Both Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman have portrayed her in recent projects, but the real-life Gretchen Carlson, right, has been largely absent from TV since her highly-publicized exit from Fox News in 2016 in one of the biggest blows in the #MeToo reckoning.
The former Miss America is back, finally, on a new documentary series “Beyond the Headlines” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.). Her first report talks of a twisted cult that trapped thousands and targeted the minds of people around the country (No, not Fox News). It’s the NXIVM sex cult, which is dramatized in the movie that precedes the report, “Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), based on the struggles of onetime “Dynasty” actress Catherine Odenberg (pictured left) in trying to extract her daughter India from the cult. Peter Facinelli stars as cult leader Keith Raniere’ Sara Fletcher plays Allison Mack, the “Smallville” actress who got caught up in recruiting.
If you can’t wait for Sunday’s Emmy Awards, here s two and a half hours of last weekend’s “Creative Arts Emmy Awards” (FXX, 8 and 10:35 p.m.), where “Game of Thrones,” “Chernobyl” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” were all big winners.
“The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part” (HBO, 8 p.m.) makes its premium cable debut, as does “Drunk Parents” (Starz, 8 p.m.), with Adam Baldwin and Salma Hayek.
College football dominates prime time broadcast networks with Oklahoma State at Texas (ABC, 7:30 p.m.) and Notre Dame at Georgia (CBS, 8 p.m.). Other games listed below.
There’s also a replay of the “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 8 p.m.) and a one-hour preview of the new season of “The Masked Singer” (Fox, 9 p.m.), with some highlights from the first season.
The flood at Botswana’s Okavango Delta, featured on “Planet Earth: Nature’s Great Events” (BBC America, 9 p.m.) is an annual event.
“When Hope Calls” (Hallmark, 9 and 10 p.m.), the Canadian “When Calls the Heart” spin-off that debuted last month on the streaming Hallmark Movies Now, now makes its bow on the mother network with a couple of episodes. The series concerns the Western Canadian sisters Lillian and Grace, circa 1916, first introduced in the movie “When Calls the Heart: the Greatest Christmas Blessing.” Jocelyn Hudon and Morgan Kohan star.
In lieu of “Country Music,” which resumes Sunday, there is another repeat of the concert “Country Music: Live at the Ryman” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
A tiger returns to “The Zoo: San Diego” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.).
There’s a new player in cable’s original made-for-TV romantic movie biz. “Angrily Ever After” (BET, 8 p.m.), stars Jasmine Burke as a D.C. anchorwoman who seethes after her engagement fizzles. With Ta’Rhonda Jones, Tyrone Marshall Brown and Todd Anthony.
Tensions rise on “Love & Marriage: Huntsville” (OWN, 9 p.m.).
“Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN, 10 p.m.) meets a St. Louis couple who don’t like their adult children’s love lives.
Of course there’s “Ghost Adventures” (Travel, 9 p.m.) at the Titanic Museum.
Turner Classic Movies presents two 1970s films from Chantal Akerman, “Les Rendez-vous d’Anna” (8 p.m.) and “Hotel Monterey” (10:30 p.m.). The noir film at 12 is “The Woman on the Beach” (midnight), followed by two 1930s films from Alfred Hitchcock, “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (2 a.m.) and “Sabotage” (3:30 a.m.).
College football kicks off at noon with Morgan State at Army (CBS Sports), Southern Mississippi at Alabama (ESPN2), Tennessee at Florida (ESPN), Michigan at Wisconsin (Fox), California at Mississippi (ESPNU), Michigan State at Northwestern (ABC) and Louisiana Monroe at Iowa State (Fox Sports 1).
Games at 3:30 p.m. include Auburn at Texas A&M (CBS), Central Florida at Pittsburgh (ABC), Washington at BYU (ESPN2), SMU at TCU (Fox Sports 1), Louisville at Florida State (ESPN), Temple at Buffalo (ESPNU), Wyoming at Tulsa (CBS Sports) and South Alabama at UAB (NFL).
Then comes Old Dominion at Virginia (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Oregon at Stanford (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Ball State at N.C. State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Baylor at Rice (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Toledo at Colorado (EPN2, 10:15 p.m.), UCLA at Washington State (EPN, 10:30 p.m.) and Utah State at San Diego State (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes St Louis at Chicago Cubs (MLB, 2 p.m.), Mets at Cincinnati (MLB, 5 p.m.), Philadelphia at Cleveland (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.) and Colorado at Dodgers (MLB, 10 p.m.).
Preseason hockey has Pittsburgh at Columbus (NHL, 2 p.m.) and Rangers at Philadelphia (NHL, 7 p.m.).
NASCAR runs its Federated Auto Parts 400 (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
Willie Nelson plays “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
The Adam Sandler-hosted “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with Shawn Mendes.