`DILBERT' IDEAL FOR CUBICLE CROWD.

Byline: Keith Marder Daily News Television Critic

If you've been following the popular Dilbert comic strip or have ever worked in an office, there is a good chance you'll like the new UPN ``Dilbert'' animated series.

Just as in the world-famous strip created by Scott Adams and distributed to more than 150 million newspaper readers, the television version dissects cubicle life for middle managers and working grunts alike. It is worthy of a time capsule for a look at the workplace of the '90s.

The title character, voiced by Daniel Stern, is surrounded by the usual crew. Dogbert (Chris Elliot) is disdainful of humans and in this case is man's worst nightmare. The pointy-haired boss (Larry Miller) is unreasonable and eccentric. Dilbert's co-workers Alice (Kathy Griffin), whose hair is shaped like a Christmas tree, and Wally (Gordon Hunt), who has no hair, make life around the office interesting. Then there's always Dilmom (Jackie Hoffman) who taunts her son often, particularly in games of Scrabble.

The mundane becomes fun as business babble (``We're on the same page'') and irksome realities of everyday life (``You have 937 messages,'' all marked urgent) are uncovered.

In the first episode, Dilbert must come up with a new product after his company's throat lozenges (made out of the anthrax bacteria) wiped out entire towns.

The race is on as the marketing department gets involved by the second episode, which sees Dilbert lose his job (temporarily).

``Dilbert'' is a well-written, smart show with a lot of sight gags. OK, not nearly as many as, let's say, ``The Simpsons,'' but animation is put to good use.

It succeeds for the most part, although there are some noticeably dead spots in the somewhat uneven program. What ``Dilbert'' lacks in consistency, it makes up for in potential.

The UPN network has been hyping this show for months, and if ever a network needed a hit, and fast, it's UPN.

That's a lot of pressure for a bunch of cartoon characters, but as the second episode will show, Dilbert needs pressure to get through his day.

THE FACTS

The show: ``Dilbert.''

What: An animated television series based on the ``Dilbert'' cartoon strip, which celebrates the disenfranchised working class.

The stars: Daniel Stern, Larry Miller, Chris Elliot, Kathy Griffin, Gordon Hunt, Jackie Hoffman.

Where: UPN (Channel 13).

When: 8 tonight (and regularly will be on Mondays).

Our rating: Three stars.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: The mundane becomes fun as business babble and irksome realities of everyday life are uncovered on ``Dilbert,'' at 8 tonight on UPN (Channel 13).