REVIEW: `TRUE' LESSONS IN `ODYSSEY' OF EPIC SWEEPS.

Byline: Keith Marder Daily News Television Writer

Why go to high school when you have sweeps programming?

If you want to, you can get a semester's worth of literature and American history in just eight hours this week.

One prerequesite is a VCR, because both classes begin at 9 tonight.

NBC offers the lesson in literature and Greek mythology with two-part miniseries, ``The Odyssey,'' which finishes up on Monday. CBS takes care of history with ``True Women,'' another two-parter that concludes Tuesday.

The two shows couldn't be more different. ``The Odyssey,'' with a $40 million budget, features big stars and sweeping special effects. Of all of the May miniseries, ``True Women,'' with a comparatively modest cast and low on the glitz, could possibly be the best of the bunch.

Most everyone knows Homer's tale of Odysseus (Armand Assante), King of Ithaca, who is called to fight the Trojans on the day his son is born. After 10 years, Odysseus devises a plan (he and his soldiers hide in a giant wooden horse) to defeat the Trojans. Flush with victory, he angers Poseidon, god of the sea, with his pride. Poseidon then hinders Odysseus' journey home, and he ends up on a, well, odyssey. It then becomes a race for Odysseus to get back. Before he left, he made his wife, Penelope (Greta Scacchi), promise that if he is not back from the war by the time his son, Telemachus, was old enough to have a beard, then she would remarry.

This miniseries was whipped up by Robert Halmi Sr. and Hallmark Entertainment, the same folks who put together ``Gulliver's Travels'' last year. ``The Odyssey,'' with a cast that also includes Eric Roberts, Bernadette Peters, Isabella Rossellini and Vanessa Williams, should entertain the same people.

Assante, as expected, is outstanding. There is some overacting by Scacchi and others, and some of the effects appear hokey. But, you will watch. You know you will. NBC unleashed its brain-washing promotional blitz weeks ago, and face it, you're scared to miss it.

``True Women'' is much lower key but has a lot of soul.

Based on Janice Woods Windle's best-selling historical novel, recounting the lives of the women in her own family, it spans five decades from the Texas Revolution through the women's suffrage movement.

In between, American Indian uprisings and slavery/racism are viewed in a serious and historical manner. That's not to say you won't enjoy ``True Women.'' It is well acted and a seamless story, although it does slow down during the second night.

It stars Dana Delany as Sarah Ashby McClure, with Tina Majorino and Annabeth Gish as Euphemia Ashby King.

Women, in this piece, are heroic and strong, and the story does not go over the top or become patronizing in the least.

The Facts

The show: ``The Odyssey.''

The stars: Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Geraldine Chaplin, Jeroen Krabbe, Christopher Lee, Irene Papas, Bernadette Peters, Eric Roberts, Isabella Rossellini, Vanessa Williams, Ron Cook, William Houston, Alan Cox.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. Executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Fuchs, Robert Halmi Sr., Nicholas Myer. Teleplay by Andrei Konchalovsky, Christopher Solimine, based on the poem by Homer.

Running time: Four hours.

When: 9 p.m. today and Monday.

Channel: NBC (Channel 4).

Our rating: B+

The show: ``True Women.''

The stars: Dana Delany, Annabeth Gish, Angelina Jolie, Powers Boothe, Michael York, Tina Majorino, Rachael Leigh Cook, Jeffrey Nordling, Salli Richardson, Tony Todd, Terrence Mann, Julie Carmen, Matthew Glave.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Karen Arthur. Executive produced by Craig Anderson. Written by Christopher Lofton, based on a novel by Janice Woods Windle.

Running time: Four hours.

When: 9 p.m. today and Tuesday.

Channel: KCBS (Channel 2).

Our rating: B+

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1) Vanessa Williams and Armand Assante star in the two-part miniseries ``The Odyssey,'' on NBC (Channel 4).

(2) Dana Delany, center, stars as Sarah Ashby McClure in the historic saga ``True Women'' on KCBS (Channel 2).