Cable's autumn expectations lean less on new titles than returning favorites _ HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (Oct. 1), USA's "Mr. Robot" (Oct. 11), AMC's "The Walking Dead" (Oct. 22). These shows' known names cut through broadcasters' fall clutter, paving the way for cablers to promote a new arrival or two. That more individual spotlight gives these often quirky new series a fighting chance to be found and sampled by viewers.
Among cable's upcoming entries with network, time (all p.m.) and start date:
MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS (Cinemax, Fridays at 10; Sept. 22) The Texas-based mind behind "Beavis and Butt-Head" and "King of the Hill" now animates the road stories of wild-child music acts. Among them: Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Paycheck, George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
THE OPPOSITION WITH JORDAN KLEPPER (Comedy Central, weeknights 11:30; Sept. 25) "Fake news" noise from fringe "alternative media" gets lampooned by the longtime "Daily Show" correspondent.
LIAR (Sundance, Wednesdays at 10; Sept. 27) Psychological thriller with Joanne Froggatt ("Downton Abbey") and Ioan Gruffudd is a secrets-and-lies tale fueled by a teacher-parent romance.
ROSEHAVEN (Sundance, Wednesdays at 11; Sept. 27) Rural Tasmania is the setting for a quirky comedy of friendships, created by and starring pals Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquoia ("Utopia").
50 CENTRAL (BET, Wednesdays 10:30; Sept. 27) Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson segues from the drama of "Power" to the comedy of this music/prank/sketchfest.
GHOST WARS (Syfy, Thursdays at 10; Oct. 5) Want some Meat Loaf? The rocker-actor joins Vincent D'Onofrio and Kim Coates in a remote Alaskan town under siege by paranormal forces.
SUPERSTITION (Syfy, Fridays at 10; Oct. 6) Funeral home family handles "afterlife care" for people who've succumbed to demonic phenomena. Mario Van Peebles stars-directs.
THE RUNDOWN WITH ROBIN THEDE (BET, Thursdays at 11; Oct. 12) The Second City-trained lead writer of Larry Wilmore's old "Nightly Show" gets her own chance to tackle current events, weekly from New York.
THE COMEDY GET DOWN (BET, Thursdays at 11:30; Oct. 12) Scripts re-create life backstage among five standups touring together: Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, DL Hughley, George Lopez and Roosevelt's Charlie Murphy (scenes shot before his April death).
WHITE FAMOUS (Showtime, Sundays at 10; Oct. 15) Jay Pharoah stars as a hot comic trying to keep it real while rising to the level of "white" success. Jamie Foxx produces.
LOUDERMILK (DirecTV, Tuesdays at 10:30; Oct. 17) Who's got a bad attitude? That would be Ron Livingston's title dude, a now-clean substance abuse counselor with continuing issues. With Will Sasso.
AT HOME WITH AMY SEDARIS (truTV, Tuesdays at 10:30; Oct. 24) The "Strangers With Candy" comic demonstrates craft skills with guests like Jane Krakowski. Expect original songs and bad behavior.
SMILF (Showtime, Sundays at 10; Nov. 5) Frankie Shaw ("Mr. Robot") plays a Southie single juggling motherhood, relationships and a career. With Rosie O'Donnell as her mother.
THE LONG ROAD HOME (NatGeo, Tuesday, Nov. 7) Jason Ritter, Jeremy Sisto, Sarah Wayne Callies in scripted series dramatizing the Iraq War's "Black Sunday" ambush on the 1st Cavalry.
HAPPY! (Syfy, Wednesdays at 10; Nov. 29) Christopher Meloni and Patton Oswalt bring to life Grant Morrison's graphic novels of a dissolute ex-cop turned hit man, whose life is changed by an imaginary blue winged horse.
RETURNING SERIES:
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: CULT (FX, Tuesday at 10; Sept. 5)
CON MAN (Syfy, Saturday at 10; Sept. 9)
YOU'RE THE WORST (FXX, Wednesday at 10; Sept. 6)
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD (AMC, Sunday at 9; Sept. 10)
OUTLANDER (Starz, Sunday at 8; Sept. 10)
SOUTH PARK (Comedy, Wednesday at 10; Sept. 13)
BROAD CITY (Comedy, Wednesday 10:30; Sept. 13)
FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE (Wednesday 10:30; Sept. 13)
BETTER THINGS (FX, Thursday at 10; Sept. 14)
VICE PRINCIPALS (HBO, Sunday 10:30; Sept. 17)
ADAM RUINS EVERYTHING (truTV, Tuesday at 10; Sept. 19)
TOSH.0 (Comedy, Tuesday at 10; Sept. 19)
THE JIM JEFFERIES SHOW (Comedy, Tuesday 10:30; Sept. 19)
CHANNEL ZERO (Syfy, Wednesday at 10; Sept. 20)
NATHAN FOR YOU (Comedy, Thursday at 10; Sept. 28)
Z NATION (Syfy, Friday at 9; Sept. 29)
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO; Oct. 1)
QUEEN SUGAR (OWN; Oct. 3)
VAN HELSING (Syfy; Oct. 5)
MR. ROBOT (USA; Oct. 11)
THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES (Spike; Oct. 11)
DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY (BBC America; Oct. 14)
GOOD BEHAVIOR (TNT; Oct. 15)
THE WALKING DEAD (AMC; Oct. 22)
MAJOR CRIMES (TNT; Oct. 31)
STAN AGAINST EVIL (IFC, Nov. 1)
THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE (Starz, Nov. 5)
SHAMELESS (Showtime; Nov. 5)
TEACHERS (TV Land, Nov. 7)
SEARCH PARTY (TBS; Nov. 19)
VIKINGS (History; Nov. 29)
