In place of its usual Sunday night array of British dramas, public television bring s “Happiness” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings), about a Broadway director who returns home after 20 years to a seaside New Zealand town, where he is immediately enlisted to help a local community theater production. Its six episode season runs over three consecutive Sundays.
He’s been good as host of “Have I Got News for You” and is now rewarded with his own comedy special in “A CNN Special Event: Roy Wood Jr.’s Very Very Merry Holiday Special” (CNN, 8 p.m.) filmed in D.C. and featuring some surprise guests, as well as the U.S. Air Force Band.
The demolition of the White House East Wing will not likely be part of the annual tour of “White House Christmas 2025” (HGTV, 6 p.m.).
Sunday Night Football has Minnesota at Dallas (NBC, 8:20 p.m.). Earlier games include Washington at Giants (Fox, 1 p.m.), Baltimore at Cincinnati (CBS, 1 p.m.), Detroit at Rams (Fox, 4:25 p.m.) and Green Bay at Denver (CBS, 4:25 p.m.).
A first season finale comes for the Stephen King prequel “IT: Welcome to Derry” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
“Tracker” (CBS, 8:30 p..m.) finds a trail of bodies while looking for helping a friend’s former partner.
Marge may be hitting menopause on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.).
“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) participates in a stunt competition at a Christmas tree farm.
A child enlists Stupendous to track down her father’s killer on “Krapopolis” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
More original holiday movies? You bet.
A woman and an oil company PR agent mingle after an incident on an oil rig in “Christmas in Big Sky Country” (UPtv, 7 p.m.) with Rebecca Dalton and Oliver Renaud.
Jonathan Stoddard and Brittany Underwood play a prince seeking a woman and her dog in “A Royal Christmas Tail” (Great American Family, 8 p.m.).
But there’s also “Oy to the World!” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) about the time a synagogue and a church had to share a building for their celebrations of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve that fall on the same day. Brooke D’Orsay and Jake Epstein play choir directors who have to learn to get along.
“Universal Basic Guys” (Fox, 8 p.m.) risk a dangerous science experiment to win a Super Bowl ticket.
To remind you of the impending third movie coming out Friday, here’s the second in the series, “Avatar: The Way of Water” (ABC, 7 p.m.), which will consume four hours on broadcast TV.
And apropos of nothing, here’s the 44 year old “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” (CW, 7:30 p.m.).
“60 Minutes” (CBS, 7:30 p.m.) reports on the rearming of Germany.
There’s a 1970s-themed party on a 90-minute “Married to Medicine” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo, 8 p.m.) play polo.
A giant rat snake rattles a children’s camp on “Snakes in the City” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 p.m.).
“Yellowstone Wardens” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.) catch a repeat offender.
There’s a final showdown and a $50,000 winner named in the first season finale of “Sweet Empire: Winter Wars” (Food, 9 p.m.).
“All There Is with Anderson Cooper” (CNN, 9 p.m.) has Ben Stiller talk about the movie he made about his parents, the comedy duo Stiller and Meara.
A two hour discussion with the “On Tyrrany” author Timothy Snyder comes on a special Sunday night edition of “The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNOW, 9 p.m.).
Moving to Wasilla is worse than you imagined on “Alaska Haunting” (Travel, 8 p.m.).
“Sister Wives” (TLC, 10 p.m.) prepare to hear another apology from Kody.
Maia tries to get a seat for Tallulah at an exclusive fashion dinner on “I Love LA” (HBO, 10:40 p.m.).
Kids choose favorite Charlie Chaplin movies tonight on Turner Classic Movies, with “The Gold Rush” (8 p.m.) and “The Great Dictator” (10 p.m.). The silent movie at midnight is “The Scar of Shame” (12:15 a.m.). It’s followed by two animated imports from the 1970s, “Watership Down” (2 a.m.) and “Fantastic Planet” (4 a.m.).
Hockey has Vancouver at New Jersey (NHL, 12:30 p.m.) and Edmonton at Montreal (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Troy at Alabama Birmingham (ESPN2, 3 p.m) and Washington State at USC (Fox Sports 1 7:30 p.m.).
Women’s games include Baylor vs. Texas (ABC, 1 p.m.), Pennsylvania State at South Carolina (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.), Kansas State at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 3:30 p.m.) and Michigan State at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 5:30 p.m.).
Final rounds are played in the Grant Thornton Invitational (Golf, 1 p.m.; NBC, 2 p.m.).
Professional lacrosse has Rochester at San Diego (ESPN2, 5 p.m.).
The NCAA women’s volleyball quarterfinals have Texas A&M vs. Nebraska (ABC, 3 p.m.) and Wisconsin vs. Texas (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Sen. Mark Warner, Rep. Mike Turner. CBS: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, Warner, Sen. Bill Cassidy. NBC: Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Rand Paul. CNN: Sens. Chris Murphy and Bill Cassidy, Rep. Sara Jacobs. Fox: Sens. Jim banks and Jack Reed, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna, Energy Secretary Chris Wright.