HBO's Watchmen Closes the Book on Its First (and Possibly Final) Season

Watchmen wraps its first season on HBO tonight as the top rated new premium cable show of the year, and one of the buzziest shows on all of TV, so you'd think a second season would be all but assured. But series creator Damon Lindelof has made it clear that the nine-episodes in this season were intended to be as self-contained as the original 12 issues of the Watchmen comic book series, and that he hasn't signed on for a second season (yet). The good news is that means Lindleof isn't leaving anything on the table in tonight's finale, which promises to answer all of our burning questions.  Also today: football, a new holiday episode of The Simpsons and more. Here's what's new and noteworthy on TV this Sunday:

SEASON FINALE: It's a race against time in tonight's super-sized 67-minute Watchmen finale, as Angela (Regina King) attempts to reach Doctor Manhattan (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) before the Seventh Kavalry can kill him and take his powers. (No pressure, all that's at stake is the fate of the entire world.) Watch the preview. 9:00 PM ET on HBO

HOLIDAY EPISODE: 30 years after Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, The Simpsons gives us a new holiday episode, in which Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer) is hired as a Santa at the Springfield Mall. Scott Bakula (Men of a Certain Age) guest stars as himself. 8:00 PM ET on Fox

SPORTS: Sunday Night Football pits the Buffalo Bills against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. 8:15 PM ET/5:15 PM PT on NBC

SPECIAL EVENT: The 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors celebrate Sally Field, Linda Ronstadt, Earth, Wind and Fire, Sesame Street, and Michael Tilson Thomas, with special performances by Cynthia Erivo, Audra McDonald, Jonas Brothers, and Ne-yo, in a ceremony hosted by LL Cool J. 8:00 PM ET on CBS

ANNUAL BROADCAST: Although Christmas plays but a minor role in The Sound of Music, the classic film has become a holiday tradition over the years. The movie gets its annual airing tonight at 7:00 PM ET on ABC

ALSO TONIGHT

• A Cheerful Christmas stars Erica Deutschman as a Christmas coach determined to show Chad Connell a good time. 8:00 PM ET on Hallmark
• Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday follows book editor Hannah (Jen Lilley) as she attempts to recapture the spirit of Christmas. 9:00 PM ET on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Mike Attebery is Senior Editor at Primetimer and the author of seven mystery thrillers. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeattebery.