THE Fourth of July this year offers everything from the sacred (politcally speaking) to the silly.

TV fans have their choice of watching bands, fireworks, movies or the true star of the Fourth – the Declaration of Independence, itself.

At 10 p.m., ABC televises an hourlong, patriotic special with Mel Gibson, Winona Ryder, Michael Douglas, Whoopi Goldberg and others reading excerpts from the Declaration. “What this is about is the ultimate reality TV,” said executive producer Tom Yellin, drumming up enthusiasm like a seasoned Hollywood pro.

The show echoes last year’s round-the-clock New Year’s coverage, and the same production team is involved. The millennium special mixed entertainment and on-site reporting to mark a moment in history.

Philadelphia annually celebrates the Declaration of Independence, but this year, for the document’s 225th anniversary, “All in the Family” producer Norman Lear decided to get involved.

He recently purchased an original copy of the Declaration and intends to make a movie about it, and he approached ABC with the idea for the special.

“Part of this is to reawaken an appreciation for the founding principles of democracy,” Yellin said. “If that is something that happens here, that’s worthy of attention.”

Meanwhile, “A Capitol Fourth,” PBS’ annual Independence Day concert and its highest-rated entertainment program, begins its 21st year with a live, 90-minute program at 8 on Ch. 13.

Erich Kunzel will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra in “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey” as U.S. astronauts wish viewers a happy Fourth of July from space.

And as always, at the end of the concert, the NSO will strike up rousing Sousa marches to coincide with fireworks at the Washington Monument.

Barry Bostwick will host from the west lawn of the Capitol for the fourth time, with a cast of voices that includes the Pointer Sisters, Donny Osmond, Chely Wright, Harolyn Blackwell, Luther Vandross and the Irish tenors: Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright, who were asked to interrupt their current summer tour to appear on the special as the only foreign performers to sing on the Capitol steps this Fourth of July.

Bostwick – who has portrayed George Washington in three miniseries and now is the mayor of New York in ABC’s “Spin City” – will begin the 21st production with “I Love a Parade.” He hopes he’ll be able to approach the stage by marching through the audience as he did last year.

“I love being out in the audience to start the show,” he said. “It makes that connection immediate, the energy gets up, it takes my nerves away.”

“This is a tremendously dangerous and big job to do, putting this thing on the air with the amount of people who are sitting out there,” he said. “For me they sort of blend into one – they look like a lot of lawn ornaments drinking chablis that they slipped in past the Park Service

“My first year when I was hosting, when it came time for the fireworks, tears came to my eyes,” he recalled. “It was very moving. I got caught up in it, and that’s what keeps me coming back. “And it sort of lightens the mood of Washington, D.C.,” he said. “As corny as some people think this celebration is, it sort of balances out the cynicism. Washington needs a day like this to sort of balance it out – ‘Oh, yeah, that’s what this is all about.’ . . . It’s about family and creating a safe family – I’ve always seen this as a family picnic. I’m just sort of the dumb uncle who stands up and says, ‘Now Jimmy here is going to do this . . . .’ “

Bostwick also plans to bring along their son Brian, 6, and daughter Chelsea, 4, who already knows all the words to “God Bless America.” Last year, Brian was left behind, he said.

“My son was acting up, and we said to him, ‘If you keep acting up, you’re not going to Washington with us.’ We had to be strict. So he sat home and watched on television and watched his sister go up on stage.”

Look for them both on stage with Dad this time.

Also, “All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson” airs at 8 on TNT. Elton John, Billy Joel, David Crosby, Vince Gill and others will salute the Beach Boys star.

If you’d rather hear “What’s Love Got Do With It?” Raspy, wild rocker Tina Turner will perform a concert special, “One Last Time Live!,” airing at the same time on CBS.

And at 9 p.m., WNBC/Ch. 4 is airing “Macy’s Fourth of July Spectacular,” straight from the East River.