Under the heading "strange bedfellows," a staunch critic of the networks yesterday came to the defense of ABC, whose airing of last night's "Saving Private Ryan" was boycotted by a handful of affiliates.

The critic, L. Brent Bozell, president of the Parents Television Council, a conservative program advisory group that has rebuked the networks for years over content, sided with ABC, which said in a statement yesterday that it was "proud to once again broadcast the Academy Award-winning film."

Bozell said in a statement, "the content is not meant to shock nor is it gratuitous. We applaud ABC for letting viewers know ahead of time about the graphic nature of the film and that the film would be uncut."

ABC learned Wednesday that an estimated 20 ABC stations around the country had decided not to air "Ryan," in part because the unedited film was to include graphic material as well as expletives. A concern by some stations was the Federal Communications Commission's recently toughened stance against obscenity, and they had unsuccessfully sought an FCC waiver that would exempted them from fines. While "Ryan" aired last night on local affiliate WABC/7, ABC stations in Atlanta; Dallas; Honolulu; New Orleans; Milwaukee; Phoenix; Orlando, Fla.; and Charlotte, N.C., did not broadcast the movie.

Last night was the third time ABC aired the film. A spokeswoman yesterday said the other telecasts - also uncut - were carried by all stations.