Proving once again its ability to pull back together entertainment heavyweights, Apple TV Plus has announced an order of 10 half-hour episodes of a new comedy series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, and executive produced by David West Read.

Produced by Apple and Skydance Television, the untitled comedy is described as a “heartfelt odd-couple love story revolving around the strange and beautiful bond” between Harrelson and his fictional family and McConaughey’s TV brood, with the former moving onto the latter’s Texas ranch.

West Read, who put himself on the map as producer of Emmy darling Schitt's Creek, is already in Apple's good graces — his comedy series The Big Door Prize was just screened at SXSW and debuts on Apple TV Plus March 29. 

McConaughey and Harrelson have worked together on numerous occasions, perhaps most notably paired in the 2014 installment of HBO's True Detective. 

Harrelson, who perplexed some of the global entertainment market when he belied his belief in certain anti-vax conspiracy theories several weeks ago while hosting Saturday Night Live, is currently in pop-culture circulation as the star of Bobby Farrelly's sports comedy Champions, which debuted in theaters last Friday to somewhat tepid results. 

McConaughey, meanwhile, has been widely reported to be possibly replacing Kevin Costner in the forward-looking portion of uber-producer Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone franchise at Paramount. 

As for Apple TV Plus, its flagship comedy series, Ted Lasso, is returning for at least one more season starting March 15. But now more than three years after its launch, few if anybody outside Apple's Cupertino, California headquarters know how many subscribers pay for Apple TV Plus. ■

HBO will continue its True Detective anthology series with Jodie Foster in the starring role.

The new instalment, True Detective: Night Country, will be helmed by Issa López and will also star Kali Reis. The limited series will follow two detectives as they investigate the disappearance of six men operating the Tsalal Arctic Research Station in Alaska. 

The True Detective franchise initially debuted in 2014 with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, while the second season in 2015 starred Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn. Mahershala Ali took over the starring role in the third season of True Detective airing in 2019.

“We are tremendously excited to return to the True Detective franchise and to be working with the multi-talented Issa López, whose singular vision for her Night Country installment will be beautifully realized with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis in the starring roles,” HBO Programming executive VP Francesca Orsi said in a statement. 

True Detective: Night Country will be executive produced by López, Foster, Barry Jeknins, Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak, Alan Page Arriaga, Mari Jo Winkler, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Nic Pizzolatto.■  

Also: HBO Max's Customer Base Is Almost 30% Ad-Supported After Less Than One Year 

Showtime has reached an exclusive output deal with recently created film, television and multimedia studio STX Entertainment, the network said Tuesday.

The deal, which begins this year, gives Showtime rights to air the studio’s theatrical releases through 2019, said network officials. The movies will air on Showtime Networks and its multiplex channels including The Movie Channel and Flix.

The first four features from STX Entertainment include projects from  Gary Ross (The Hunger Games, Seabiscuit),  Billy Ray (Captain Phillips, The Hunger Games),  Mark Johnson (Rain Man, Breaking Bad) and Jason Blum (Whiplash) and will star Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts Nicole Kidman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Will Ferrell and Jason Bateman among others.

““As we continue to enhance our theatrical portfolio, we are delighted to have this long-term partnership with STX and look forward to bringing their robust slate of studio-level films to our networks’ subscribers,” said Kent Sevener and Gary Garfinkel, Co-Heads of Content Acquisition, Showtime Networks Inc.

As the Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning, celebrities are taking to Twitter and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to voice their honors for the upcoming Jan. 11 show. 

Below are some of the nominees and their reactions: 

Matthew McConaughey: HBO's True Detective (Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television):

"To Rustin Cohle -- I miss that man. Thanks to Nic [Pizzolatto] for the creation and to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the nomination." 

Edie Falco: Showtime's Nurse Jackie (Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical): 

"The Hollywood Foreign Press has been so kind and supportive of me over the years. I’m so grateful for being acknowledged for a show I’ve so deeply loved to work on.”

Liev Schreiber: Showtime's Ray Donovan (Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama):

"Many thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press. Thrilled to be back on the Globes roster with dear old Dad." [Meaning Jon Voight, who plays his father on the show.]

Dominic West: Showtime's The Affair (Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama): 

“I’m honoured to be nominated in this category and would like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. I’m thrilled that the show and my dear friend and co-star Ruth Wilson have been nominated too. I am very proud of The Affair and my special thanks go to Sarah Treem, David Nevins and all at Showtime," said Dominic West.

Jon Voight: Ray Donovan ( Best Performance by Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television): 

"It’s a wonderful thing. It’s a very prestigious award and I’m grateful for the glow that these nominations give our show. I know our team deeply appreciates it."

Alan Cumming: CBS's The Good Wife(Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:)

"I am shocked and awed by this nomination, especially in a year when the show itself is honored. The standard of writing on The Good Wife is unparalleled, but matched by the grace of our glorious leader Jules. Thanks HFPA for making it easier to have my hair painted with a silver Sharpie this morning!"

Cumming also Tweeted: "Me: (thinking someone has died as my phone's constantly buzzing) What?! My manager: You got a Golden Globe nomination! Me: For what?!"

Viola Davis: ABC's How to Get Away With Murder (Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series—Drama): 

"Thank you Hollywood Foreign Press for this honor. I'm so thrilled."

Lena Dunham: HBO's Girls (Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series—Comedy or Musical):

"It's a true joy to return to the Golden Globes this year. We are so grateful to the HFPA for their continued recognition, and we at Girls are honored to share a category with such formally daring, forward-thinking shows. We are mega-fans of every one of these programs. As for my fellow comedy actresses, this category continues to be my dream sleepover."

Uzo Aduba: Netflix's Orange is the New Black (Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television):

“I am beyond grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press for this nomination. Being a part of Orange is the New Black is a gift, and I’m so proud to belong to such an incredible family. My deepest thanks Jenji Kohan and all of our writers, the entire cast and crew, and Netflix for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”

Kathy Bates, FX'sAmerican Horror Story: Freak Show, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:)

"Thank you Hollywood Foreign Press Association. What a wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning!  And my heart felt appreciation to Ryan Murphy for bringing all us freaks together, cast and crew alike."

Maggie Gyllenhaal: SundanceTV's The Honorable Woman (Best Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television):

"I'm thrilled to be nominated for a Golden Globe for “The Honorable Woman”. And doubly thrilled to be nominated alongside such brilliant actresses. And triply thrilled to be nominated with my brother. How many women do you think I'll disappoint if I take him as my date?"

BeauWillimon:creator and executive producer of House of Cards(Best TV Series, drama):

"Our sole aim with House of Cards is to tell the best story we can and hope it connects with audiences. We're so thrilled that the Hollywood Foreign Press has recognized our efforts by nominating the show, as well as Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright — the two stars whose passion, talent and fearlessness make the story of the Underwoods worth telling."

For a full list of the nominees in each category, click here.