Television drama has nothing on the day-to-day ordeals of a mediator. People come to them at their wits’ end, in desperate need of help to resolve conflicts that are ruining their lives. We’ve all had disagreements with neighbours, colleagues, family members and friends, but for some, the issues escalate from mere irritations to all-out war. When that happens, things really heat up and they often end up in court…or worse…but that’s where this show steps in!
The Feud
The Feud is a compelling and dramatic half-hour series that takes troubled relationships in tough situations to a better place. Instead of the opposing parties fighting it out across the backyard fence – or in court – they’ll work with our highly skilled host, the Mediator. She’s a respected conflict negotiation expert with a take-no-B.S. attitude, who will help guide these would-be Hatfields and McCoys out of conflict and into resolution.
Each episode begins with both sides articulating the basics of the problem. The Mediator observes their behaviour and shares her first impressions with the audience. She then meets with each party to get to the bottom of things using probing questions and sharp investigative skills. Next, the parties meet to at the “scene of the crime” and tell each other and our Mediator just what they want to happen. How can this feud be solved with such polar points of view? How much will tempers flare? Our Mediator has seen it all and can handle anything they may throw at her.
 Hilary Linton is the Mediator |
 Hilary mediates The Feud |
In addition to free access to a leading mediator to resolve their dispute, our Moderator has the discretion to allocate up to $5000 to one or both sides to help resolve the dispute. How this is allocated, and for what, will depend on the merits of their claims, their behaviour during the show and their willingness to truly work together towards a solution.
Each person involved in the feud must complete a challenging task, designed to allow them to gain empathy for the other party or better understand their perspective. They are then asked to take on another task, this time with their nemesis! Can they do it civilly? Each task is reviewed by the Mediator, showing a real commitment to act reasonably and to make efforts towards a resolution will be considered in the Mediator’s final decision (and the audience’s opinion of who is at fault). The Mediator gives the pair a final challenge — they must work with her to negotiate a resolution in one hour or face her binding arbitration. Tension is high as we watch our graphic “clock” count down while key moments of the negotiation are highlighted. All the work leads up to the pivotal moment in each show when our Feuders must make their final choice: agree to a mutually beneficial outcome which will afford them a cash reward, or risk everything and submit to binding arbitration – which may end up costing them more than just their pride.
Cast from The Feud's “The Nightmare Next Door”
There are many different types of feuds and feud-causing folks out there. Take, for example, an episode called The Fence. The saying goes that good fences make good neighbours but a good fence in the wrong place can change nice neighbours into feuding foes! Or The Partner – about a business partner who is taking more than he should, isn’t pulling his weight or is dragging the business into financial ruin. Then there’s “Just ‘Til Next Week” Guy: the “friend” who borrows money and “forgets” to pay you back – even though you’re now the one in desperate need! Or the Cat Lady who lives next door with 25 of her feline friends and doesn’t get why you are upset when they relieve themselves on your lawn or eat the birds at your birdfeeder.
Kim, Jeff, Hilary, Lisa and Bob
The Feud is an engaging and informative series that will finally give audiences somewhere to turn to learn how to deal with the most destructive disputes in their lives. Our character-driven series is led by our Mediator: a practicing mediation pro who will inspire people to resolve conflict in a positive and mutually beneficial manner. By confronting the issues, solutions can be found to implement meaningful change and we’ll see how enemies can transform from feuding to functional – and maybe even friends.
The Feud premieres on CBC June 16th at 9:30pm EST.
