THE DAILY NEWS WATCH-O-RAMA HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS OF THE COMING TV WEEK.

Byline: David Kronke

``The Mystery of Natalie Wood''

(ABC Channel 7; Monday at 8 p.m.)

Think: ``Dramatization'' that ``is interpretive of published accounts and personal interviews'' on the life, rampant flakiness and curious drowning death of the former starlet and wife of Robert Wagner.

Don't think: What? A luridly bizarre death that didn't occur in the past six months? Then why are they bothering to make a cheesy TV movie about it?

In a nutshell: Is this the best gig director Peter Bogdanovich can get these days, or is it his revenge for his humiliating depiction in ``Star 80?'' (And why would Wood's sister co-produce such a thing?) Justine Waddell boasts Wood's beauty and luminescence, but this is standard campily lurid Hollywood-biopic drivel. And it wimps out on its ``interpretation'' of her death.

``The Kennedy Mystique: Creating Camelot''

(National Geographic Channel; Monday at 10 p.m.)

Think: Previously unseen personal photos from the Kennedy presidency (animated in a goofy fashion) serve as a jumping-off point for an otherwise standard documentary.

Don't think: The good news is, since George W. Bush hardly gives anyone in the media access to him, we won't have to sit through a similar documentary 40 years hence.

In a nutshell: For die-hard Kennedy lovers or utter neophytes in American history.

``Kath & Kim''

(Trio; Monday at 10 p.m.)

Think: An Australian combination of the British comedies ``Absolutely Fabulous'' and the significantly more downscale ``The Royale Family'' - swinging single mom Kath is dismayed when her dumpy daughter Kim moves back in after a disastrous, short-lived marriage. Their self-absorption is matched only by their pathetic nature.

Don't think: If this isn't very good to begin with and NBC decides to work up an adaptation, will that mean it will be entertaining?

In a nutshell: Eccentric, maybe, but lacks the snap of memorable comedy.

``Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''

(NBC Channel 4; Tuesday at 10 p.m.)

Think: Finn (Ice T) discovers deceit at every turn while investigating the death of an epileptic foster child.

Don't think: We get a reprieve from the usual gruesome sex crimes - and it's a dead kid.

In a nutshell: Hairpin turns and a strong central performance; another solid if grim episode.

``Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin''

(Turner Movie Classics; Wednesday at 5 and 9:30 p.m.)

Think: The man who immortalized the Little Tramp and was keen on underage paramours before it became Hollywood hip (but was, certainly, no less scandalous) is the focus of this documentary by film critic Richard Schickel (who wrote and directed). Martin Scorsese, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr. and other admirers and experts contribute.

Don't think: Did you know the only Oscar Chaplin won in competition was for his score for one of his later, weaker efforts - and he won it on a technicality 20 years after he made the film? Is that lame or what? Bad Academy - go to your room.

In a nutshell: Despite there being many documentaries and biographies available on the subject, this is particularly insightful and intelligent (if a smidgen worshipful), with keen commentary on how his real life informed his movies and vice versa. Even better: Every Wednesday throughout March, Chaplin films will be shown from 5 p.m. to the early hours of the morning, including ``The Kid'' and many of his silent short films this Wednesday.

``The True Story of Hidalgo''

(History Channel; Thursday at 8 p.m.)

Think: Touchstone Pictures gets some free publicity for its upcoming movie, History Channel gets some cheap programming, and the film's star Viggo Mortensen picks up an extra paycheck for hosting this.

Don't think: Los Lobos fans will love a full-length documentary about the band's lead singer!

In a nutshell: Actually, it's about a guy named Frank Hopkins, who claimed to have been the greatest endurance horse-rider ever, beating all on the home team in the 3,000-mile, 68-day race across the Arabian Desert. But given how suffuse this is with people who worked on the movie, as a documentary it feels as much a fraud as many claimed Hopkins was.

``SpongeBob SquarePants Goes Prehistoric''

(Nickelodeon; Friday at 8 p.m.)

Think: Two hours of the kid hit, including at 9:30 a new episode set in Bikini Bottom, B.C. (Before Comedy).

Don't think: As my stepdaughters constantly gripe, the live-action interstitial stuff with Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob) as Encino-dwelling Patchy the Pirate is almost always lame.

In a nutshell: Happily, though, the cartoon itself is as goofily surreal as ever. Early, preverbal SpongeBob - rechristened SpongeGar - discovers fire, at the bottom of the sea, naturally. Then he loses it during an underwater rainstorm.

``Butley''

(Trio; Saturday at 9 p.m.)

Think: Alan Bates stars as a droll, self-destructive university professor abandoned by both his wife and gay lover and, in general, is a real mess, but doesn't let that stop his endless barrage of bitchy quips.

Don't think: Two hours of people sitting in a room and talking? What is this, C-SPAN?

In a nutshell: Directed by playwright Harold Pinter, the film scarcely conceals its stagebound origins as a play, but Bates' bravura performance and the brisk dialogue keep it entertaining.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

``SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS GOES PREHISTORIC''