Television, Theater, Records, Cinema, Books: Mar. 18, 1966

TELEVISION

THE GEMINI 8 MISSION. Splashdown for the three-day Gemini 8 flight is scheduled for Friday, March 18, if all goes well, followed by color films of the space walk.

Wednesday, March 16 BATMAN (ABC, 7:30-8 p.m.).* Julie Newmar, who played a robot last season on "My Living Doll," unbends for a supple guest appearance as the Catwoman in "The Purr-fect Crime."

CHRYSLER PRESENTS A BOB HOPE COMEDY SPECIAL (NBC, 9-10 p.m.). A daring mixture of unlike comic elixirs—Lee Marvin, Phyllis Diller, Jonathan Winters—which may blend into a palatable draught.

Thursday, March 17

CBS THURSDAY NIGHT MOVIE (CBS, 9-11:15 p.m.). The Notorious Landlady, with Kim Novak and Jack Lemmon. Gilbert and Sullivan fans will enjoy the Pirates of Penzance band concert at the end of this film—about 10:50, to be safe.

Saturday, March 19

THE NATIONAL INVITATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT (CBS, 2-4 p.m.). The finals from Manhattan's Madison Square Garden.

Sunday, March 20

CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR (CBS, 2:30-4 p.m.). The U.S. Alpine and International Ski championships from Stowe, Vt. Saturday events will be taped, but the Sunday ones will be live.

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (CBS, 6-6:30 p.m.). "Woman Doctor in Viet Nam," a documentary about Dr. Pat Smith, who runs the 40-bed Catholic Mission Hospital in Kontum, 255 miles northeast of Saigon.

THE REFORMATION (NBC, 6:30-7:30 p.m.). Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ignatius of Loyola are anchormen for this special on Europe in the 16th century.

THE SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE (ABC, 9-11:45 p.m.). In this cinema version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night, lovesick Psychiatrist Jason Robards cannot save himself (or the film) from being destroyed by his psychotic wife and patient, Jennifer Jones. Intriguing for those who think Jung.

Tuesday, March 22

CAROL + 2 (CBS, 8:30-9:30 p.m.). "Carol" = Burnett and "2" = Lucille Ball + Zero Mostel. With that O in there, the sum should be impressive.

THEATER

On Broadway

PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! When a man buries his past, he rarely faces the grave dry-eyed. But Brian Friel applies the saving sponge of humor to the Irish sentiment pouring from his play, and Dubliners Donal Donnelly and Patrick Bedford, as twin images of the hero, stir up a fine farrago of laughter and tears.

SWEET CHARITY. As a dancing doxy with a heart of gold, Gwen Verdon is one of nature's eternally winning losers. Choreographer Bob Fosse adds redeeming grace to Neil Simon's feeble script.

INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE. Sunk in mediocrity, trapped in middle life, self-accusing and self-condemned, John Osborne's anti-hero spews out a caustically funny anathema on his world and his fate. In the lead, Nicol Williamson is scaldingly good.

THE PERSECUTION AND ASSASSINATION OF MARAT AS PERFORMED BY THE INMATES OF THE ASYLUM OF CHARENTON UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MARQUIS DE SADE is a shot of dramatic adrenaline. People who demand theatrical tranquilizers had better stay away.