonight is his first love affair since the show started in 1955. Ch. 7, 5 p.m. 1 hour.

Theater in America. Richard Kiley in "The Ceremony of Innocence," set in 11th century England. Ch. 2, 8 p.m. 1 1/2 hours.

Mary Tyler Moore. Tonight's episode is one of MTM's all time greats. Trust me. Ch. 7, 9 p.m. 1/2 hour.

SUNDAY

Bill Moyer's Journal. Television's second-best news and opinion show (next to "60 Minutes") is now a full hour. Ch. 2, 4 p.m. 1 hour.

Stand Up and Cheer (1934). Shirley Temple, a member of the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations, sings and dances her way into the pit of our stomach. Ch. 27, 4 p.m. 1 1/2 hours.

Tom Thumb (1958). A terrific adaptation of Grimm, with Russ Tamblyn, Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers. Ch. 4, 4:30 p.m. 2 hours.

60 Minutes. Ch. 7, 6 p.m. 1 hour.

Firing Line. Buckley and the prime minister of South Africa discuss apartheid. Ch. 2, 10 p.m. 1 hour.

TUESDAY

Husbands (1970). John Cassavetes's powerful, partially improvised film. With Peter Falk and Ben Gazzara. Ch. 7, 11:30 p.m. 2 1/2 hours.