College Admissions Scandal lifetime
Mia Kirshner stars as Bethany and Penelope Ann Miller stars as Caroline in Lifetime’s feature, “The College Admissions Scandal.” Lifetime / Sergei Bachlakov

The College Admissions Scandal, which saw about 40 actresses, CEOs and others in positions of power charged as part of a large-scale college admissions scam, has been in the news since March, making it the perfect choice for Lifetime’s Ripped From the Headlines programming event.

Last week, the network premiered its “Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story” film, and, tonight, it’s time for “The College Admissions Scandal” movie premiere. Although Lori Loughlin (“Full House,” “When Calls the Heart”) and Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”) were two of the most well-known people charged, this film focuses on two other wealthy mothers allegedly involved in the scam.

According to the synopsis, the film follows “Caroline (Penelope Ann Miller), a sought after interior designer and Bethany (Mia Kirshner), an owner of a successful financial services firm, who share an obsession with getting their teenagers into the best possible college.”

The synopsis continues: “When charismatic college admissions consultant Rick Singer (Michael Shanks, ‘Stargate: Atlantis,’ ‘Saving Hope’) offers a side door into the prestigious institutions of their dreams, Caroline and Bethany willingly partake with visions of coveted acceptance letters in their heads. But when Singer cooperates with the FBI and pleads guilty, the mothers who risked everything for their kids, must face the consequences of their crimes and the loss of trust and respect from their families.”

The Lifetime movie was executive produced by Gail Katz, directed by Adam Salky and written by Stephen Tolkin. The cast also features Robert Moloney as Jackson DeVere and Sam Duke as Danny DeVere.

Catch the premiere of “The College Admissions Scandal” on Lifetime on Saturday at 8 p.m. EDT.