What looks to be a decent five-part miniseries starts tonight, following the finale of “The White Queen” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
“Dancing on the Edge” (Starz, 10 p.m.) follows the story of an early jazz band of U.S. ex-pats gaining faor among the upper crust of England. Chiwetel Ejifor of “The Wire” and currently “Twelve Years of a Slave”) stars as the Duke Ellington-like bandleader Louis Lester, whose mingling with a young New Musical Express writer leads to gig before royalty and high rollers, with a little bit of intrigue among the hot tunes. John Goodman and Jacqueline Bisset are seen among the cast led by Matthew Goode.
It’s an unusually tuneful period drama with a different edge and some welcome color. It also brings something substantial to watch on Saturdays for the first time in a while.
Can reality stars play actual roles? Real Housewife Brandi Glanvile gives it a try in the TV movie “Missing at 17” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.). Another new movie on cable involves the season, “Grave Halloween” (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
Finally, in the new “When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.), Magie Grace plays a 19h century society woman who leaves that world behind to become a teacher in a small Western coal town. iLori Laughlin and Jean Smart are also featured in the film based on the writing of Jeanette Oke.
Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star in the Spanish-Canadian horror film from director Andres Muschetti from earlier this year, “Mama” (HBO, 8 p.m.). Also new on premium cable from earlier this year is “Broken City” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.) with Russell Crowe, Mark Wahlberg and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Game six returns the American League Championship Series returns to Fenway with Detroit at Boston (Fox, 8 p.m.).
What would happen if the Amazon rain forest were eliminated. They try to figure it out ont he new series “Tipping Points” (The Weather Channel, 9 p.m.).
The imported “Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 11 p.m.) begins its 14th season with Benedict Cumberbatch, the PBS Sherlock now in theaters as Julian Assange.
A film influential for everyone from The Ramones to “The Simpsons” is Tod Browning’s “Freaks” (TCM, 8 p.m.).
It kicks off a night of films from the unerrated dicrector in “Mark of the Vampire” 915 p.m.), “The Devil Doll” (10:30 p.m.), “Miracles for Sale” (midnight) and “London After Midnight” (1:15 a..m.), “Incubus” (2:15 a.m.) and “The Hypnotic Eye” (3:45 a.m.).
The big college football games tonight include Florida State at Clemson (ABC, 8 p.m.), USC at Notre Dame (NBC, 7:30 pm.), Arkansas at Alabama (ESPN, 7 p.m.), LSU at Ole Miss (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Iowa State at Baylor (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Nevada at Boise State (CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m.), Washington State at Oregon (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.) and Oregon State at California (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.).
The Lumineers play a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) and say “Hey!”
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) is already a rerun; the season premiere with Tina Fey and Arcade Fire.