PLOT

Switched at Birth is American television series that premiered on ABC Family on June 6, 2011 at 9:00 ET/PT. The one-hour scripted drama revolves around two teenagers who were switched at birth and grew up in very different environments.

Tells the story of two teen girls who discover that they were accidentally switched at birth. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and two brothers, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing as a child due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a poor neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls.

PREMISE

Bay Kennish (Vanessa Marano) is an artistic teenager being raised by her stay-at-home mom Kathryn (Lea Thompson) and former professional baseball player father John (D. W. Moffett), in a wealthy neighborhood along with her brother Toby (Lucas Grabeel). After studying blood types in school, Bay begins to investigate why her blood type does not match her parents. When the family confirms Bay is not biologically related, they discover the hospital mistakenly switched her with another newborn. Daphne Vasquez (Katie Leclerc), a deaf teen living with her struggling single mother Regina (Constance Marie) and grandmother in a working class neighborhood. A case of meningitis caused Daphne to lose her hearing as a child, so she attends a deaf and hard of hearing school where she plays basketball.

When the two families meet, the girls toil with their identities as Bay relates to her birth mother's artistic abilities and Daphne is drawn to John's athletic skills. The Kennishes learn that Regina is facing financial woes and propose the Vasquezes move into their guest home. The new living situation forces the girls, along with both families, to understand their differences and embrace their similarities.

Deaf advocate Marlee Matlin plays a friend of Regina's and the mother of Emmett (Sean Berdy), Daphne's best friend and a deaf schoolmate.

REGULAR CASTS

Katie Leclercas Daphne Vasquez
Vanessa Marano as Bay Kennish
Constance Marie as Regina Vasquez
D. W. Moffett as John Kennish
Lea Thompson as Kathryn Kennish
Lucas Grabeel as Toby Kennish
Sean Berdy as Emmett

GUEST STARS

Austin Butleras Wilke
Marlee Matlin as Melody
Charles Michael Davis as Liam
Jason Brooks as Bruce
Kimberly Wallis as Gillian
Lindsey Johnston as Student
J.R. Russell as Deaf student
Steven Connor as Mr. Thatcher
Blair Redford as Ty
Aaron Jaeger as Burf

SNEAK PEEK FOR THE UPCOMING EPISODE : EPISODE 10 (THE HOMECOMING) {SEASON FINALE}

NEWS

ABC Family Orders 22 More Episodes Of 'Switched At Birth'

ABC Family has ordered 22 more episodes of its new drama series Switched at Birth. The network calls the pickup "back-season", bringing the total first-season order to the show to 32 episodes. Switched at Birth, which debuted on June 10 with for an initial run of 10 episodes, will air its summer finale on Aug. 8 and will return with originals in early 2012. Following a strong start, Switched at Birth hit series highs in Viewers 12-34 in its most recent airing on July 25. It is currently pacing as ABC Family’s No. 2 freshman season ever in Total Viewers and 18-34 and 18-49 demos, behind only the freshman season for The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Switched at Birth, starring Katie Leclerc and Vanessa Marano, tells the story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Lizzy Weiss, Paul Stupin and John Ziffren serve as executive producers. There is no word yet on ABC Family's freshman drama series, The Nine Lives of Chloe King, whose ratings performance has not been as strong.

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