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The network has ordered a third season of its Peabody Award winning drama, “Switched at Birth.
“‘Switched at Birth’ is like no other show on television and we are so proud to have it as part of our family. Adding additional seasons and episodes of our returning series spotlights how well our programming resonates with our audience.” Said Michael Riley, President ABC Family in the official statement regarding Switched at Birth renewal for season three.
The drama pick-ups join the comedy pick-ups announced earlier this year including the fourth season of “Melissa and Joey” and the third season of “Baby Daddy.”
In “Switched at Birth,” two families are forever altered when they discover their daughters were switched at birth. Life hasn’t been easy for hard-working, single mom Regina Vasquez, but along with her mother, Adriana, Regina has provided her daughter Daphne, a typical teenager who just happens to be deaf, with a loving and secure home. Although she attends a school for the deaf and hard-of-hearing with best friend Emmett, Daphne’s hearing loss does not prevent her from leading a full life. In sharp contrast to the Vasquezes, Kathryn, a stay-at-home mom and John Kennish, a state senator, lead a seemingly perfect life with their two children, Bay and Toby. But when the Kennishes’ learn the hospital made a grievous error and Bay is not their biological child, their entire world is turned upside down. Regina, Kathryn and John must learn to co-exist as parents, and blend two families into one for the sake of their daughters, despite overwhelming socio-economic, ethnic and cultural differences. The award-winning series, currently airing Mondays at 8:00pm ET/PT, is the first mainstream television series to have multiple deaf and hard-of-hearing series regulars, and scenes shot entirely in American Sign Language (ASL). A ground-breaking all-ASL episode aired in March.
“Switched at Birth” recently received a Peabody Award and is currently nominated for a Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming and an Imagen Award for Best Primetime Program, both of which it won last year. The series is also nominated for a Teen Choice Award, and has been honored with AFTRA’s (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) American Scene “Crystal Award(r)”, the Producers Guild of America George Sunga Award and a Gracie Award.
“Switched at Birth” is executive-produced by Lizzy Weiss (“Blue Crush”), Paul Stupin (“Make It or Break It”), Becky Hartman Edwards (“Parenthood”) and John Ziffren (“Melissa & Joey,” “Make It or Break It”). The series stars Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez; Vanessa Marano (“Gilmore Girls”) as Bay Kennish; Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) as Regina Vasquez; D.W. Moffett (“Friday Night Lights”) as John Kennish; Lea Thompson (“Back to the Future,” “Caroline in the City”) as Kathryn Kennish; Lucas Grabeel (“High School Musical”) as Toby Kennish; Sean Berdy as Emmett Bledsoe; and Gilles Marini (“Brothers and Sisters”) as Angelo Sorrento with guest star Marlee Matlin (“The West Wing”).
What do you think? Are you happy Switched at Birth got renewed? Let me know in the comments section. Follow me on Twitter for more scoop or check the complete and updatable lists of renewed shows of 2013 and cancelled shows of 2013.