These days it's much more difficult to give the cold shoulder to ABC Family. Not that we haven't tried.

Once considered a major problem child among the vast clan of Disney-owned TV outlets, it was long a wasteland of syndicated reruns, bland movies and cookie-cutter kiddie programming.

But critics were forced to take notice in 2008, when "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" attracted more viewers than The CW's much buzzier "Gossip Girl." And now, just try to find a major magazine this summer that hasn't been graced by the luminous young women of ABC Family's addictively suspenseful soap "Pretty Little Liars."

Recently, the cable network struck gold again when the freshman drama "Switched at Birth" became ABC Family's highest-rated series debut of all time, attracting 3.3 million viewers.

Over on the major networks, an audience of 3.3 million cries out for cancellation. But let's remember that, on television, everything is relative. That's a robust number for basic cable. In fact, it's a number that leaves "Mad Men" in the dust.

"Switched at Birth" tells the story of two teenage girls who discover that, due to a hospital mix-up, they were given to the wrong mothers as newborns. Yes, it sounds more like the premise of an absurd sitcom, but it makes for an engaging, if clunky, drama. And it continues ABC Family's successful strategy of courting older teens and young adults, especially females.


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Of course, as TV would have it, the show's two teens, Bay Kennish (Vanessa Marano) and Daphne Vasquez (Katie Leclerc), were raised on opposite sides of the Kansas City tracks in totally different environments. Bay grew up in a palatial home as the daughter of a retired baseball star (D.W. Moffett) and his socialite wife (Lea Thompson). Bay and her brother (Lucas Grabeel) seemingly have the perfect life.

Daphne, meanwhile, was raised by a single mom (Constance Marie), who is just scraping by as a hairdresser. Naturally, they live in a working-class, crime-infested neighborhood.

If the overly simplistic setup doesn't have you rolling your eyes, the trite characterizations will. Predictably, Bay is a prep-school brat who pouts a lot and acts out. Daphne, in contrast, is the sweet-natured, good-hearted poor girl. Oh, and she's also deaf, but we'll get back to that.

As you might expect, confusing identity issues abound. Also, awkward situations. The rich mom and poor mom don't see eye to eye. Oh, no! Daphne unwittingly crushes on Bay's ex-boyfriend. Yikes!

But no worries. On "Switched," conflicts are neatly resolved. When the Vasquez family struggles to make rent payments, they simply move into the Kennish guesthouse (along with Grandma), paving the way for even more awkward situations.

Yet, despite all the implausibilities and irritations, "Switched" manages to make a positive impression, thanks to some sturdy writing and solid performances that adequately sell the premise. The standout is Leclerc, who is simply too adorable to resist. She brings heart and nuance to the role, and whether she's speaking or using sign language, it's a pleasure to watch her.

"Switched" also earns major points for introducing millions of viewers to various aspects of deaf culture. Not many TV shows, after all, have respectfully explored the cochlear implant issue, or why some deaf students choose to attend regular schools while others prefer schools geared exclusively for the deaf.

And what other show has dared to go absolutely silent for significant stretches as two deaf pals engage in an emotional signed conversation while subtitles appear at the bottom of the screen? In the case of "Switched at Birth," silence truly can be golden.

Contact Chuck Barney at cbarney@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/chuckbarney, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.ChuckBarney.

'Switched at Birth

When: 9 p.m. Monday
Where: ABC Family
Grade: B