According to Variety, ABC is developing a sitcom pilot based on Geico’s Caveman: "Cavemen will revolve around three pre-historic men who must battle prejudice as they attempt to live as normal thirtysomethings in modern Atlanta." Okay, let me break this down:
A) The Geico ads work because they’re a wry, unexpected, 30-second delight. How do you maintain that for 22 minutes (and with a laugh track)?
B) As Variety points out, this kind of commerical-to-sitcom move is not without precedence: "The 2002 CBS comedy Baby Bob revolved around a talking baby character that was first seen in a series of dot.com ads." But does anyone really want to follow in the footsteps of Baby Bob?
C) If this pilot must be made, I at least hope they cast Talia Shire as their therapist. ("My mother’s calling. I’ll put it on speaker." Gets me every time.)
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If they are going to make a sitcom about cavemen, they should rip off Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, not these commercials (which got old after the 2nd one).
the only thing that could possibly be worse than this is a sitcom based on the mac commercials.
gosh mandi.. looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the rock.
Wait. Doesn’t the dude who plays the Geico caveman already have a steady gig on “Heroes”? Does this mean Ted is going to be killed off?
Oh heavens! I love the cute little commercials but there’s no way on earth I’m watching 22 minutes of this foolishness.
This is a bad bad bad idea.
I love the Cavemen as/is, please don’t ruin a good thing.
As my husband and I always say – there’s no one stupider than a network executive! What a horrible idea.
Those guys make my flesh crawl–altho the song in the airport is funny
Dang, not only does the idea stink as a sitcom, but these fools are TOTALLY ripping off Grace Lee! American Zombie, which opens to the public this summer, is all about a neighborhood of zombies trying to “live” in modern day Los Angeles.
Everyone come up with their own commercial spin offs!
“Where’s the Beef?” – Follows the wacky escapades of three quick-witted dowagers who run a sewing circle and solve mysteries in their spare time.
The sad part is, this sitcom will get higher ratings than The Office.
What are you people talking about?!? This has the possibility of being the funniest thing on television if it’s handled right!! I know that there are MANY ways that it could go wrong, there’s no denying that, but there’s a reason that people (obviously especially me)can’t get enough of these cavemen. Both of these guys are hilarious and if there aresome smart people behind this (think Ricky Gervais or David Mirkin, even though I know they’re both busy) this could be gold.
The caveman is by far the worst idea Geico’s advertising agency has come up with. Frankly, I’m astonished they’re still airing. Now, a Geico gecko series – *that* I could get behind!
I laugh at those commercials but they kind or squick me out, because they seem to come THIS CLOSE to making fun of minorities. So I don’t know about a whole half hour at that level of uncomfortable, ya know? Maybe it’s just me.
I’m hoping the Ranch Tooth and the hot Doritos girl who does the splits in the laundrymat get their own shows. And while they are at it, morris the finicky cat, the energizer bunny and all of tv’s other one note joke ads should get their own shows too…
That’s just fracking great. Like there isn’t enough commercials as it is, now the entire show will be a commercial. Thank the gods for HBO.
The Geico commercials work? That’s news to me right there. I thought they were sophomoric and grating.
The only ad character that I consistenly enjoy is Jack from Jack in the Box. I still wouldn’t want to watch a TV series about him, though.
continuing yesterday’s discussion in the Adult Swim thing about potheads, it’s clear that you can be stoner and work as a show developer for ABC. Because I can only imagine someone on drugs thinking the dudes who are only slightly funnier than Lefty (the one armed rabbit) or the WASSSUUUP guys deserve their own show.
These guys give me the heebie-geebies.
to Ep Sato: Could we bring back the Aussie “Oi!” guy from the Energizer commercials? He was in a non-related series for NBC, late 80’s methinks.
Seriously, the correct answer is A) great for a 15- or 30-second commercial.
No. No. No.
Just no.
how come this idea isn’t under things that make me die inside?
Gah! I hate the Caveman commercials! I keep hoping one of them will get mauled by a sabertooth tiger.
There seems to be a consensus in this comments section that the Cavemen commercials are far from “a good thing” or a “delight.” (Try “the worst thing ever.”) Those Cavemen are the reason why we fast forward through commercials.
“The Pad” – Three kooky frogs (Bud, Weis and Er) fulfill their lifelong dream by opening up a bar in their neighborhood swamp and serving cool, refreshing Bud Light to a cast of wacky but lovable characters.
Am I alone? I love the Geico caveman commercials! Done right the show could be gd hilarious!
I love the commercials but I think a tv show will ruin it.
“Mrs. Fletcher”- Action and adventure follow Mrs. Fletcher as every week she falls down/into something and can’t get up.
The first Geico Cavemen commercials were funny, but now they’re getting long in the tooth. You just wish someone would slap them upside the head and tell them to get a sense of humor.
They also need to get rid of the ads that feature Geico customers telling the Geico stories and “celebrities” interpreting them.
Keep the gecko. He’s cool.