‘Enlighten Us’ looks at a self-help guru’s rise and sudden fall

When does a self-help guru go too far? “Enlighten Us: The Rise and Fall of James Arthur Ray” (8 p.m. and 10 p.m., CNN) recalls the career of motivational speaker James Arthur Ray, a rising star in the $11 billion personal growth industry who would face homicide charges after three followers died during one of his retreats.

Rejecting a straight narrative, the film takes a meandering look at Ray’s life, the appeal of motivational speakers such as Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra and the many people who follow them, often at great financial and personal sacrifice.

“Enlighten” includes interviews with Ray before and after his downfall and chronicles his attempts to re-enter his field after serving two years in prison. We also hear from Ray’s followers at various phases of infatuation and disenchantment.

The film’s circuitous style asks viewers to look at people and events from many different angles. It also adds up to a running time in excess of 100 minutes — a full two hours with commercials. That’s an awful long time to spend with people who talk almost exclusively about themselves and their human potential.

» The hearth and home aspects of the holiday season loom large on “The Great American Baking Show” (8 p.m., WATN-TV Channel 24). Tonight, competing bakers make bundt cakes inspired by the coming winter season for judges Nia Vardalos, Ian Gomez, Mary Berry and Johnny Iuzzini.

It is the latest imitation of “The Great British Bake Off” seen frequently on PBS. If one thinks of TV as “comfort food,” these shows fit the bill. Despite widespread affection for “Bake Off,” the series entered controversial waters earlier this year when it moved to another private channel after its contract with the BBC expired. That change saw a departure of key talent and judges, including Mary Berry. Some worry that the show will fall flat without its original ingredients.

» Fans of TV kitchens should also note that “Top Chef” (9 p.m., Bravo) enters its 14th season featuring eight new chefs competing in Charleston, S.C.

» Freeform kicks off its annual 25 Days of Christmas festival with the 1971 favorite “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (2:30 p.m.), starring Gene Wilder. The Cartoon Network offers a slate of Christmas-themed animation beginning with the revamped “Powerpuff Girls” (4 p.m.).

» A bald, depressed boy, taunted by his friends and disrespected by his own dog, pins his hopes on a sickly sapling yet learns the deeper meaning of the holidays in the beloved 1965 special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (7 p.m., WATN-TV Channel 24).

Other highlights

» “Picasso: A Museum Reborn” (6 p.m., Ovation) chronicles the reopening of the Picasso Museum in Paris after five years of renovation and extension.

» The Minnesota Vikings host the Dallas Cowboys in “Thursday Night Football” (7 p.m., WMC-TV Channel 5, NFL).

» An investigation leads to Cuba on “Rosewood” (7 p.m., WHBQ-TV Channel 13).

» The two-hour film “Until Proven Innocent” (8 p.m., ID) examines efforts to exonerate Hannah Overton, convicted of the 2006 salt-poisoning murder of her 4-year-old foster son.

» Rumors put Lawson on the trading block on “Pitch” (8 p.m., WHBQ-TV Channel 13).

» A space station astronaut undergoes a remote surgery on “Pure Genius” (9 p.m., WREG-TV Channel 3).

» Burton learns more about the Woman in Red on “Falling Water” (9 p.m., USA).

Kevin McDonough can be reached at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.