MELODY BLAMES BAY FOR EMMETT'S TROUBLES AND REGINA AND ANGELO BECOME UNLIKELY PARTNERS ON AN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF "SWITCHED AT BIRTH," AIRING TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 AT 8:00 ET/PT ON ABC FAMILY

Academy Award(R) Winner Marlee Matlin, Gilles Marini ("Brothers & Sisters") and Maiara Walsh ("Desperate Housewives," "Mean Girls 2") Guest Star

Burbank, CA (December 29, 2011) - After Emmett finds himself in some serious trouble, Melody (Marlee Matlin) can't help but blame his relationship with Bay as the source and Regina accepts Angelo's business proposal, in an all-new episode of "Switched at Birth" on ABC Family, airing Tuesday, January 17 at 8:00PM ET/PT.

In "Self Portrait with a Bandaged Ear," Bay is once again not in Melody's good graces after Emmett gets into trouble and Melody blames his relationship with Bay on the situation. Daphne is overall frustrated with her basketball coach who won't let her play, and her frustration extends to her relationship with Angelo who she finally confronts to discuss why he really left. Meanwhile, Kathryn and John learn some disheartening news about their lawyer that might ruin their entire case. And, Angelo makes Regina a business offer she can't refuse.

"Switched at Birth" is executive-produced by Lizzy Weiss ("Blue Crush"), Paul Stupin ("Make It or Break It") and John Ziffren ("Melissa & Joey," "Make It or Break It"). The series also 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; and Sean Berdy as Emmett Bledsoe. Academy Award(R) Winner Marlee Matlin guest stars as Melody Bledsoe, Gilles Marini as Angelo and Maiara Walsh as Simone.

Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 97 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today's families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relevant stories about today's relationships, all told with diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a mix of network defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.