Ellen Pompeo is taking on the curious case of Natalia Grace.
In the upcoming Hulu series Good American Family—the actress’ first major on-screen role since she started playing Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy in 2005—Ellen portrays the adoptive mother of Natalia, whose allegations against her adoptive parents have made headlines in recent years.
A Feb. 19 trailer for the show—which is set to premiere its first two episodes on Hulu March 19—previews the dramatic retelling of Natalia’s story. The Ukrainian orphan with rare form of dwarfism known as spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita was adopted by an American family and shocking twists ensue as her age and background are questioned.
While Ellen plays the role of Natalia’s adopted mother, Mark Duplass plays her father. Actress Imogen Faith Reid plays Natalia.
“I’ve always considered myself blessed,” Ellen says in the trailer’s voiceover. “I’ve known I was put on this Earth to build a world where all kids can feel safe.”
The series’ synopsis promises a riveting watch that unpacks Natalia’s story—which was most recently told over three seasons of the ID docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace—and its variety of layers.
“Told from multiple points of view, as a means to explore issues of perspective, bias, and trauma, this compelling drama is inspired by the disturbing stories surrounding a Midwestern couple who adopts a girl with a rare form of dwarfism,” it reads. “But as they begin to raise her alongside their three biological children, mystery emerges around her age and background, and they slowly start to suspect she may not be who she says she is.”
The summary continues, “As they defend their family from the daughter they’ve grown to believe is a threat, she fights her own battle to confront her past and what her future holds, in a showdown that ultimately plays out in the tabloids and the courtroom.”
When Good American Family was first announced in 2022, Ellen—who also serves as an executive producer on both this series and Grey’s—minimized her on-screen presence as Meredith on the Shonda Rhimes hit, but she scaled it back up once filming wrapped on the Hulu series, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The 55-year-old—who shares Stella, 17, Sienna, 11, and Eli, 8, with husband Chris Ivery—has long been open about her desire to take on other projects as she continues to expand her career, despite playing the beloved doctor for 21 seasons and counting.
“I gotta mix it up a little bit,” she said on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2022. “I’m 53, my brain is like scrambled eggs. I gotta do something new. You can’t do The New York Times crossword puzzle every single day.”
“I mean 19 years, that’s more than people keep their kids in their house,” Ellen continued. “People keep their kids in their house until they’re 18 and then they send them off to college, so this is like me like going away to college.”
The actress also pointed to her role as a mom as one of her primary focuses.
“I have a lot that I’m doing,” Ellen explained. “I have three kids, so I take care of them. It’s really important for me to be around for them and be more present for them.”
Keep reading for more TV shows coming in 2025…
All’s Fair (Hulu) – Nov. 4
A team of female divorce attorneys leave a male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice. Fierce, brilliant, and emotionally complicated, they navigate high-stakes breakups, scandalous secrets, and shifting allegiances—both in the courtroom and within their own ranks. In a world where money talks and love is a battleground, these women don’t just play the game—they change it.
The series stars Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka with Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close.
Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix) – Nov. 4
Squid Game: The Challenge returns for a gripping second season. This time, 456 brand-new contestants will enter the ultimate test of strategy, alliances, and endurance as they compete for a life-changing $4.56 million prize. Inspired by the iconic original series – with shocking new twists and never-before-seen games – season two raises the stakes higher than ever. As players face elimination at every turn, only one can emerge victorious. New players. New games. New rules.
Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas (Food Network) – Nov. 5
Guy Fieri makes the most wonderful time of the year even more wonderful, with a high-stakes holiday incarnation of the ultimate sudden-death culinary showdown, Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas. And because the holidays are a time for cooking with the ones you love, chefs will be invited to pair up in teams of two to compete for glory and goodwill. In every battle, teams will serve up a savory and a sweet dish based on the spin of the Randomizer. The chef teams will need to be in sync and on their game to earn the title, the belt, a $100,000 cash prize furnished by Carnival Cruise Lines and their split of an additional $50,000 prize to give to a cause close to their hearts.
Expedition Unknown (Discovery Channel) – Nov. 5
With exclusive access to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, explorer Josh Gates unravels long-held conspiracy theories about how this marvel of engineering was truly built. Using first-of-its-kind 3D scans of a mysterious tunnel system, Gates executes a daring experiment to replicate the Pyramid’s construction, uncovering a labyrinth of secrets buried deep beneath the stone.
Expedition Files (Discovery Channel) – Nov. 5
Gates embarks on a time-travelling quest, taking us into the past to solve history’s most enduring mysteries. Gates reveals fresh evidence and striking, new revelations that could rewrite history as we know it. In the season premiere, Gates examines an explosive new theory about the fate of vanished Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. He also reveals the extraordinary artifact that may finally end the age-old hunt for the Holy Grail and sets sail to unravel a maritime mystery – the disappearance of German inventor Rudolph Diesel, the man whose engines changed the world.
All Her Fault (Peacock) – Nov. 6
Marissa Irvine (Sarah Snook) arrives to collect her young son Milo from his first playdate, but the woman who answers the door isn’t a mother she recognizes. She doesn’t have Milo and has never heard of him. And so begins every parent’s worst nightmare.
Wicked Special Event (NBC) – Nov. 6
In celebration of Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated film Wicked: For Good, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will be joined by their co-stars and other surprise guests to perform many songs from the first movie—and maybe some from the sequel—at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
ALEX VS AROD (HBO) – Nov. 6
From the pinnacle of athletic success to the depths of scandal, Alex Rodriguez saw his prolific baseball career marred by a high-profile suspension for performance-enhancing drug use. Told through a series of intimate interviews with Rodriguez, ALEX VS AROD explores the dualities of one of the most polarizing figures in sports. With the benefit of hindsight and years of intense self-examination, Rodriguez confronts the personal struggles and controversies that shaped his journey from “Alex,” a baseball prodigy abandoned by his father, to “A-Rod,” the decorated MLB superstar driven by a relentless pursuit of greatness, no matter the cost. Featuring insights from family, friends, teammates, and broadcasters, the series examines the events that fueled Rodriguez’s rise and fall, as well as his extraordinary talent, his place in baseball history, and the personal growth that defines his life as “Alex” today.
Happy’s Place (NBC) – Nov. 7
Bobbie (Reba McEntire) inherits her father’s tavern (Happy’s Place) and is surprised to discover that she has a new business partner, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), a twentysomething half-sister that she never knew she had.
Season two debuts this fall.
Stumble (NBC) – Nov. 7
A mockumentary about the ridiculously high stakes competitive world of junior college cheer.
Maxton Hall – The World Between Us (Prime Video) – Nov. 7
Those who fly high can also fall low…After their passionate night together in Oxford and her greatest life goal within reach, everything seems to be going perfectly for Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten). But a stroke of fate in James’ (Damian Hardung) family changes everything and James himself, of all people, brings her back from cloud nine to a harsh reality. Ruby is devastated. She has never had such strong feelings for anyone as she does for James – and she has never been so hurt by anyone either. She wants her old life back, where no one at Maxton Hall knew her and she wasn’t part of the elitist world of her classmates. But she can’t forget James – especially since he’s doing everything he can to win her back.
Power Book IV: Force (Starz) – Nov. 7
This season, Tommy Egan’s relentless ambition to dominate Chicago’s drug game comes at a high cost. In order to claim the throne as kingpin, he must navigate an ever-evolving dynamic with his business partner, Diamond (Isaac Keys), and a contentious relationship with Diamond’s brother, Jenard (Kris D. Lofton). As pressure mounts from the coalition, the Feds, Miguel’s crew and the Marquez Cartel, Tommy must find a way to protect his family and those he loves, including Mireya (Carmela Zumbado).
Gold Rush (Discovery Channel) – Nov. 7
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich. Channeling the spirit of America’s original gold rush, this season is a cutthroat scramble where loyalties are tested, tensions run high, and fortunes hang in the balance. By the end of the season, the combined total for all miners will reach nearly $100 million, marking the biggest pay day in Gold Rush history.
Pluribus (Apple TV+) – Nov. 7
The new series is a genre-bending original in which the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.
Snapped: Behind Bars (Oxygen) – Nov. 9
The third season of Snapped: Behind Bars takes viewers behind prison walls to meet convicted individuals featured on Snapped, who are now willing to discuss their cases. These exclusive jailhouse interviews will walk audiences through the point of view of the accused themselves, using the previous episodes of Snapped as archival to weave in the case details. The episodes feature new interviews with experts who provide insights into the psychology of the perpetrators. Friends and family who have not spoken out previously also sit down and share emotional statements and current updates.
Killer Relationship (Oxygen) – Nov. 9
Season four of Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins continues to investigate complex relationships that end in untimely tragedy. In addition to romantic couples, this highly emotional season will also explore the fraught dynamics between family, colleagues and friendships, uncovering how any relationship has the potential to be a killer relationship. With her background as a criminal prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and with her expertise in matters of the heart, Faith Jenkins gives her professional POV of the nightmarish cases. With first-hand accounts from victims’ family, friends and law enforcement, each hour-long episode reveals the inner workings of intimate attachments that seemed fated to last forever but ultimately end in murder.
Killer Grannies (Oxygen) – Nov. 9
The new true-crime series, hosted by Oscar-nominated actress June Squibb, chronicles shocking cases involving a killer no one would suspect: Grandma. In every self-contained episode, a rollercoaster ride of a case unfolds as investigators dig deep and chase every lead until they finally catch their unexpected killer. Through gripping archival footage, selective recreations and cinematic imagery, and in-depth interviews with investigators, prosecutors, friends and family, every episode will peel back the plastic cover on the couch to uncover a world of sinister plots and evil deeds unpacking why and how these maternal matriarchs of the family can turn deadly.
Sweet Empire (Food Network) – Nov. 9
Making its wintry debut is a new competition series Sweet Empire where fourteen of the most competitive and talented sweets makers are invited to the Yuletide Lodge for a competition unlike any other. While the competitors enter as individuals, their goal will be to get on– and stay on– the strongest team by any means necessary, because in this game the bakers must create incredible edible works of art to grow their teams and avoid elimination. In the end, teams will crumble until only the strongest will be left standing to become the Sweet Empire. Wells Adams will host with Jacques Torres and Yolanda Gampp serving as judges in this holiday baking competition with an edge.
Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth (Hulu) – Nov. 10
Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth examines the shocking story of Caroline Flack, Love Island presenter and one of Britain’s biggest stars. After her arrest in 2019, she became the target of a relentless media storm. Vilified in the press and online, her world spiraled – ending in tragedy when she took her own life.
This powerful two-part documentary follows Caroline’s mother, Christine, as she investigates the truth about her daughter’s final months – uncovering new shocking details, asking difficult questions, and exposing the misrepresentations, pressures and failures from institutions and decision makers that shaped Caroline’s final days. With access to powerful testimony from Caroline’s inner circle and those who were there, the series tells the story she never got to share and reveals an unprecedented look at what really happened to Caroline Flack.
Honest Renovations: A Holiday Home Makeover! (Roku Channel) – Nov. 10
Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis bring some Christmas magic to a special holiday home makeover. Firefighter William Basulto gets to celebrate Christmas at home with his family, after years of spending the day working at the fire station. Jess and Lizzy make the moment unforgettable with a dazzling transformation that makes their home fit their needs and turns the backyard into a party-ready winter wonderland. A heartfelt surprise—from William—makes this a Christmas the family will never forget!
Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown (Food Network) – Nov. 11
‘Tis the season for revenge when Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown premieres on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Last holiday season, Bobby Flay didn’t play nice and ended up with a clean sweep. This year, all his old friends and Food Network’s favorite chefs will return to serve a helping of “Revengesgiving” with a heaping side of “holi-payback.” The stakes will be higher than ever, as everyone is out to ruin Bobby’s holiday season.
Surviving Mormonism With Heather Gay (Bravo) – Nov. 11
Heather Gay of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City uncovers the dark history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a three-part special.
The limited series fractures the church’s seemingly perfect veneer to expose the secrets that have been kept behind closed doors. In each hourlong episode, Heather has impactful conversations with abuse survivors, ex-Mormons and former LDS church leaders. As Heather reflects on her own departure from the church, Surviving Mormonism delves into outdated and controversial practices and empowers victims to share their experiences to bring awareness and enact change.
Palm Royale (Apple TV+) – Nov. 12
In season two, Maxine is left a social pariah after a scandalous public breakdown. She’ll have to draw on her deep well of cleverness and cunning to prove once and for all, that not only does she belong, but she just might have what it takes to rule this town. Along the way she will uncover untold truths and finally understand what this town is truly built on…secrets, lies and the occasional felony.
Selling the OC (Netflix) – Nov. 12
The OC agents are back and ready to establish their office as the top brokerage within the Oppenheim Group. As the competition heats up for some high-stakes listings, some may get burned as devastating rumors divide the team. While the office gets busier, Jason enlists agents from San Diego, but will the OGs of the OC let the new agents sink or swim?
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu) – Nov. 13
#Momtok is back, but damaging revelations and allegations threaten its future. The members face a crisis of friendship as loyalties shift, trust is tested, and the lines between fact and fiction blur. When the pursuit of the truth calls character into question, a war over morality begins and a clash between #Momtok and #Dadtok erupts. With their sisterhood and everything they’ve built hanging in the balance, can the women find a path forward to salvation? Or will their collective sins destroy #Momtok for good?
Tiffany Haddish Goes Off (Peacock) – Nov. 13
Peacock’s new docuseries follows Emmy award-winning comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish as she journeys to Africa on a four-week-long girls trip with her three closest childhood friends Selena Martin, Shermona Long and Sparkle Clark. Throughout the trip they take on new adventures, deepen their lifelong friendship, and explore personal connections to the continent. This raw, vulnerable and unpredictable version of Tiffany Haddish will leave the viewer crying with laughter and sobbing from heartfelt, relatable, real-time self-healing.
Blue Lights (BritBox) – Nov. 13
Two years into their jobs as response officers, Grace (Sian Brooke), Annie (Katherine Devlin) and Tommy (Nathan Braniff) are accustomed to life under the blue lights. But their work will take them into a sinister world hidden behind the veneer of middle-class life, the world of the accountants and lawyers who facilitate organised crime. The old political and criminal order has gone and a new global gang rule Belfast, bringing danger closer to home for our officers than ever before.
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (Disney+) – Nov. 14
In A Very Jonas Christmas Movie, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas face a series of escalating obstacles as they struggle to make it from London to New York in time to spend Christmas with their families.
The Last Woodsmen (Discovery Channel) – Nov. 14
Deep in the untamed wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, veteran logger Jared Douglas returns to put everything on the line in the new season of The Last Woodsmen.
Risking life and limb to harvest the most prized and massive timber on Earth, Jared and his crew work at the edge of civilization, armed with only old-school axes, chainsaws, and pure grit. Despite the big paydays and breathtaking surroundings, logging remains one of the most dangerous professions known to man where one wrong move could mean paying the ultimate price.
Malice (Prime Video) – Nov. 14
Adam (Jack Whitehall) is a charismatic tutor who charms his way into the life of the wealthy Tanner family while they’re on holiday in Greece. When the family’s nanny falls dangerously ill, Adam orchestrates his way into their London home, and his true vengeful nature begins to emerge…
