ABC Family Announces Season Premiere Dates for Returning Favorites

ABC Family will kick off the New Year with all new episodes of returning original hit series and fan favorites “Switched at Birth,” “Bunheads,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Lying Game,” all set to premiere the second week of January 2013, with two nights of original programming. Viewers can also catch up on all their favorite shows leading up to the January premieres on abcfamily.com.

The second season of ABC Family’s award-winning drama series, “Switched at Birth,” begins Monday, January 7th 8:00PM – 9:00PM ET/PT. This season sees dramatic changes in the lives of the Kennish and Vasquez families as a result of the verdict in the baby switch trial. Gilles Marini joins the cast in season two as a series regular. With an array of deaf and hard-of-hearing actors, including scenes shot entirely in American Sign Language, “Switched at Birth” was recently honored with a Television Critics Association Award for Youth Programming and an Imagen Award for Best Primetime Program. ABC Family will air a special “Switched at Birth” marathon on Monday, January 7th, from 11:00AM – 8:00PM ET/PT, leading up to the season two premiere. The season one finale airs tonight, Monday, October 22nd at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC Family.

ABC Family’s critically-acclaimed series, “Bunheads,” from Executive Producer Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring two time Tony Award-winning actor Sutton Foster, will return with all-new episodes on Monday, January 7th at 9:00PM – 10:00PM ET/PT. The new episodes pick-up a couple of months after Michelle has left Paradise to try and return to her former life in Las Vegas.

In all-new episodes of ABC Family’s hit original series “Pretty Little Liars,” returning on, Tuesday, January 8th, 8:00PM – 9:00PM ET/PT, Radley Sanitarium has given Mona a clean bill of health and she is headed back to the halls of Rosewood High, much to the Liars’ dismay. With their former tormentor now back in their everyday life, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer take very different views of the “new” Mona. Sure she made their lives a living hell, but is she really cured? And what other secrets could she be holding onto? It is up to Mona to prove to the Liars if she has changed or not. “Pretty Little Liars” won five Teen Choice Awards in 2012, including Choice TV Show Drama, Choice TV Actor Drama – Ian Harding, Choice TV Actress Drama – Lucy Hale, Choice Summer TV Star Female – Troian Bellisario, Choice TV Villain – Janel Parrish; in addition to the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Drama. According to SocialGuide, “Pretty Little Liars’” summer finale became the #1 “most social” TV series episode in history, breaking records with over 1.6 million comments. ABC Family will air a special “Pretty Little Liars” marathon on Tuesday, January 8th, from 11:00AM – 8:00PM ET/PT, leading up to that night’s premiere episode. A special “Pretty Little Liars” Halloween-themed episode with musical guest star Adam Lambert (“American Idol”) will premiere on Tuesday, October 23rd (8:00PM – 9:00PM ET/PT), as part of ABC Family’s “13 Nights of Halloween” programming event.

“The Lying Game” will return with all-new episodes on Tuesday, January 8th, 9:00PM – 10:00PM ET/PT. As the twins’ saga continues in season two, there are more surprises, secrets and lies. The girls’ recently revealed birth mother Rebecca (Charisma Carpenter) lures Sutton (Alexandra Chando) into her plans for the Mercer family. Emma (Chando) grows closer to Thayer, while still being drawn to Ethan, who has started to reconnect with Sutton. Kristin feels betrayed after Ted came clean about his long ago affair with Rebecca, but Ted might be hiding even more shocking revelations. And Mads connects with a mysterious new guy in town who brings a whole new level of secrets with him.