Switched at Birth (2011)
A groundbreaking family drama about two teenagers who discover a hospital mix-up at birth upended both of their lives forever.
Switched at Birth - Series Information
- Original Title: Switched at Birth
- First Air Year: 2011
- Last Air Year: 2017
- Created by: Lizzy Weiss
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Family
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (43 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 5
- Number of Episodes: 103
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: June 6, 2011 (United States - TV-14), June 6, 2011 (Canada - G), June 6, 2011 (Germany - 12), June 6, 2011 (France - 12), June 6, 2011 (India - U), June 6, 2011 (Brazil - 14), June 6, 2011 (Spain - 13)
- Networks: ABC Family, Freeform
- Production Companies: ABC Studios
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: Αλλαγή κατά τη γέννηση (GR), 交换命运 (CN)
Switched at Birth - Plot
The story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a working-class 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.
Switched at Birth - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see how one life-changing revelation sets two families on a collision course:
One mistake changed two families forever.
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Switched at Birth - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Lizzy Weiss
Main Cast
- Vanessa Marano
- Katie Leclerc
- Lucas Grabeel
- Lea Thompson
- Constance Marie
- D.W. Moffett
- Sean Berdy
- Gilles Marini
- Ryan Lane
- Marlee Matlin
Writers
- Lizzy Weiss
- Henry Robles
- Joy Gregory
- Chad Fiveash
- James Patrick Stoteraux
Executive Producers
- Lizzy Weiss
- Paul Stupin
- John Ziffren
- Becky Hartman Edwards
- Linda Gase
Switched at Birth - FAQs
Where can you stream Switched at Birth?
Switched at Birth is available to stream on Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Freeform. It can also be purchased or rented through Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. Availability may vary by region.
Is Switched at Birth based on a true story?
Switched at Birth is not based on a single true story, but the premise draws inspiration from real-life hospital mix-up cases that have occurred over the decades. Creator Lizzy Weiss developed the concept as a fictional drama exploring identity, family, and belonging.
What is Switched at Birth about?
The series follows two teenage girls — Bay Kennish, raised in a wealthy family, and Daphne Vasquez, who is deaf and grew up in a working-class home — who discover they were accidentally swapped at birth. Both families must then learn to coexist and redefine what family truly means.
Did Switched at Birth make history with a silent episode?
Yes. In 2013, Switched at Birth aired "Uprising," an episode performed almost entirely in American Sign Language with no spoken dialogue. It was the first scripted primetime episode in U.S. television history to be performed predominantly in ASL, earning widespread critical acclaim.
How many seasons does Switched at Birth have?
Switched at Birth ran for 5 seasons and 103 episodes in total. Season 1 had 30 episodes, Season 2 had 21, Season 3 had 22, Season 4 had 20, and the final Season 5 wrapped up the story with 10 episodes. The series concluded in 2017.
Who are the main actors in Switched at Birth?
The principal cast includes Vanessa Marano as Bay Kennish, Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez, Lucas Grabeel as Toby Kennish, Lea Thompson as Kathryn Kennish, Constance Marie as Regina Vasquez, D.W. Moffett as John Kennish, Sean Berdy, Gilles Marini, Ryan Lane, and Marlee Matlin.
Is Switched at Birth worth watching for deaf representation?
Switched at Birth is widely praised for its authentic and nuanced portrayal of Deaf culture and American Sign Language. It featured one of the largest recurring deaf and hard-of-hearing casts in television history, making it a landmark series for disability representation on mainstream TV.
When did Switched at Birth first air?
Switched at Birth premiered on June 6, 2011, on ABC Family in the United States. The series ran until 2017, concluding after five seasons. It later aired on Freeform, which was the rebranded name for ABC Family from 2016 onward.
More About Switched at Birth
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