Cable channels don't make it easy when it comes to compiling a fall preview _ they sprinkle new shows and returnees all over the calendar year. That makes cable a moving target.
But here's the good news. Cool shows can arrive at any time. And even when cable debuts are duds, there's something fresh coming right around the corner.
Among cable's fall arrivals (all times p.m.):
VAN HELSING (Syfy, Sept. 23, Friday at 10) The twist: This vampire hunter is a modern woman named Vanessa Helsing (Kelly Overton, "True Blood").
CHANNEL ZERO (Syfy, Sept. 27, Tuesday at 9) Horror anthology kicks off with six episodes of viral web fright "Candle Cove," with Paul Schneider.
AFTERMATH (Syfy, Sept. 27, Tuesday at 10) Anne Heche and James Tupper (paired in "Men in Trees" and real life) fight supernatural creatures unleashed by the apocalypse.
WESTWORLD (HBO, Oct. 2, Sunday at 9) Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright headline the cast of this re-imagining of the 1973 sci-fi/Old West movie mashup.
DIVORCE (HBO, Oct. 9, Sunday at 10) Sarah Jessica Parker returns to HBO, this time as a mother and a wife (to co-star Thomas Haden Church) who's having an affair and wants out of her marriage.
INSECURE (HBO, Oct. 9, Sunday at 10:30) Comedy created by Issa Rae (YouTube web series "Awkward Black Girl") follows two African-American friends in Los Angeles.
VICE NEWS TONIGHT (HBO, Oct. 10, Monday-Friday at 7:30) The newsies at Vice branch out from HBO's topical weekly documentaries to this weeknight report.
FALLING WATER (USA, Oct. 13, Thursday at 10) Strangers dreaming parts of the same dream realize it connects to the world's future. With Lizzie Brochere, Will Yun Lee, David Ajala.
WOLF CREEK (Pop, Oct. 14, Friday at 10) Woman seeks revenge on a serial killer in this Australian thriller.
EYEWITNESS (USA, Oct. 16, Sunday at 10) Julianne Nicholson and Gil Bellows star, with Tyler Young and James Paxton as teens whose crime sighting threatens to out them. If they aren't killed by the killer first.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD (HLN, Oct. 17, Monday-Thursday at 8) CNN news anchor leaves behind her daytime legal view to take this prime-time slot on lighter-toned HLN.
DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY (BBC America, Oct. 22, Saturday at 9) Adapted from the comics by Douglas Adams ("Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"), this mindbender pairs Elijah Wood's loner and Samuel Barnett's quirky detective to solve a millionaire's murder.
PEOPLE OF EARTH (TBS, Oct. 31, Monday at 9) Wyatt Cenac plays a reporter who starts to believe claims of alien abduction are true. It's a comedy. With Ana Gasteyer, Oscar Nunez.
STAN AGAINST EVIL (IFC, Oct. 31 preview, then Wednesday at 10) John C. McGinley's ex-sheriff joins his resented successor (Janet Varney) to battle demons unleashed in their New England town.
GOOD BEHAVIOR (TNT, Nov. 15) Michelle Dockery of "Downton Abbey" becomes a con artist in this thriller from books by Blake Crouch ("Wayward Pines").
NIGHTCAP (Pop, Nov. 16) Ali Wentworth books a late-night talk show in this comedy packed with celeb cameos (Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Whoopi Goldberg, Wendy Williams, even Wentworth spouse George Stephanopoulos).
SEARCH PARTY (TBS, Nov. 21-25) Alia Shawkat ("Arrested Development") leads 20-somethings seeking a missing friend in this dark comedy, getting a five-night stunt debut.
INCORPORATED (Syfy, Nov. 30) Futuristic thriller of corporate power stars Sean Teale ("Reign"), Allison Miller ("Terra Nova"), Julia Ormond, Dennis Haysbert.
SWEET/VICIOUS (MTV, November TBA) Dark hour dramedy sees two unlikely college pals _ sorority girl, hacker stoner _ go vigilante on campus offenders.
MARTHA & SNOOP'S DINNER PARTY (VH1, fall TBA) Who'da thunk, it's Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, throwing a weekly celeb dinner party.
MARIAH'S WORLD (E!, Dec. 4) Harborfields diva takes viewers along as she performs and prepares for her wedding.
CABLE: RETURNING SHOWS
Sept. 25 "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" (HBO)
Sept. 27 "Drunk History" (Comedy)
Sept. 28 "Younger" (TV Land)
Sept. 28 "Impastor" (TV Land)
Oct. 2 "Ash vs Evil Dead" (Starz)
Oct. 2 "Blunt Talk" (Starz)
Oct. 2 "Shameless" (Showtime)
Oct. 6 "Those Who Can't" (truTV)
Oct. 23 "The Walking Dead" (AMC)
Oct. 23 "Comic Book Men" (AMC)
Oct. 26 "Rectify" (Sundance)
Oct. 28 "Comedy Bang! Bang!" (IFC)
Nov. 2 "Salem" (WGN America)
Nov. 15 "Teen Wolf" (MTV)
Nov. 20 "The Affair" (Showtime)
Nov. 20 "The Librarians" (TNT)
December TBA "The Royals" (E!)
December TBA "Nashville" (CMT)
Fall TBA "America's Next Top Model" (VH1)
