Jump to content

Feud (TV series)

From Alfawiki
Feud
Company typeTelevision series
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedMarch 5, 2017; 9 years ago (2017-03-05)
FounderRyan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, Michael Zam
Headquarters
United States
ProductsAnthology drama television show

Feud is a U.S.-based anthology drama television show developed by Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, and Michael Zam, which debuted on FX on March 5, 2017. Designed as an anthology, the inaugural season titled Bette and Joan depicts the intense rivalry between Hollywood icons Joan Crawford and Bette Davis throughout and following the making of their psychological thriller What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). Leading roles are portrayed by Jessica Lange as Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Davis, with supporting performances from Judy Davis, Jackie Hoffman, Alfred Molina, Stanley Tucci, and Alison Wright. The cast also includes Academy Award recipients Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kathy Bates. Praised for the compelling acting of Lange and Sarandon, the first season garnered 18 nominations at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, securing wins in hairstyling and makeup categories. Additionally, it received six nominations at the Critics' Choice Awards, four at the Golden Globe Awards, two at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three from the Television Critics Association Awards.

In February 2017, FX announced a renewal for a second season. Following a break, it was revealed in April 2022 that the sophomore installment would be titled Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, with Jon Robin Baitz serving as showrunner and writer, direction by Gus Van Sant, and starring Naomi Watts as socialite Babe Paley. This season delves into the repercussions stemming from a roman à clef penned by author Truman Capote, inspired by the lives of New York socialites. The season premiered on January 31, 2024.


Summary

The first season, named Bette and Joan, dramatizes the behind-the-scenes conflict between Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) and Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) during and after their collaboration on the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?.

The second season, titled Capote vs. The Swans, examines the deterioration of author Truman Capote’s relationships with New York socialites known as "The Swans" following his fictionalized portrayal of their lives in excerpts from his unfinished work Answered Prayers.

Main

Recurring

Notable Historical Personalities

Feud presents dramatized versions of prominent actors, directors, and entertainment industry figures from the period, including:


Capote vs. The Swans

  • Naomi Watts in the role of Babe Paley, a socialite, magazine editor, and Capote’s closest confidante
  • Diane Lane portraying Slim Keith, a fashion icon and socialite critical of Capote
  • Chloë Sevigny as C. Z. Guest, socialite and author who was Capote’s last remaining "swan" companion
  • Calista Flockhart depicting Lee Radziwill, outspoken socialite and younger sister to former First Lady Jackie Kennedy
  • Demi Moore playing Ann Woodward, socialite and radio actress accused of killing her husband
  • Molly Ringwald as Joanne Carson, television host and Capote’s final martyr figure
  • Treat Williams portraying Bill Paley, Babe Paley’s unfaithful spouse
  • Joe Mantello as Jack Dunphy, Capote’s longtime partner who urged him toward rehabilitation
  • Russell Tovey depicting John O'Shea, Capote’s abusive lover exhibiting a "heterosexual dominance" complex
  • Tom Hollander embodying Truman Capote himself, renowned author of La Côte Basque, 1965, whose narrative profoundly affected New York’s elite "swans"

Development

Ryan Murphy, who has long admired Bette Davis, conducted an interview with the actress just months before her passing in 1989. What was initially intended to be a brief 20-minute conversation extended into a four-hour session, fueling Murphy's inspiration to depict Davis in Feud. He observed Davis’s intricate feelings toward Joan Crawford, recognizing her respect for Crawford’s professionalism despite their personal discord. Originally, Murphy envisioned Bette and Joan as a feature film and approached Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange to star. Sarandon believed the narrative lacked sufficient depth for a movie but saw greater potential in expanding it into an eight-hour series that could explore the characters and storylines more thoroughly.

The creation of Feud: Bette and Joan coincided with Murphy’s Half Foundation initiative, which advocates for increased female representation in film and television production. The series showcases 15 prominent roles for women over 40, with half of its episodes directed by women, including actress Helen Hunt. Initially designed as an anthology, FX officially approved Feud on May 5, 2016. Drawing from the actual rivalry between Crawford and Davis, the show tackles themes such as sexism, ageism, and misogyny prevalent in Hollywood. Its eight episodes were adapted from the feature screenplay Best Actress, written by Jaffe Cohen and Michael Zam.

Sarandon pointed out that the hostility between Crawford and Davis was deliberately intensified by those involved in Baby Jane to manipulate them and amplify on-screen drama—a method that remains common in Hollywood today. Melanie McFarland of Salon commended the series for revealing Hollywood’s harsh treatment of its leading stars alongside its ongoing fascination with celebrity conflicts. The feud between Crawford and Davis was also documented in Shaun Considine's 1989 book titled Bette and Joan: The Divine Feud.

Casting

Regular Murphy collaborator Jessica Lange teamed up with Susan Sarandon to portray Joan Crawford and Bette Davis respectively in Feud. The ensemble cast featured Alfred Molina, Stanley Tucci, Judy Davis, and Dominic Burgess as Robert Aldrich, Jack L. Warner, Hedda Hopper, and Victor Buono. In August 2016, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sarah Paulson joined the cast portraying Olivia de Havilland and Geraldine Page.

By September 2016, Tim Minear—executive producer of American Horror Story—was announced as co-showrunner alongside Murphy. Jackie Hoffman took on the role of Mamacita, Crawford’s housekeeper. Additional cast members added later included Molly Price as Harriet Foster, Kathy Bates as Joan Blondell, and Alison Wright as Pauline Jameson. In January 2017, Kiernan Shipka was cast to play Barbara "B.D." Sherry, Davis’s daughter.

Sarandon admitted she initially felt “overwhelmed and terrified” while embodying Davis, striving to avoid a simplistic caricature. Lange concentrated on portraying Crawford’s harsh upbringing beneath her polished exterior. Both actresses conducted extensive research through biographies and archival footage.

For the second season, Capote vs. The Swans, Naomi Watts was selected to portray Babe Paley in April 2022. By August of that year, the cast expanded to include Chloë Sevigny, Tom Hollander, Calista Flockhart, and Diane Lane. In September, Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald joined the lineup; Chris Chalk was announced as part of the cast in March 2023.

On June 30, 2017, Olivia de Havilland filed a lawsuit against Feud: Bette and Joan alleging unauthorized use of her image and inaccurate depiction. The defendants moved to dismiss under California’s anti-SLAPP statute; eventually, the California Court of Appeal dismissed the case on grounds that no individual can claim ownership over historical facts and awarded legal fees to the defendants. De Havilland pursued further legal remedies by securing a restraining order to temporarily stop the show's broadcast pending review. However, in January 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case.

Future

On February 28, 2017, FX confirmed a second season of the series, consisting of 10 episodes, with Ryan Murphy and Jon Robin Baitz returning as writers. Originally, this season was intended to explore the dynamic between Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. It was initially titled Charles and Diana before being renamed Buckingham Palace, featuring Matthew Goode and Rosamund Pike in the principal roles. However, by August 2018, plans for Buckingham Palace were discontinued. In November 2019, Murphy indicated a willingness to revisit the Feud project.

An announcement in April 2022 unveiled fresh developments for the second season, with Jon Robin Baitz serving as showrunner and writer, and Gus Van Sant directing. The season, titled Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, focuses on the repercussions following a roman à clef authored by Truman Capote, centered on New York socialites. Its premiere occurred on January 31, 2024.

Marketing

During the 2017 Winter TCA Press Tour, Murphy participated in multiple interviews promoting Feud. The initial teaser trailer debuted on January 19, 2017, followed by a second trailer the very next day. That same week, Lange and Sarandon appeared as Crawford and Davis on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. FX continued to release additional teasers on January 23, February 5 (two trailers), February 7, and February 8. A brief commercial aired during Super Bowl LI, significantly enhancing the show's exposure to a wide audience.

Premiere

The official premiere of Feud took place at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on March 1, 2017. Prior to this event, FX organized screenings of the pilot episode at various gay bars throughout the United States.

Broadcast

The inaugural season, titled Bette and Joan, included eight episodes and premiered on FX in the United States on March 5, 2017. It later aired on BBC Two in the United Kingdom starting December 16, 2017.

The follow-up season, Capote vs. The Swans, also comprised eight episodes and premiered in the U.S. on January 31, 2024 via FX. Additionally, a Director’s Cut of its first episode was broadcast simultaneously on sister network FXX.

Soundtrack

The original score for Feud: Bette and Joan, composed by Mac Quayle, was issued in two formats: a standard edition featuring 23 tracks and a limited edition containing 31 tracks.

Bette and Joan

Critics widely praised Feud, especially highlighting Lange’s and Sarandon’s performances. On Rotten Tomatoes, season one holds a 95% approval rating based on 118 reviews with an average score of 8.15/10. The critical consensus commends its combination of camp style with profound emotional insight. On Metacritic, it earned an overall score of 81 out of 100 from 44 reviewers, signifying "universal acclaim".

The writing and acting received strong commendations: Melanie McFarland from Salon described it as "creatively wicked" and "outrageously fantastic"; Verne Gay from Newsday highlighted its "joy, humor, brilliant writing and performances"; while People characterized it as "bitter, biting and entertaining". Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic found early episodes "deft and satisfying" but suggested that fewer installments might have sufficed. Alan Sepinwall at Uproxx lauded its intelligence and sophistication despite some uneven creative moments. Emily Nussbaum from The New Yorker emphasized its examination of patriarchy’s effects on women.

Some reviews were more critical: Sonia Saraiya from Variety felt it lacked impact compared to Murphy’s earlier works; David Weigand of the San Francisco Chronicle offered a mixed assessment—criticizing Lange’s portrayal but praising Sarandon; while The Guardian labeled it "lightweight" with limited depth but acknowledged Lange’s award-worthy performance.

Capote vs. The Swans

On Rotten Tomatoes, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans holds a 78% approval rating based on 80 reviews with an average rating of 7.4/10. The consensus notes that although it lacks the intense incidents of its predecessor, its luxurious setting and robust ensemble cast maintain audience engagement. Metacritic assigned it a score of 70 out of 100 from 37 critics, reflecting "generally favorable reviews."

Ratings

The series premiere attracted an audience of 2.26 million viewers live-plus-same-day, making it FX's highest-rated program that week and earning positive remarks from Deadline.com as a "solid" rating. For comparison, the premiere of The People v. O. J. Simpson in 2016 drew 5.1 million viewers; FX's Fargo launched with 2.66 million viewers in 2014. When including live-plus-three-days ratings, the premiere reached a total audience of 3.8 million viewers; combined with two encore presentations, it amassed an overall viewership of 5.17 million—marking FX's most successful new series debut since The People v. O. J. Simpson.

Accolades

_rowspan=10_ _[[76th Primetime Emmy Awards\|\|\2024\]\]_ _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\|\|\Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\]\]_ _Tom Hollander_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\|\|\Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\]\]_ _Naomi Watts_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie\|\|\Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie\]\]_ _Treat Williams_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie\|\|\Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie\]\]_ _Diane Lane_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\|\|\Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\]\]_ _Gus Van Sant(for "Pilot")_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music\|\|\Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music\]\]_ _Thomas Newman_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)\|\|\Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)\]\]_ _Jacqueline Risotto, Kristen Alimena, Christine Hooghuis, Kyra Panchenko (for "Beautiful Babe")_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling\|\|\Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Hairstyling\]\]_ _Sean Flanigan, Chris Clark, Joshua Gericke, Kevin Maybee (for "Hats, Gloves and Effete Homosexuals")_ _Template:Nom_ _| _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Period Costumes\|\|\Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\]\]_ _Lou Eyrich, Leah Katznelson, Emily O'Connor, Laura McCarthy, Hanna Shea, Miwa Ishii (for "Pilot")_ _Template:Won_ _ _[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\|\|\Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie\]\]_ _Alexa L. Fogel_ _Template:Nom_ _ _rowspan=2_| Screen Actors Guild Awards
Organization Year Award Category Nominee (Artist/Work) Outcome Ref.
Critics' Choice Television Awards 2017 Best Limited Series Feud: Bette and Joan Template:Nom
Best Actress in a Movie/Limited Series Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Limited Series Alfred Molina Template:Nom
Stanley Tucci Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Limited Series Judy Davis Template:Nom
Jackie Hoffman Template:Nom
2024 Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Tom Hollander Template:Nom [1]
Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Naomi Watts Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Treat Williams Template:Nom
Golden Globe Awards 2017 Best Miniseries or Television Film Feud: Bette and Joan Template:Nom
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Susan Sarandon Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Alfred Molina Template:Nom
2024 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Naomi Watts Template:Nom
Hollywood Music in Media Awards[2] 2017 Main Title Theme – TV Show/Limited Series Mac Quayle Template:Nom
Primetime Emmy Awards[3] 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series Feud: Bette and Joan Template:Nom
rowspan=2Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Susan Sarandon Template:Nom
rowspan=2Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Alfred Molina Template:Nom
Stanley Tucci Template:Nom
rowspan=2Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Judy Davis Template:Nom
Jackie Hoffman Template:Nom
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special Ryan Murphy (for "And the Winner Is... (The Oscars of 1963)") Template:Nom
rowspan=2Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special Jaffe Cohen, Ryan Murphy, and Michael Zam (for "Pilot") Template:Nom
Ryan Murphy (for "And the Winner Is... (The Oscars of 1963)") Template:Nom
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Eric Dawson and Robert J. Ulrich Template:Nom
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series, or Movie Lou Eyrich, Hannah Jacobs, and Katie Saunders (for "And the Winner Is... (The Oscars of 1963)") Template:Nom
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie Chris Clark, Ralph Michael Abalos, Wendy Southard, and Helena Cepeda Template:Won
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Design Ryan Murphy, Alexis Martin Woodall, Kyle Cooper, Nadia Tzuo and Margherita Premuroso Template:Nom
_Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic)_ _Eryn Krueger Mekash, Robin Beauschense, Tym Buacharern, Kim Ayers, Becky Cotton, and David Williams_ _Template:Won_
_Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music_ _Mac Quayle_ _Template:Nom_
_Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special_ _Mac Quayle (for "Pilot")_ _Template:Nom_
_Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)_ _Judy Becker, Jamie McCall and Florencia Martin_ _Template:Nom_
_Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series_ 
  _Feud: Bette and Joan: Inside Look_   
  _Template:Nom_   
  _|
rowspan=2 rowspan=2 [[]] Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Susan Sarandon Template:Nom
rowspan=3 [[]] rowspan=3 [[]] Feud: Bette and Joan Template:Nom
rowspan=2 Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Susan Sarandon Template:Nom
[[]] 2017 Television Movie or Limited Series Judy Becker (for "Pilot", "And the Winner Is…", "You Mean All This Time We Could Have Been Friends?") Template:Nom
[[]] 2017 Long Form – Original Jaffe Cohen, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Gina Welch, Michael Zam Template:Nom
[[]] 2017 David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Feud: Bette and Joan Template:Nom
[[]] 2017 Best Edited Mini-Series or Motion Picture for Television Adam Penn and Ken Ramos (for "Pilot") Template:Nominated
[[]] 2017 Excellence in Period Television Series Lou Eyrich Template:Nominated


Additional resources


External resources

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Feud_(TV_series)&oldid=74194"