HBO'S ADULT SITCOM `DREAM ON' RELATES `THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD'

When last we left our "Dream On" hero, Martin Tupper (Brian Benben), his ex-wife had just married the always-perfect, saintly Dr. Richard Stone. For Martin, a thirtysomething New York book editor trying to deal with life after divorce3, it was a cruel blow. He's still in love with Judith, you see.But that was nothing compared to this season's "Dream On" premiere ( Sunday, 11 p.m., HBO), in which a film company is making a movie of Richard's life (The Second Greatest Story Ever Told") -- and Martin is portrayed as a schlubby "obstacle" in a romantic subplot. "Dream On" is a wonderfully imaginative cable sitcom that uses vintage clips from television anthology series of the '50's. Ma4rtin, who grew up watching television, "remembers" these black-and-white clips at appropriate moments during his life. (For example, while pretending to be unhappy about a breakup with a girfriend, Martin is really remembering a song-and-dance number about a cow-girl headed out of town.) Sunday's hourlong season premiere is chock-full of guest stars -- David Bowie is an egocentric, demanding director, Mimi Rogers plays a movie star who plays Judith in the movie, and Tom Berenger is another movie star who plays Richard. (Martin, incidentally is being portrayed by Stephen Furst, who you may remember as a nebbishy doctor on "St. Elsewhere.") Sylvester Stallone has a cameo. And Ricardo Montalban, Yvonne De Carlo and Eva Gabor all appear -- both in present-day cameos and in clips from the `50's. All of this is directed by John Landis, who's also one of the series' executive producers. The epissode is absurd and outlandish, with a bit of angst thrown in for good measure. (It could almost be called "The Days and Nights of Martin Tupper." To be sure, this is a pay-cable production -- meaning the characters curse and there are some topless scenes that aren't necessary but the producers feel are needed to make the show "adult". And it's too bad, because "Dream On" is a well-written, nicely produced, often very funny comedy for grownups, even without the sex and swearing.