British drama is cut from too much Hollywood cloth

American and British television shows have long influenced each other. And there is much to admire from each side of the pond. For every PBS fan who can’t wait for the next season of “Downton Abbey,” there are countless people in the U.K. who anticipate the return of “Homeland” or “Mad Men.”

The awkward rituals of TV’s cultural cross-pollination make for excellent comedy in the ShowtimeBBC coproduction “Episodes,” returning in 2014.

Unfortunately, t he “Masterpiece Mystery!” installment “Silk” (8 p.m. Sunday, WKNO-TV Channel 10; WMAV-TV Channel 18) demonstrates how not all cultural hybrids work out. “Silk” follows bewigged barrister (that’s the British word for lawyer) Martha Costello (Maxine Peake) as she battles an old boy’s club to rise to the rank of Queen’s Counsel, known as “taking the Silk.”

While the subject could not be more British, “Silk” borrows too heavily from American legal dramas and features musical montages, a way-too- goodlooking cast, heavy-handed gender politics and an emphasis on emotion that seems, well, a tad Hollywood.

And, as if to remind us that American legal dramas are best when they wrap things up in one tidy hour, “Silk” drags out for two.

Far from the sugarcoated high jinks of the reality series “Sister Wives” or the melodrama of “Big Love,” the made-for-television drama “Escape From Polygamy” (7 p.m. Saturday, Lifetime) depicts polygamous cult life as a kind of horror movie.

Look for Mary McCormack (“In Plain Sight”) as the widowed mother of a teen, Julina (Haley Lu Richardson), who moves into a polygamous compound run by a charismatic prophet, Ervil (William Mapother, “Justified”).

Proof that the prophet’s name is just one letter removed from “E-v-i-l” arrives when he begins to battle his own son for the attention and affection of the fetching Julina.

There have notable re- cent roles for actors portraying creepy cult leaders. Robert Knepper was genuinely terrifying as actor Roger Reeves, who played the scary Billy Grimm in the CW show within a show, “Cult.” John Hawkes was powerful and haunting as the terrifying and controlling predatory prophet in the independent film “Martha Marcy May Marlene.”

Accused of killing her ex, a jilted wife and mother (Wendie Malick) puts her vast knowledge of TV true-crime shows and forensics mysteries to work to clear her name in the 2013 comedy/mystery “After All These Years” (8 p.m. Saturday, Hallmark). Andrea Martin co-stars. Adapted from a novel by Susan Isaacs.

Perhaps the prospect of getting on a reality show has lost its luster. It may be unfair to compare the one- off special “Family Dance Off” (8 p.m. Sunday, WATN-TV Channel 24) to established series like “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent,” but host Derek Hough (“Dancing With the Stars”) should learn some pointers in hype and promotion.

While introducing the talent and explaining the rules of this harmless dance contest, Hough exclaimed, “There are families all over America who love to dance, and hundreds tried out for this show.” Excuse me, but did he use the word “hundreds”? Network television audiences used to be measured in the tens of millions. In city after city, whole stadiums of would-be contestants used to camp out for a chance to appear on “Idol.” Now we’re down to roughly three figures.

Perhaps the titles of new talent contests should reflect their new status. Look for “Random Idol,” “A Couple of Americans We Dragged In Off the Street (Might) Have Talent,” “So, You Think You Might Show Up and Dance” and “The Exaggerated Factor.”

SATURDAY’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Seth goes missing on “Cedar Cove” (7 p.m., Hallmark).

On three consecutive helpings of “Too Cute!” (Animal Planet): “Top 20 Puppies” (7 p.m.), “Puffy Beach Kitties” (8 p.m.), “Puppies Making Mischief” (9 p.m.).

Adrien Brody and Beyoncé star in the musical 2008 period piece “Cadillac Records” (5: 30 p.m., BET).

A very sticky situation on “Bones” (8 p.m., WHBQ-TV Channel 13).

Nineteenth- century illusionists (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) take their rivalry to deadly extremes in the 2006 drama “The Prestige” (8 p.m., Syfy).

Gabourey Sidibe stars as an abused teen in search of a better life in the 2009 drama “Precious” (8 p.m., BET), directed by Lee Daniels, whose new film, “The Butler,” is now in theaters.

Stormy weather changes plans on “The White Queen” (8 p.m., Starz).

Olivia wants to protect Jason’s son on “Do No Harm” (9 p.m., WMC-TV Channel 5).

Jeremy Renner hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10: 30 p. m., WMC-TV Channel 5), featuring musical guest Maroon 5.

SUNDAY’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., WREGTV Channel 3): faulty credit reports; face recognition software; the Nile crocodile.

Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars are among the scheduled performers at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (8 p.m.).

“Bar Rescue” (8 p.m., Spike) renovates a saloon in New Bedford, Mass.

A winner emerges on “BBQ Pitmasters” (8 p.m., Destination America).

Walt and Skyler face down a challenge on “Breaking Bad” (8 p.m., AMC).

Dr. Vogel gets an unexpected visitor on “Dexter” (8 p.m., Showtime).

Avi and Sully take a road trip on “Ray Donovan” (9 p.m., Showtime).

Donovan is all business on “Copper” (9 p.m., BBC America).

Frank and Geddes concoct a cover-up on “Low Winter Sun” (9 p.m., AMC).

The reasoning behind the Genoa story emerges in the deposition room on “The Newsroom” (9 p.m., HBO).