FALL PREMIERES: On cable, too

Cable is pulling out some big guns this year to run head-to-head with the networks' traditional fall premieres. Established faves like Dexter and Sons of Anarchy return, joined by promising newcomers like Boardwalk Empire and Terriers.

Cable even has a late-night talk show featuring some Irish comic named Conan.

Here's a look at just a few of the cable arrivals announced for fall (and a couple coming early).

AUG. 1

Rubicon (AMC) -- James Badge Dale (The Pacific) stars in this conspiracy thriller as an intelligence analyst who gets too close to some uncomfortable truths.

AUG. 16

Weeds (Showtime) -- Sixth season of Mary-Louise Parker's suburban pot comedy adds Richard Dreyfuss to the mix.

The Big C (Showtime) -- Laura Linney copes with cancer in this comedy costarring Oliver Platt, Idris Elba, Gabourey Sidibe and Cynthia Nixon.

SEPT. 7

Sons of Anarchy (FX) -- Third season of ex-Shield mainstay Kurt Sutter's California motorcycle mob tale.

SEPT. 8

Terriers (FX) -- The Shield creator Shawn Ryan teams with Ted Griffin (Ocean's Eleven) for this comedy-drama starring Donal Logue as a shaggy ex-cop who starts an unlicensed private eye business.

SEPT. 16

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) -- Sixth season with the rowdy Philly barflies.

SEPT. 19

Boardwalk Empire (HBO) -- Martin Scorsese directed the pilot of this lavish drama about Atlantic City "at the dawn of Prohibition," written by Sopranos scribe Terence Winter. Stars include Steve Buscemi, Dabney Coleman and Gretchen Mol.

SEPT. 26

Dexter (Showtime) -- Fifth season with Michael C. Hall's Miami police blood-spatter analyst/serial killer of serial killers. Key guest stars this season include Julia Stiles, Peter Weller, Jonny Lee Miller, Shawn Hatosy and Maria Doyle Kennedy.

Bored to Death (HBO) -- Second season of Jason Schwarzman as a Brookyn writer turned private eye. With Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis.

Eastboard & Down (HBO) -- Second season with Danny McBride's no-role-model ex-baseball player.

SEPT. 27

Faces of a Vanishing World (Ovation) -- Docuseries follows 19-year-old New York photographer Joey Lawrence as he shoots disappearing cultures around the world.

OCT. 2

Iconoclasts (Sundance) -- Fifth season of celebs interviewing celebs, including Charlize Theron with primatologist Jane Goodall and Cate Blanchett with climate change scientist Tim Flannery.

OCTOBER

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (IFC) -- David Cross created and stars in the "misadventures of an American pathological liar as he bluffs his way into a senior sales job in the London office" of a new energy drink. Fellow Arrested Development alum Will Arnett plays his "hard-ass, foul-mouthed boss."

The Walking Dead (AMC) -- Frank Darabont is behind this post-apocalyptic zombie tale, from Robert Kirkman's graphic novels. With Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Sarah Wayne Callies.

NOVEMBER

Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (TCM) -- Seven hourlong documentaries focus on crucial eras of American film history, starting with the invention of motion pictures.

NOV. 8

Conan O'Brien (TBS) -- He's back, late-nights at 11 p.m. ET. George Lopez' current talkfest moves back to midnight.

NOV. 29

Men of a Certain Age (TNT) -- Second season of Ray Romano's smart midlife crisis saga with pals Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula.

Undetermined fall premiere date

Top Gear (History) -- Based on the UK hit taking witty spins in high-tech vehicles.