Family feud lands on national TV show

SANDPOINT — Could the healing powers of a Howie Mandel-coordinated flash mob repair a fractured relationship?

Sandpoint native and musician Tim Jarzabek hopes so.

He and his brother Nick have been longtime musical collaborators and band mates. However, their growing musical reputation has been strained by an argument and an estranged relationship.

To get their family — and their career — back on track, Jarzabek is turning to some unconventional mediators in his quest for forgiveness. The surprise hit TV show “Mobbed,” hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, specializes in sending an elaborate message with the help of hidden cameras and flash mobs. On the show’s fifth episode, airing tonight on Fox at 9 p.m., Jarzabek aims to craft an apology big enough to settle the feud with his brother.

“It was basically my fault that the relationship between Nick and I was ruined,” Jarzabek said. “Hopefully thousands of people will be enough to apologize to him.”

The relationship between Tim and Nick has always been tumultuous. According to their mother, Janice Jarzabek, her sons have played music from an early age. Nick and his brother Mike Jarzabek formed their band, then called No Cover, in their teens. After their guitarist Chris Reynolds died unexpectedly at 19 years old, Nick stepped in to fill the void. That’s when the fighting started. 

“They’re so creative, but with that creativity comes sparks,” Janice Jarzabek said. “What makes them fabulous musicians also makes them fabulous sparring partners.”

After moving to Los Angeles three years ago, No Cover enjoyed a string of successes. The Jarzabeks added bass player Justin Corman to their numbers and stayed busy writing music. The band members experienced new heights of potentiality when they met Bono, famed lead singer for the Irish rock band U2. Later, Bono called the band and suggested they shorten the name to simply “NO.”

“They were thrilled that Bono took the time to call them and offer advice just because he thought their music was great,” Janice Jarzabek said. “That was a real feather in the cap for them.”  

Even so, the arguments continued. The breaking point arrived when Tim, in a moment of anger, stole his brother’s guitar and many of his clothes, sold it all and blew the money in Las Vegas. After the theft, Nick refused to speak to him. They were forced to coordinate their recording sessions through their band mates.

Tim realized he bore the blame for their dysfunctional relationship and sought to make amends. After learning about “Mobbed,” he contacted the show producers to solicit their help. They agreed.

The fifth episode of the show will pull out the stops in orchestrating an elaborate apology. As if thousands of strangers weren’t impressive enough, the dance crew FORMALity, famous drummer DJ Ravi, rapper Ace Hood, and Everclear frontman Art Alexakis will all make an appearance.

Tim said he hopes, perhaps in spite of the spectacle, that the apology will come off as personal and sincere.

“I just want to get back to working on our music every day,” he said, later adding, “Our goal is really just to help people through our music.”

As for everyone else, the reconciliatory effort promises to be nothing if not entertaining.

“We’re probably going to have a ‘Mobbed' party over here,” Janice Jarzabek said.