What wacky world are we living in when HBO doesn’t have a big-time fall series, but Cinemax does?

Cable is in flux just like the broadcast networks. Starz and Cinemax are surging. Dramas like “American Horror Story” reboot themselves every season. HBO relies on events with a Long Island comic and an Irish rock band.

Part of the reason, of course: Cablers mostly hold their heavy artillery till the new year, dodging broadcasters’ big fall fire. Yet TV’s traditional premiere season still offers some intriguing arrivals, returns and events. (All times p.m. and Eastern)

TOPPERS
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central, Sept. 28, 11 p.m.): How to follow Jon Stewart’s stunning impact on comedy, politics and late-night TV? Succeed the 52-year-old New Jersey comic with a 31-year-old South African newcomer. Big gig. Big expectations.

“Benders” (IFC, Oct. 1, 10): Denis Leary’s Apostle production company takes a slap shot at hockey comedy, tracking a bunch of dudes irrationally obsessed with beer-league action.

“The Unauthorized Beverly Hills 90210 Story” (Lifetime, Oct. 3, 8): Following the buzz-magnet backstage “Full House” movie is more ’90s TV nostalgia. On Oct. 10 comes “The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story.”

“Homeland” (Showtime, Oct. 4, 9): Claire Danes’ fifth season jumps forward two years, when her former CIA station chief is working security in Berlin. Also with Mandy Patinkin, Rupert Friend, F. Murray Abraham.

“American Horror Story: Hotel” (FX, Oct. 7, 10): Lady Gaga gets evil in the latest single-season creepfest, also with Matt Bomer, Finn Witt rock, Evan Peters, Chloe Sevigny, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett. Expect serial murders, blood drinking – the usual.

“Jay Leno’s Garage” (CNBC, Oct. 7, 10): The wheels-mad comic plays with new super cars and vintage icons, while chatting up guests (Tim Allen, Jeff Dunham, Laurence Fishburne, Francis Ford Coppola, NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson).

“The Last Kingdom” (BBC America, Oct. 10, 10): Alexander Dreymon and Rutger Hauer dramatize the ninth century effort to unite separate kingdoms into the country of England.

“The Walking Dead” (AMC, Oct. 11, 9): TV’s top-rated drama series starts its sixth season of zombie terror: Lennie James is back big as Morgan, a key character in the 2010 pilot.

“Fargo” (FX, Oct. 12, 10): Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Jean Smart, Ted Danson, Jeffrey Donovan and Brad Garrett star in a second tale of cold Midwest crime, circa 1979.

“The Knick” (Cinemax, Oct. 16, 10): Clive Owen’s drug-addled surgeon starts a second season of medical “progress” at a gritty Manhattan hospital rocked by the social, racial and political currents of 1900.

“Amy Schumer: Live From the Apollo” (HBO, Oct. 17, 10): The white standup hits the legendary theater of black Harlem, directed by Chris Rock.

“Belief” (OWN, Oct. 18-24, 8): Love. Faith. Change. Oprah Winfrey’s seven-night event studies humans’ enduring search for meaning through religious-spiritual practices around the world.

“Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Starz, Oct. 31, 9): Bruce Campbell returns in this half-hour series continuing his “Evil Dead” cult flicks, with Lucy Lawless, Ray Santiago, Jill Marie Jones.

U2 specials (HBO, Nov. 7 and 14): Bono and the boys. One weekend’s behind-the-scenes special leads into the next Saturday’s concert, beamed same-day from Paris.

“Flesh and Bone” (Starz, Nov. 8): A self-destructive New York ballerina (“Black Swan’s” Sarah Hay) pushes toward stardom, as created by a writer from “Breaking Bad.” (All episodes online/on-demand at series premiere.)

“Project Runway Junior” (Lifetime, Nov. 12, 9): Tim Gunn mentors design competitors ages 14-17.

“Into the Badlands” (AMC, Nov. 15, 10): AMC has already done zombies, railroads, computers, robots. Now it’s martial arts: AMC’s latest zigzag delivers feudal warfare, from the producers of “Smallville.”

“The Expanse” (Syfy, Dec. 14, 10): Thomas Jane and Steven Strait investigate a future conspiracy through the colonized solar system, when “Children of Men” writers adapt the best-selling book series.

“Childhood’s End” (Syfy, Dec. 14-16): Arthur C. Clarke’s landmark alien Overlords tale becomes a six-hour miniseries with Charles Dance, Mike Vogel, Julian McMahon.
RETURN DATES
“If Loving You Is Wrong” (OWN, Tuesday at 10)

“The Leftovers” (HBO, Oct. 4)

“The Affair” (Showtime, Oct. 4 at 10)

“Finding Carter” (MTV, Oct. 6 at 10)

“Couples Therapy” (VH1, Oct. 7 at 10)

“Haven” (Syfy, Oct. 8 at 10)

“Billy on the Street” (truTV, Oct. 8 at 10:30)

“Manhattan” (WGN, Oct. 13 at 9)

“Satisfaction” (USA, Oct. 16 at 10)

“Comic Book Men” (AMC, Oct. 18 at midnight)

“Da Vinci’s Demons” (Starz, Oct. 24)

“The Librarians” (TNT, Nov. 1 at 8)

“Major Crimes” (TNT, Nov. 2 at 9)

“Legends” (TNT, Nov. 2 at 10)

“The Royals” (E!, Nov. 15)

MOVIES/EVENTS
SATURDAY: “Brian Regan: Live From Radio City Music Hall” (Comedy, 9)

SEPT. 30: “The Secret Tapes of the O.J. Case: The Untold Story” (LMN, 8-10)

Oct. 1: “O.J. Speaks: The Hidden Tapes” (A&E, 9-11)

Oct. 4: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream” (Hallmark, 9)

Oct. 9: “Invisible Sister,” with Rowan Blanchard (Disney, 8)

Oct. 18: “Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise,” with Tom Selleck (Hallmark, 9)

Oct. 30: “Exorcism: Live!” (Destination America, 9)

Oct. 31: “Countdown to Christmas” (Hallmark event begins)

Nov. 21: “Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow” (Lifetime movie, 8)