What to Watch Sunday: ID begins Serial Killer Week, The CW gets MTV Music Awards
Serial Killer Week (Investigation Discovery) - This is Investigation Discovery’s answer to its sister channel’s Shark Week — except these killers are on land. The special week of serial killer programming starts with a special episode of Evil Lives Here (9 p.m.), telling the story of Ohio murderer Shawn Grate. The extended episode features an interview with Christina Hildreth, Grate’s girlfriend of six years, and examines how he hid his actions from those around him. Also coming this week:
▪ The 93 Victims of Samuel Little: A four-hour documentary special airing Monday and Tuesday at 9 p.m. telling the story of a man who could be one of the most prolific killers of all time. Little was convicted of killing four women, but is believed to have killed as many as 93 women across the country for over four decades.
▪ The Butcher Baker: Mind of a Monster: This brand new special examines Robert Hansen, a mild-mannered family man who ran a successful bakery while also hunting women. Hansen would find women in the Anchorage red-light district and then fly them out to the Alaska wilderness, where he would literally hunt them down for sport. He was eventually caught and confessed to murdering 17 women. Wednesday, 9 p.m.
▪ Serial Killer Among Us: Phillip Jablonski: A new two-hour special on a killer who preyed on women in California in the early 1990s. It took a nationwide search to catch Jablonksi, who had a “kill list” and audio diary. Thursday, 9 p.m.
▪ BTK: Chasing a Serial Killer: An updated special on Dennis Rader, known as the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) Killer. The program focuses son Rader’s daughter, Kerri Rawson, who had no idea while growing up that her father was a monster committing horrible crimes, but has additional interviews with others close to the case. Friday, 9 p.m.
MTV Video Music Awards (8 p.m., MTV, The CW and more) - For the first time, the MTV Video Music Awards will simulcast on a broadcast network (The CW). The show pays homage to New York City this year, and will be hosted by Keke Palmer. We’ll get live performances from multiple outdoor locations across NYC by Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, BTS, Black Eyed Peas, Doja Cat, DaBaby, Maluma, CNCO and others.
Voices Magnified: Policing in America (9 p.m., A&E) - Laurence Fishburne narrates this special examining what it will take to transform the way we police our streets so that people of all races can feel safe and respected by law enforcement.
Love Fraud (9 p.m., Showtime) - The official premiere of a new documentary series following the search for Richard Scott Smith, a man who over the past 20 years has preyed on unsuspecting women, conning them out of their money and dignity. The filmmakers capture the story as it unfolds in real time, as his victims band together to seek revenge by turning to a bounty hunter when they feel the justice system has failed them. The first episode was released online (on YouTube and SHO.com) a few days ago, free to all. There are four episodes total.
Some programming descriptions are provided by networks.
This story was originally published August 30, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
