The best casting for a TV movie rather unimaginatively titled “The College Admissions Scandal” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), of course, would be Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. Apparently they weren’t available, so instead we have Penelope Ann Miller and Mia Kirshner not exactly playing any of the big name figures involved in the high profile scandal, but watered-down anonymous rich moms who’d do anything to get their kids in the best colleges.
But Michael Shanks portrays the real Rick Singer, an admission consultant who is soon enough collecting checks to help the process. When it’s over, the real facts (and bigger names) come out in the documentary that follows, “Beyond the Headlines: The College Admissions Scandal with Gretchen Carlson” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.), the second special by the former Fox News correspondent.
A completely fictional college story is “Happy Death Day 2U” (HBO, 8 p.m.), with Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard and Ruby Modine, making its premium cable debut.
The weirdest idea for a made-for-TV movie is the revival of the fuzzy 1970s kids show “The Banana Splits” (Syfy, 9 p.m.), with Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky becoming murderous robots once they get wind of cancellation. The resulting gore fest is not suggested for kids.
It’s a coincidence that the Hamburglar is also on tonight, but it’s the name of a blind puppy on “Amanda to the Rescue” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
League championship series are in full swing with Game 2 of Washington at St. Louis (TBS, 4 p.m.) and Game 1 of Yankees at Houston (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Prime time college football has Southern California at Notre Dame (NBC, 7:30 p.m.) and Penn State at Iowa (ABC, 7:30 p.m.).
German filmmaker Warner Herzog meets with the former Russian leader in his film “Meeting Gorbachev” (History, 6 p.m.).
A former investigator with the Contra Costa County district attorney’s office, shares his skills in a new series, “The DNA of Murder” (Oxygen, 7 p.m.).
A python goes swimming on “Crikey! It’s the Irwins” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.).
Twenty singles meet in a mixer on “Ready to Love” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
The new TV romance “Love, Fall & Order” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.) has a familiar story: A woman goes back to save her father’s fall festival, but runs into an old rival who is now a lawyer she is facing in court. Erin Cahill and Trevor Donovan star.
Turner Classic Movies has a pair of musicals with Russ Tamblyn, “West Side Story” (8 p.m.) and “Tom Thumb” (10:45 p.m.). The 12 o’clock noir is “Clash by Night” (midnight) followed by “The Purple Rose of Cairo” (2:30 a.m.) and “Pennies from Heaven” (4 a.m.).
College football begins at noon with Michigan at Illinois (ABC), Oklahoma vs. Texas (Fox), South Carolina at Georgia (ESPN), Memphis at Temple (ESPN2), Miami, Ohio at Western Michigan (ESPNU).
Games at 3:30 p.m. include Florida State at Clemson (ABC), Alabama at Texas A&M (CBS), Cincinnati at Houston (ESPN2), BYU at South Florida (CBS Sports).
Then comes Connecticut at Tulane (ESPNU, 3:45 p.m.), Iowa State at West Virginia (ESPN, 4 p.m.), Texas Tech at Baylor (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.), Mississippi at Missouri (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Fresno State at Air Force (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Navy at Tulsa (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), Nebraska at Minnesota (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.), Florida at LSU (ESPN, 8 p.m.), Hawaii at Boise State (ESPN2, 10:15 p.m.), Wyoming at San Diego State (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.) and Washington at Arizona (Fox Sports 1, 11 p.m.).
Hockey includes St. Louis at Montreal (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Preseason basketball has Phoenix at Portland (NBA, 8 p.m.).
Auto racing has the Petit Le Mans (NBC, noon; NBC Sports, 5:30 p.m.), the Sugarlands Shine 250 (Fox Sports 1, 1:30 p.m.) and the Japanese Grand Prix (ESPN, 1 a.m.).
In the rugby world cup, it’s Iceland vs. Samoa (NBC Sports, 6:30 a.m.) and U.S. vs. Tonga (NBC Sports, 1:30 a.m.).
And there’s the Ironman World Championship (NBC Sports, noon).
Maggie Rogers plays a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
David Harbour of “Stranger Things” fame hosts a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with musical guest Camila Cabello.