TELEVISION
THE SUMMER OLYMPICS (NBC). A two-hour preview show on Sept. 15 (9 p.m. EDT) sets the stage; then let the TV blitz begin.
THE THEBAN PLAYS (PBS, Sept. 16, 23, 30, 9 p.m. on most stations). Sophocles' tragic Oedipus trilogy gets world-class treatment in a BBC production starring Anthony Quayle and Claire Bloom.
ENCYCLOPEDIA (HBO, debuting Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m. EDT). Children's Television Workshop, creator of Sesame Street, takes youngsters through the encyclopedia | in songs and sketches. First episode: from alligators to Attila.
THEATER
HAMLET. Zeljko Ivanek, one of the nation's ablest young performers, scales the Everest of acting...