Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams, who previously joined forces on Alias, are reuniting for My Glory Was I Had Such Friends. Apple gave a straight-to-series order to the one-hour limited drama starring and executive-produced by Garner and executive-produced by Abrams via his Bad Robot Productions banner. Project is based on the 2017 memoir of the same name by Amy Silverstein and follows a group of women who supported Silverstein as she waited for a second life-saving heart transplant.
 
Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions optioned the rights to Rebecca Makkai’s 2018 novel The Great Believers with plans to develop it into a TV series. The novel, which was published in June, is set in mid-1980s Chicago and 2015 Paris and uses the AIDS epidemic and a mother’s search for her estranged daughter to explore the effects of loss.
 
MTV renewed Jersey Shore Family Vacation for a third season. Currently the #1 unscripted series on cable in P18-49, the series features original housemates from Jersey Shore, which premiered in 2009.
 
Production has started on Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind. The HBO Documentary Films presentation centers on the life of the Hollywood star through the perspective of her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, and others who knew her well. The film is slated to debut in 2020.
 
Starz inked a two-year overall deal with writer-producer Heather Zuhlke (Power). Under the pact, Zuhlke will develop new projects exclusively for the network and join the writing staff of drama series The Continental from Starz and Lionsgate as co-executive producer.
 
David Kushner inked a first-look television deal with Hulu. Under the terms of the deal, the streamer will have access to the journalist and best-selling author’s complete catalogue of articles and books along with forthcoming pieces. Kushner will serve as an executive producer on all projects.
 
Kyra Sedgwick teamed with Meredith Bagby and Valerie Stadler to launch Big Swing Productions. The company, which has a number of film and television projects in the works, is “committed to celebrating new heroes and amplifying bold voices, focusing on inclusive stories with heart and purpose.” One of its first projects is Girls Weekend, an independently produced TV series that tells the story of queer daughter Erica who returns home for a “girls’ weekend” with her estranged homophobic sister, mom and dad.
 
 

 
Hanging with the Hendersons premieres Friday, January 11, at 9p on Animal Planet. Series centers on Dr. Ross Henderson and his family of veterinarians, who care for animals at Colorado’s Fox Hollow Animal Hospital.
 
Richard Rawlings continues to transform carports across America when Discovery Channel’s Garage Rehab returns Tuesday, January 8, at 8p.
 
The Fosters spinoff, Good Trouble, bows Tuesday, January 8, at 8p on Freeform. Series follows Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) as they embark on the next phase of their adult lives in Los Angeles.
 
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced season premiere dates for two series: The Haves and the Have Nots is back on Tuesday, January 8, at 9p, while Iyanla: Fix My Life returns on Saturday, January 12, at 9p.
 
IFC acquired dark comedy Fleabag from creator, writer and actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Six-part series premieres on Wednesday, December 26, at 11p.

 
The CW airs back-to-back holiday specials on Tuesday, December 18. Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown, hosted by Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight, bows as 8p, followed by Greatest Holiday Videos Countdown at 9p.
 
Hallmark presents five new original world premieres leading up the premiere of When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing on Tuesday, December 25, at 8p. Things kick off with A Christmas for the Books on Thursday, December 20, at 9p, followed by Christmas at Grand Valley on Friday, December 21, at 9p and Christmas Bells Are Ringing on Saturday, December 22, at 10p on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Meanwhile, Hallmark Channel introduces Jingle Around the Clock on Saturday, December 22 at 8p and Christmas Made to Order on Sunday, December 23 at 8p. In addition, A Midnight Kiss debuts Saturday, December 29 at 9p.
 
INSP is adding four classics to its lineup: Laredo, Alias Smith and Jones, Wanted Dead or Alive and The Virginian. Series bow Wednesday, January 2, and are scheduled to air during the network’s “Weekday Westerns” and “Saddle Up Weekends” programming blocks.
 
Starz airs the entire first season of American Gods on Saturday, December 29, beginning at 12p. The show’s cast will live tweet their favorite moments from the season as the network gears up for its sophomore return on Wednesday, March 10.
 
Wonderama, a reboot of the iconic kids’ series, announced that The Wonderama Holiday Special will air in the show’s regularly timeslots on Saturday, December 15, and Sunday, December 16. Check local listings for times and stations. The celebration features host David Osmond as he welcomes an array of musical guests performing holiday favorites.
 
 

 
Discovery and the European Tour struck a deal that will see GOLFTV continue to expand its portfolio and move toward becoming the “digital home of golf” for fans around the world. The agreement includes international multi-platform live rights, in selected territories, to all European Tour events and the next two Ryder Cups. Discovery will also collaborate to grow the European Tour’s digital platforms, showcasing the Tour’s content worldwide. GOLFTV will carry more than 40 European Tour events per year starting in January 2019.
 
Turner Sports struck a three-year partnership with ONE Championship to distribute live event coverage in the U.S. Per the pact’s terms B/R Live, Turner’s live sports streaming service, will be the primary destination for ONE Championship lives events each year. B/R Live will present if first live event on Saturday, January 19, with 24 overall events scheduled in 2019.
 
 

 
Video Advertising Bureau’s new report #TVisSocial, conducted between the study period of September 24 and October 21, 2018, reveals that live ad-supported TV programming accounted for 84% of the total top 10 trending Twitter products. The fourth in a series of reports released since 2016 found that online social conversations about ad-supported TV topics is growing and dominates discussion on Twitter even more than in past years.
 
DoubleVerify, independent provider of marketing measurement software and analytics, announced an expanded partnership with YouTube to deliver brand safety and suitability measurement for campaigns run on the platform. The partnership drives greater campaign transparency and unlocks potential performance for advertisers wishing to avoid unsuitable content or categories of lesser relevance to the brand.
 
 

 
Greg Kinnear will guest on CBS All Access’ The Twilight Zone… Lifetime cast its leads in two movies. Justina Machado, Elisabeth Rohm and Matt Passmore are set to star in Family Pictures, while Erika Christensen, Antonio Cupo, Andy Favreau and Carmel Amit will headline in To Have and to Hold… Kaya Scodelario signed as the lead in Netflix drama Spinning Out.
 
 

 
Nickelodeon animated preschool series Abby Hatcher bows Tuesday, January 1 at 10a. Following the show’s U.S. launch, it will roll out on Nickelodeon’s international channels and branded blocks in 2019.
 
 

 
Smithsonian Network is embarking on the streaming subscription space, launching Smithsonian Channel Plus. The ad-free on-demand service features over 1,000 hours of content from the net’s programming slate, spanning genres including history, air and space, nature and wildlife, science, travel, pop culture and more.
 
New research by Parrot Analytics and Kagan, a media research group within Global Market Intelligence, shows support for one of Netflix’s most important goals: to have 50% of its content be comprised of Netflix originals. According to the report, demand for Netflix Originals is estimated to overtake the share of demand for licensed titles by October 2019.
 
Netflix announced the launch date for Season 3 of One Day At A Time. The reimagining of the Normal Lear sitcom will bow on Friday, February 8.
 
CBS All Access released the trailer and key art for the return of Star Trek: Discovery on Thursday, January 17, at 8:30p. The show’s second season was extended to 14 episodes from its original 13.
 
In other CBS news, CBS Television Stations and CBS Interactive launched CBSN New York, the first of its planned 24/7 direct-to-consumer services that will stream anchored news coverage and live breaking news events from major markets served by CBS stations owned by CBS Corporation.
 
Facebook Watch renewed Huda Boss, Five Points, Sacred Lies and Sorry for Your Loss for second seasons.
 
 

 
Canadian comedy series Corner Gas and 90-minute film Corner Gas: The Movie are now available outside of Canada on Amazon Prime Video via Prime Video Direct, in over 60 countries and territories. Included are the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and more.
 
Alfred Haber Television, Inc. secured the international distribution rights to A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy, the NBC holiday special starring John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen.
 
Gunpowder & Sky partnered with Tigerlily Productions to develop Assets. The new comedy series centers on five women laying bare secrets of the corporate banking world.
 
Sinking Ship Entertainment teamed with Jolly Group to expand its kids’ content, distributing and licensing Odd Squad, Annedroids and Chirp in China.