Review: The Geico Cavemen Sitcom Pilot - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-04-2007, 02:56 PM

“Cavemen” has a lot of people talking since it was first announced. People will continue to talk… about just how astoundingly awful it is.

“Cavemen” is literally a thirty second commercial expanded to twenty-two minutes. But… it’s actually much worse than that. Just like their source material, the origin of these domesticated Cro-Magnons is never explained. I guess “Encino Man” is part of the prequel trilogy. We meet these humanoids already fully integrated into society and living in a mid-west apartment with a bunch of Ikea furniture. Think about it, a show based on a commercial is bound to have a lot of product placement.

Now comes the most mind numbing, stupendously stupid and astoundingly misguided part of this fiasco: The creators have tried to infuse social satire by making the show an allegory for prejudice. They draw astoundingly leaden parallels to every minority group in the world without a laugh in sight. It’s jaw dropping horrendous and actually makes “American Dad's” lunkheaded topicality seem sophisticated.

The supposed “plot” of the pilot revolves around the Cavemen trying to crash an upscale country club, invoking the ad for the movie “Caddyshack”: “Some people just don’t belong.”

This pilot is slow, talky and dull… with the only real visual flourishes revolving around the Cavemen donning different costumes throughout the show in their bid to fit in.

Making matters worse: The pilot uses different actors in the Cavemen roles and none of them are nearly as effective as their advertising counterparts. One of them actually reminded me a little bit of Sanjaya.

This video will get passed around like the infamous “Star Wars Christmas Special.” It’s nice to know that the spirit of Ed Wood lives on.

Ironically, amidst the mad rush of script ABC developed this season was one of the funniest half hours I ever read… and they didn’t order THAT script in favor of this depth charge which could be the first pilot to actually hurt an auto insurance company.

Which also begs the point: Would Geico advertise on this thing? My guess is they'd pass.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32521

AB · 05-04-2007, 05:18 PM

Sometimes the idea is alot better than the finished product.

TJL · 05-04-2007, 05:34 PM

It's so awful, even a caveman would hate it!

Brian Damage · 05-04-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

It's so awful, even a caveman would hate it!

Very good!

Justafan65 · 05-04-2007, 08:43 PM

Do you have any insight or buzz or rumors about any other pilots? Interesting to hear!

Madame X · 05-07-2007, 05:01 PM

The commercials have worn out their welcome. At first they were fresh and unique, but now they are stretching it. Not funny. I can't imagine an entire show with this theme. What's next, a sitcom with the Gecko trying to make it on Wall Street?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

It's so awful, even a caveman would hate it!

Good one, by the way!

dawsongirl · 05-10-2007, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

The commercials have worn out their welcome. At first they were fresh and unique, but now they are stretching it. Not funny. I can't imagine an entire show with this theme. What's next, a sitcom with the Gecko trying to make it on Wall Street?

Good one, by the way!

I think the Pillsbury Doughboy is due for his own drama!

snl 70s show fan · 05-10-2007, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I think the Pillsbury Doughboy is due for his own drama!

i can see it now law and order frozen foods unit

Penny Lane · 05-11-2007, 03:17 PM

Leave the Caveman as a commercial. A tv series would diminish his charm.

In other words. Leave well enough alone!

Br26 · 05-14-2007, 04:09 AM

they..they made a pilot out of this? and a network is interested?

sigh..

dawsongirl · 05-14-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snl 70s show fan

i can see it now law and order frozen foods unit

Brian Damage · 05-14-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snl 70s show fan

i can see it now law and order frozen foods unit

Law & Order F FU!

TJL · 05-14-2007, 10:21 PM

I can't wait to see the pilot featuring Bob the ENZYTE guy...

Pavan · 05-14-2007, 10:28 PM

The pilot has been picked-up for mid-season. Test audiences either loved it or hated it. Most that loved the commercials, love it. The ones that are annoyed or hate the commercials, hated it...

I should get my copy in a few weeks.

Interesting.

Justafan65 · 05-14-2007, 10:32 PM

Do you get copies for all of the pilots? And will you get photos from the ones that didn't get picked up?

Quote:

Ironically, amidst the mad rush of script ABC developed this season was one of the funniest half hours I ever read… and they didn’t order THAT script in favor of this depth charge which could be the first pilot to actually hurt an auto insurance company

.

I was just re-reading the original post...any idea what pilot script the writer was referring to when he said it was one of the funniest he had read?

05-04-2007, 02:56 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Review: The Geico Cavemen Sitcom Pilot “Cavemen” has a lot of people talking since it was first announced. People will continue to talk… about just how astoundingly awful it is. “Cavemen” is literally a thirty second commercial expanded to twenty-two minutes. But… it’s actually much worse than that. Just like their source material, the origin of these domesticated Cro-Magnons is never explained. I guess “Encino Man” is part of the prequel trilogy. We meet these humanoids already fully integrated into society and living in a mid-west apartment with a bunch of Ikea furniture. Think about it, a show based on a commercial is bound to have a lot of product placement. Now comes the most mind numbing, stupendously stupid and astoundingly misguided part of this fiasco: The creators have tried to infuse social satire by making the show an allegory for prejudice. They draw astoundingly leaden parallels to every minority group in the world without a laugh in sight. It’s jaw dropping horrendous and actually makes “American Dad's” lunkheaded topicality seem sophisticated. The supposed “plot” of the pilot revolves around the Cavemen trying to crash an upscale country club, invoking the ad for the movie “Caddyshack”: “Some people just don’t belong.” This pilot is slow, talky and dull… with the only real visual flourishes revolving around the Cavemen donning different costumes throughout the show in their bid to fit in. Making matters worse: The pilot uses different actors in the Cavemen roles and none of them are nearly as effective as their advertising counterparts. One of them actually reminded me a little bit of Sanjaya. This video will get passed around like the infamous “Star Wars Christmas Special.” It’s nice to know that the spirit of Ed Wood lives on. Ironically, amidst the mad rush of script ABC developed this season was one of the funniest half hours I ever read… and they didn’t order THAT script in favor of this depth charge which could be the first pilot to actually hurt an auto insurance company. Which also begs the point: Would Geico advertise on this thing? My guess is they'd pass. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32521
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05-04-2007, 05:34 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	It's so awful, even a caveman would hate it!
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05-11-2007, 03:17 PM	#9
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 50,940	Leave the Caveman as a commercial. A tv series would diminish his charm. In other words. Leave well enough alone!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

05-14-2007, 10:28 PM	#14
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,814	The pilot has been picked-up for mid-season. Test audiences either loved it or hated it. Most that loved the commercials, love it. The ones that are annoyed or hate the commercials, hated it... I should get my copy in a few weeks. Interesting.
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05-04-2007, 05:18 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	Sometimes the idea is alot better than the finished product.

05-04-2007, 08:43 PM	#5
Justafan65 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 06, 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 30	Do you have any insight or buzz or rumors about any other pilots? Interesting to hear!

05-14-2007, 04:09 AM	#10
Br26 Insert witty title Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2006 Location: CA Posts: 148	they..they made a pilot out of this? and a network is interested? sigh..

05-14-2007, 10:21 PM	#13
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I can't wait to see the pilot featuring Bob the ENZYTE guy...