When it premiered in 1972 as the ABC Movie of the Week, “The Night Stalker” was the highest rated TV movie to date. The vampire story starring Darren McGavin led to a movie sequel, “the Night Strangler” and a the series “Kolchak: The Night Stalker.” The original film airs tonight on “Svengoolie” (MeTV, 9 p.m.) with all the attendant commentary and occasional songs.
College football rules again this Saturday with primetime broadcast games that include Tennessee at Oklahoma (ABC, 7:30 p.m.), Iowa at Minnesota (NBC, 7:30 p.m.), Baylor at Colorado (Fox, 8 p.m.) and Purdue at Oregon State (CW, 8:30 p.m.). Other games are listed below.
The title of this made-for-TV thriller tells you what occurred and how it ended up: “Buried Alive & Survived” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.). It stars Eva Marcille and Tyler Lesley and is inspired by a true story.
Elsewhere, Ashley Williams plays a condo mediator who also finds a love interest (Paul Campbell) in the made-for-TV romance “Falling Together” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.).
The new comedy panel show “Have I Got News for You” (CNN, 9 p.m.) is a little halting, but host Roy Wood Jr. proves sharper than Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black. And it will likely be funnier than “Fox News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla” (Fox News, 10 p.m.).
The Fukushima nuclear plant accident is one of three catastrophes dissected on “Disaster Autopsy” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.).
You might think Halloween is approaching with this episode of “Help! My House is Haunted” (Travel, 10 p.m.), but no, they run these shows all year long.
Turner Classic Movies has a pair of films from Carl Franklin, “Devil in a Blue Dress” (8 p.m.) and “One False Move” (10 p.m.). The 12 o’clock noir is “Split Second” (midnight) followed by “All This and Heaven Too” (2 a.m.) and “Love Affair” (4:30 a.m.). The midday musical is “Deep in My Heart” (noon).
College football begins at noon with Marshall at Ohio State (CW), North Carolina State at Clemson (ABC), Florida at Mississippi State (ESPN), Tulane at Louisiana Lafayette (ESPNU), Kansas at West Virginia (ESPN2), Houston at Cincinnati (Fox Sports 1) and Rice at Army (CBS Sports).
Games at 3:30 p.m. include Memphis at Navy (CBS Sports), Miami Ohio at Notre Dame (NBC), UCLA at LSU (ABC), Southern California at Michigan (CBS), Arkansas at Auburn (ESPN), Georgia Tech at Louisville (ESPN2) and Arizona State at Texas Tech (Fox Sports 1).
Then comes Utah at Oklahoma State (Fox, 4 p.m.), Duke at Middle Tennessee State (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), TCU at SMU (CW, 5 p.m.), Texas El Paso at Colorado State (truTV, 5 p.m.), Miami at South Florida (ESPN, 7 p.m.), California at Florida State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Northwestern at Washington (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Florida Atlantic at Connecticut (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Akron at South Carolina (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), Fresno State at New Mexico (truTV, 8:30 p.m.), Portland State at Boise State (Fox Sports 1, 9:45 p.m.) and Kansas State at BYU (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes Pittsburgh at Cincinnati (MLB, 1 p.m.), Philadelphia at Mets (MLB, 4 p.m.), Arizona at Milwaukee (MLB, 7 p.m.) and Yankees at Oakland (MLB, 10 p.m.).
NASCAR runs its Bass Pro Shops Night Race (USA, 7:30 p.m.).
Women’s college volleyball has Kentucky at Stanford (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.).
Foo Fighters play a replay of “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
The Ryan Gosling-hosted “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) from April with Chris Stapleton is rerun. The season opener is next week.