Viewers: Let's club Cavemen back into Stone Age

[Brian Damage]

This news can't be good for ABC's new series "Cavemen."

If a completely unscientific sample of Daily News readers is any indication, viewers may have had their fill of the GEICO cavemen who are the inspiration for the ABC series.

The anti-"Cavemen" crowd came out in force in recent days after I suggested that maybe it was time for the GEICO gecko to get stomped.

Some people agreed it was time for the gecko to party with Merv Griffin, but others said I'd missed the mark and that the GEICO cavemen were in need of a good clubbing.

"I couldn't agree with you more [about] the lizard in the GEICO ads," wrote Bill Friedberg. "However, I also think the 'cavemen' should be returned to the cave. It's getting obnoxious, whereas the ads for Aflac are always funny."

Friedberg wasn't alone. Many readers suggested the cavemen should be silenced.

The "Cavemen," a family of shaggy Neanderthals attempting to survive in today's modern world, have been the stars of a successful series of commercials for the insurance company.

But, last spring, ABC decided to pick up a sitcom starring characters inspired by the advertisements.

"If anything, GEICO should dump the dumb caveman commercials," wrote Chuck Foley. "They're not funny at all and I can't believe someone is making a new TV series based on the same cavemen characters. I'd rather watch the gecko wandering through the grass, talking about muffins and jam for a half-hour than be subjected to one more cavemen commercial, no less a cavemen TV show."

So far, critical buzz about the show hasn't been good for the show. Producers are already tinkering with the concept, and a new first episode is in the works.

Moreover, the history of commercials serving as inspiration for television shows is dismal.

"Baby Bob," anyone?

"Your random observation that the GEICO lizard should go away was certainly your opinion," wrote Diana McGonnell. "Better you had said the caveman should go away. He is stupid. I can hardly believe that they are going to make a series for him. He doesn't even make sense. I really wonder who will watch that."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertain...into_ston.html

[Ireneparalegal]

Ahhhh, Baby Bob, that is the other show Brian that was made from a commercial. Remember I posted, "How many other shows were derived from a commercial?" There is our answer.