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In the sixth episode of Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer’s docuseries “The Vow,” Sarah Edmondson, a whistleblower who was once in the inner-circle of Nxivm and also a part of its master-slave subgroup Dos, is asked outright if she is a victim. Although she answers quickly in the affirmative, she also makes it clear that she made choices during her time working with the organization. Some of these choices simply kept her involved, while others were direct recruitment of other young women. To some, this may paint her in the colors of someone more culpable than coerced.

But the truth is much more complicated. And what Noujaim and Amer endeavor to do with their nine-part HBO docuseries is peel back the layers of the psychology of not only the women who found themselves in this organization that purported to be one of self-improvement, but also of its founder and high-ranking officials,...

In June, A&e canceled its flagship series Live Pd in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests against police brutality.

The cancelation came a month after the network renewed the show for an additional 160 episodes. Live Pd, which aired Friday and Saturday nights from 9 Pm-12 Am, was one of the highest-rated shows on basic cable.

One of the challenges now for A&e and parent company A+E Networks is how to replace a show that aired for so many hours across the schedule.

A+E Networks President of Programming Rob Sharenow lifted the lid on the decision making process in a virtual Edinburgh International TV Festival session moderated by Deadline.

“That was certainly a challenging moment for the brand, for our country, for the network but A&e is a brand that really listens to culture and has always prided itself on being part of...

The original editors of Lifetime’s now-famous January 2019 docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” walked out over creative disagreements on how best to portray sexual assault survivors, according to a bombshell report published Wednesday morning by The Hollywood Reporter.

Though these events took place in 2018 during post-production on the docuseries, the story recently came to light when Peggy Tachdjian, a TV editor who used to work at production company Bunim/Murray and witnessed the events take place, wrote an Instagram post in June in support of the editors along with an image that said, “Let’s talk about performative allyship.”

“In 2018 @bunimmurray was making a show called Surviving R. Kelly. I saw them take the step to hire 5 Poc editors for this project that we all knew would have deep impact for the African American community,” Tachdjian wrote.

Also Read: While Lifetime's 'Surviving Jeffrey Epstein' Aired, Calls to National Sexual...

After Lifetime’s docuseries “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein” premiered, calls into the National Sexual Assault Hotline increased drastically, showing the real-life impact about what happens when survivors hear other stories about sexual assault.

Usage into the National Sexual Assault Hotline was 34% above normal on Aug. 9 and 10 when “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein” aired, according to Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, which created and operates the hotline.

“The Sunday and Monday that ‘Surviving Jeffrey Epstein’ aired, Rainn’s National Sexual Assault Hotline experienced a 34% increase in usage,” said Scott Berkowitz, president of Rainn. “We thank Lifetime Television for their partnership and are moved by the powerful impact that our work with the media continues to have in inspiring survivors to seek out the healing they deserve.”

“Surviving Jeffrey Epstein” is a four-hour series that investigates Epstein’s predatory and criminal behavior with underaged girls and explores the aftermath of the survivors.

Calls to Rainn’s National Sexual Assault Hotline went up 34% more than normal on Aug. 9-10, the days that Lifetime aired its four-part docuseries “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.”

The docuseries investigates the billionaire New York financier who was accused of using his connections to the rich and famous to shield his predatory and abusive behavior with young girls. Featuring women who describe how Epstein lured underaged girls, the doc delves into the reality the survivors must now face in the wake of Epstein’s suicide behind bars.

The fourth and final episode of “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein” also covered the July 2 arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, who is accused of assisting Epstein with his sex trafficking ring.

It also featured the number for the 24/7 hotline and other Rainn public service announcements.

“The Sunday and Monday that Surviving Jeffrey Epstein aired, Rainn’s National Sexual Assault Hotline experienced a 34% increase in usage. We thank...

Like many powerful men revealed to be predators in the years since #MeToo, it’s impossible to fathom that such an evil abuser like Jeffrey Epstein could have eluded justice for so many years. Stories about the late financier and serial sex offender had been circulating for years before he was finally charged in 2008; even more shocking was the sweetheart deal he struck, brokered by then-Florida State’s Attorney Alex Acosta to evade any real consequences for those charges.

The deeply disturbing and long-running Epstein saga reaches into the highest echelons of society — logs from Epstein’s private jet include multiple trips from President Donald J. Trump and Prince Andrew. Naturally, the story has attracted much attention and not all of it entirely respectful or even focused on the people most affected: The survivors of Epstein’s abuse.

“Surviving Jeffrey Epstein,” a four-part docuseries that recently premiered on Lifetime, centers the survivors’ voices,...

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and monthly guide to What’s on Streaming.

With more than 530 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineWhat's New on Netflix in August — Plus: Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu & PeacockTV Streaming Service Guide: Disney+, Netflix,...

Are you ready for the last of the Marvel Universe series to take its leave from TV? We're not either!

But we are ready for Ted Lasso to being on Apple TV+ and to see what horrors are uncovered on Lifetime when Jeffrey Epstein gets the R Kelly miniseries treatment in Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.

Find out what else we recommend this week.

Saturday, August 8

9/8c Love on Harbor Island (Hallmark)

Seattle interior designer Lily Summers returns to her hometown to help her Aunt Maggie run her bed and breakfast by the marina.

There, she meets Marcus, the handsome seaplane pilot whose life’s work delivering rescue dogs helps Lily discover that home really is where the heart is.

Starring Morgan Kohan and Marcus Rosner.

We're ready for some romance! What about you?

Sunday, August 9

8/7c 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? (TLC)

This show is the gift that keeps giving!

Kalani...

On Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, Lifetime will air its new docuseries Surviving Jeffrey Epstein. Those airdates are significant, as Epstein, the disgraced financier and accused sex offender, was found dead in his jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019. And this story, like the network's hit Surviving R. Kelly before it, focuses on those who survived the sexual assaults perpetrated by Epstein and those in his inner circle. The most prominent figure in his inner circle? Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend accused of grooming women, who was arrested on July 2.

Bob Friedman, one of the series's executive producers, told journalists covering this summer's all-virtual Television Critics Association press tour that it was important to air this two-night, four-hour event on the anniversary of Epstein's demise - especially because "the story that we've told has been pretty much in the survivors' own words."

"The survivors who bear this burden of abuse; abuse that, dare we all believe,...

Lifetime has released a preview of its forthcoming documentary series “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein,” a lengthy deep dive into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The show will premiere its first episode on the eve of the anniversary of the former billionaire’s death in his jail cell, where he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, and the series arrives on the heels of the recent arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former business partner and alleged accomplice. The FBI arrested Maxwell on July 2 on charges of enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children, and perjury. According to the show’s directors and producers, who spoke during a Lifetime TCA panel Monday, the team continued filming throughout the last few weeks and delivered the final cut on Sunday.

Per Lifetime’s synopsis: “On the anniversary of disgraced financier and alleged sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein’s death, Lifetime will debut the...

Ghislaine Maxwell nearly survived the production window for “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein” without being arrested for allegedly assisting the disgraced and deceased financier in his sex trafficking ring.

Maxwell was arrested on July 2, one month to the day before the Lifetime docuseries had to shut down production in order to make its premiere date. The arrest completely changed the fourth and final episode of “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.”

“It built out a fourth episode, in a way, that we had intended to be very different,” Ricki Stern, who co-directed the docuseries with Annie Sundberg, said during the show’s virtual presentation at the Summer Ctam tour Monday. “[Maxwell’s arrest] really becomes the fourth episode.”

Also Read: Lifetime Sets Its First-Ever Christmas Movie Centered on a Gay Romance

“And it’s as much about Ghislaine’s arrest as it is about the women…having this moment to say, ‘We are going to get our day in court,...

The Star Trek universe on CBS All Access expands in the week of Aug. 3 with the premiere of animated series Lower Decks, and one of the longer-running unscripted shows on TV, Big Brother, makes its belated return to the air as well. Also on tap are Lifetime's second Surviving … docuseries and a timely look at immigration on Netflix.

Here is The Hollywood Reporter's rundown of some of the coming week's highlights. It would be next to impossible to watch everything, but let THR point the way to worthy options each week. All times are Et/Pt unless noted.

The ...

Lifetime has officially ordered the four-hour documentary series “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.”

The announcement was made at the Television Critics Association winter press tour on Saturday. The series was originally announced as in development last summer and is expected to air this summer on Lifetime.

Hailing from Emmy-winner Robert Friedman’s Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Anne Sundberg and Ricki Stern will direct. Long-time contributor to The New York Times, New York Magazine, Town & Country and Architectural Digest, Christopher Mason is also attached to the project. Shura Davidson and Gena McCarthy executive produce for Lifetime.

The cabler previously found success with a similar docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly,” which detailed allegations of sexual abuse and assault against the singer. Kelly was subsequently indicted on a range of federal charges including child pornography and kidnapping.

Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and accused of sexually assaulting and trafficking numerous underage girls. The case drew worldwide...

Lifetime is bringing more true-crime to primetime. The network has commissioned six “Smart Justice” specials with Elizabeth Smart to serve as companion docs for its “Ripped from the Headlines” true-crime movie slate.

In each “Smart Justice” special, Smart — the woman who became famous for escaping from her abductors after being kidnapped at the age of 14 — will analyze the details of the real-life case presented in each movie.

Two other projects greenlit from the headlines: the four-hour documentary “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein,” and a new authorized biopic “I Was Lorena Bobbitt” — based on the sensationalized ’90s slashing. Bobbit will serve as an executive producer on her own biopic.

Here is the description for “I Was Lorena Bobbit.”

“Lorena Bobbitt became a household name and made tabloid headlines when after years of abuse by her husband, she cut off his penis with a knife in 1993. Now nearly 30 years later, Lorena tells her story,...