Fresh and Evergreen

This holiday season, television is offering several new Christmas specials and movies featuring such stars as Hume Cronyn, Laura Dern, Ricky Martin, Patrick Stewart, Elmo and Andy Griffith. Throughout December, most of the network series will be offering holiday-themed episodes. Never fear, several old favorites like “A Christmas Story” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” will be returning for their annual airing. Here’s a look at some of the yuletide TV treats:

Movies

“A Christmas Carol”: Patrick Stewart stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic. Richard E. Grant and Joel Grey are featured. TNT, Sunday.

“Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish”: David Gallagher stars in this family comedy.

Fox Family Channel, Sunday.

“If You Believe”: Ally Walker headlines this holiday romance about a modern-day Scrooge who bumps her head and finds her inner child.

Lifetime, Monday.

“A Holiday Romance”: Naomi Judd, Andy Griffith and Gerald McRaney star in this love story.

CBS, Wednesday.

“A Season for Miracles”: “Hallmark Hall of Fame” special about a young woman who takes off with her jailed sister’s children and, with the help of a stranger, gives them the Christmas they’ve dreamed about. Carla Gugino stars. CBS, Dec. 12.

“The Christmas Path”: Vincent Spano headlines this holiday fantasy.

Fox Family Channel, Dec. 12.

“Miracle on the 17th Green”: Robert Urich and Meredith Baxter star in this drama about man who loses his job at Christmastime and decides to pursue his dream of becoming a pro golfer. CBS, Dec. 19.

SPECIALs

“A Rosie Christmas”: Rosie O’Donnell goes prime time for this yuletide special that features Rosemary Clooney, Celine Dione, Gloria Estefan, Trisha Yearwood and Donny Osmond, ABC, Sunday.

“Seasoned Greetings”: Three weeks of holiday cooking programs. KCET, Dec. 6-30.

“And So This Is Christmas”: Celine Dion, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Harry Connick Jr. are among the artists performing Christmas classics and other holiday tunes. CBS, Monday.

“Kenny Loggins: December”: The pop singer performs holiday originals and favorites. Guests include Clint Black and Olivia Newton-John.

TNN, Tuesday.

“Martha Stewart’s Home for the Holidays--The Family Tree”: Everyone’s favorite lifestyle “authority” is back with her third holiday special. The latest is built around the family tree. CBS, Wednesday.

“Big Holiday Help-a-Thon”: Kenan Thompson hosts a celebration of kid volunteerism. Britney Spears and ‘N Sync guest star. Nickelodeon, Saturday.

“Christmas in Washington”: President and Mrs. Clinton are scheduled to attend the 18th annual holiday concert.

TNT, Dec. 12.

“Holiday Celebration on Ice”: Nancy Kerrigan, Phillipe Candelero and Rudy Galindo skate to Yuletide standards sing by Billy Ray Cyrus and Lorrie Morgan. TNN, Dec. 14.

“Holiday at Pops”: Jack Perkins hosts the Boston Pops holiday special featuring Conan O’Brien and Santa Claus.

A&E;, Dec. 18.

“A Home for the Holidays”: Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw are among the celebrities who offer inspirational adoption stories. CBS, Dec. 23.

“The American Red Cross Holiday Music Spectacular”: Clint Black, Patti LaBelle, Kenny G and Art Garfunkel are featured on this Red Cross special salute. Fox, Dec. 24.

“Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade”: Susan Sullivan and Mitchell Ryan host the annual holiday parade from Orlanda, Fla. Harry Connick Jr., ‘N Sync and James Ingram guest. ABC, Dec. 25.

SERIES

“Bear in the Big Blue House”: The Jim Henson series features a two-part holiday episode, “A Berry Bear Christmas.”

Disney Channel, Monday.

“Touched By An Angel”: The popular CBS series presents its annual yuletide episode.

CBS, Dec. 12.

“Disney’s Mickey MouseWorks”: Mickey plays the Nutcracker and Donald Duck the Mouse King in this animated version of “The Nutcracker.” ABC, Dec. 18.

FAVORITES

“The Waltons”: Yuletide episodes of the ‘70s series will be featured.

TNN, Dec. 13, 16, 22 and 23.

“The Story of Santa Claus”: Encore of the animated musical featuring the voices of Ed Asner and Betty White. CBS, Thursday.

“The Snowden, Raggedy Ann & Andy Holiday Show”: Reprise of the skating spectacular starring Olympic gold medal figure skaters Ekaterina Gordeeva and Scott Hamilton. CBS, Friday.

“A Garfield Christmas”:

The pasta-loving feline headlines this perennial special.

CBS, Saturday.

“It’s a Wonderful Life”: Frank Capra’ beloved 1946 holiday drama starring James Stewart. NBC, Dec. 19 and Dec. 24.

“A Christmas Story”: For the third year, TNT presents 12 back-to-back airings of the delightfully quirky 1983 comedy. TNT, Dec. 24-25.

Cover design: Mei Lisa Luther