THE DAY THERE WAS NO 'LOVE' LOST.

Byline: David Kronke TV Critic

Anyone who remembers watching the battle of the sexes decidedly ending on the Astrodome tennis court in 1973 should enjoy ``When Billie Beat Bobby,'' a smart, spectacularly entertaining docu-comedy about the Billie Jean King-Bobby Riggs match from writer-director Jane Anderson.

Those too young to understand what a fuss this quaint little spectacle caused may be astounded by the era's prevailing attitudes and loopy behind-the-scenes maneuvering. And everyone will be entertained, particularly by Ron Silver's endlessly funny yet surprisingly grounded turn as Bobby Riggs, the hustler nonpareil, dime-store showman and unrepentant sexist pig who, intentionally or otherwise, helped immeasurably in advancing the idea of gender equality.

Holly Hunter is alternately determined and playful as Billie Jean King, the Wimbledon champion who defeated Riggs. But not only did she defeat the 1939 Wimbledon champ who in the '70s was the anchor of a floating party of gambling and general debauchery, she also successfully championed the cause of female tennis stars earning the same money as their male counterparts. When Riggs psyched out another women's champ, Margaret Court, in a match called ``The Mother's Day Massacre,'' King's own peers held out little hope for her besting the pot-bellied boor who inspired the group ``Pigs for Riggs.''

King, as depicted here, was ambivalent about her role as spokeswoman for the women's movement - after all, she was a serious tennis champ, hardly a carnival attraction. Still, she also played along, swapping insults and quips with Riggs and even appearing in a commercial alongside him.

Anderson, whose previous scripts include ``The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom'' and ``How to Make an American Quilt,'' captures the perfect tone in depicting the circus atmosphere that swirled around Riggs wherever he went tromping, even as King struggled to maintain a sense of equanimity. Clever details in the '70s-style neon-hued production design add immeasurably to the film's entertainment value.

As Riggs, Silver is a motor-mouthed marvel - even his handlers at certain points ask him to give it a rest - yet he reveals glimpses of the man behind the clown facade. Hunter is equally winning in a less showy role, and Fred Willard has a cunning bit part as legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell - basically, he plays how Cosell might have played Willard's scene-stealing role in last year's comedy ``Best in Show.''

In hindsight, the conclusion was certainly foregone - King was a current and intensely willful champ operating at the height of her powers, while Riggs was a cheerful buffoon a few decades past his prime. But that scarcely detracts from the film's message, that King's decisive victory was empowering for women of all stripes throughout the country, even those who wouldn't know which end of a tennis racket is best for whacking the bejeepers out of a sexist lout.

``WHEN BILLIE BEAT BOBBY''

What: Docu-comedy about the Billie Jean King-Bobby Riggs clash-of-the-sexes tennis match.

The stars: Holly Hunter, Ron Silver.

Where: ABC (Channel 7)

When: 8 tonight.

Our rating: Three and one half stars.

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Ron Silver and Holly Hunter star as the real-life Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King in ABC's ``When Billie Beat Bobby,'' at 8 tonight tonight.