ABC FAMILY/RON TOM
Freeform's drama series will wrap its run with 103 episodes, creator Lizzy Weiss announced Friday.
It's the end of the road for Freeform's Switched at Birth.
Creator Lizzy Weiss announced Friday that the drama series' upcoming fifth season would be its last.
Set to debut in the summer, Switched at Birth has been a staple for Freeform (formerly ABC Family). Starring Vanessa Marano and Katie Leclerc, the Peabody Award-winning series centers on two girls who were, yup, switched at birth.
The final 10-episode season will conclude with a special 90-minute series finale.
The series has drawn critical acclaim for its portrayal of the hearing-impaired community. The drama, while a sturdy performer with an avid following, is part of a network that has drastically changed its face over the past few years under president Tom Ascheim.
While hitting the 100-episode milestone — key for syndication — the drama doesn't seem to fit in with Ascheim's push for "becomers." That group explores many "firsts" — first love, first jobs and more in that vein. The cabler, which recently rebranded to become Freeform, is targeting an older demographic — like those first out of college — as it has largely abandoned its family focus.
The news comes a week after Freeform canceled first-year comedy Kevin From Work and after it picked up an additional season of comedy Young & Hungry. The Disney-owned cabler's roster includes Baby Daddy, The Fosters, Pretty Little Liars, Recovery Road, Shadowhunters, Stitchers, Nicki, Guilt, Beyond and anthology Dead of Summer.
