Token Cavemen given sitcom... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Willravel · 03-02-2007, 02:25 PM

If you're anything like me, you love the Cavemen commercials from Geico. You enjoy the lighthearted take on the serious topic of racism in our modern world. You sympathize with the plight of a forgotten minority, trying to find their way in a big world.

Guess what? ABC is developing a pilot for a half hour sitcom based on their misadventures!!

Quote:

ABC developing 'Cavemen'
Comedy pilot based on Geico ads
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Winner for most unusual piece of development this pilot season goes to ABC, which has turned a series of quirky Geico commercials into an actual half-hour comedy project.

"Cavemen" will revolve around three pre-historic men who must battle prejudice as they attempt to live as normal thirtysomethings in modern Atlanta.

Project, from ABC TV Studio, is penned by Joe Lawson, an advertising copywriter who was behind the "Caveman" ads -- as well as other Geico commercials (think the cockney-speaking Geico gecko, and the reality TV spoof "Tiny House").

Daniel Rappaport, Guymon Cassady, Will Speck and Josh Gordon are exec producers. Speck and Gordon, commercial directors who recently helmed the Will Farrell feature "Blades of Glory," are on board to also direct.

The single-camera laffer pilot is based on the Geico ads that promote the insurance company's Web site as so user-friendly that even "a caveman could do it." The spots follow cavemen in modern settings, reacting with offense to the derogatory slogan. In one, a Geico spokesman apologizes and takes the Neanderthals out to dinner.

Other blurbs include the sensitive, modern cavemen peeved at the offending slogan while encountering Geico ads in everyday life, including the airport.

The caveman commercials were created through the Richmond, Va.-based Martin Agency. Jeff Daniel Phillips and Ben Weber play the cavemen in the Geico spots; no word if they'll make the transformation to the TV project.

Few TV shows have come out of the commercial sphere; more frequently, TV characters live on in 30-second spots long after their shows are canceled (think "ALF").

But it's 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. After the Eye canceled "Baby Bob," the character returned to its commercial roots, spending time as a pitchman (pitchbaby?) for Quizno's Subs.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...=1300&cs=1&p=0

I couldn't be more happy.

ratbastid · 03-02-2007, 02:34 PM

It's an idea so ridiculous, not even a caveman would green-light it!

Uh oh.

sadistikdreams · 03-02-2007, 02:38 PM

I will die a happy man if they have cameos with the Gecko, and use the whole "I have good news" scenario at least ONCE in the show.

I love Geico.

FoolThemAll · 03-02-2007, 03:18 PM

I'm both horrified and amused. Maybe I'll be surprised and the latter will overtake the former. If the writers are good, this just might - maybe - have potential.

fresnelly · 03-02-2007, 05:15 PM

If they do this right, and keep the awkward-is-funny spirit of the commercials, it could fun. I'll definitely watch if it's in the vein of The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm.

On the other hand, if they just run with the gimmick, like say That 80's Show, complete with over-zealous laugh-track, it's complete a waste of time.

The writers and producers have a real challenge on their hands here. That Shark is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

ShaniFaye · 03-02-2007, 05:23 PM

this is fantastic!!! I have to say all of the geico commercials are my favs....wonder if they could incorporate "the movie guy" thats one of my favorites of theirs outside the caveman ones.

I will def watch!!!

meanSpleen · 03-02-2007, 06:59 PM

I laughed earlier when I found out that one of the cavemen is one of the guys from Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (the bald one)

Willravel · 03-02-2007, 07:16 PM

The cavemen are:
Jeff Daniel Phillips

and

Ben Weber

I don't see Queer Eye for the Straight Girl on their IMDBs, but that person may have been an extra caveperson.

meanSpleen · 03-02-2007, 09:00 PM

agh, nevermind. The guy I'm thinking of was the bald dancing guy for the Six Flags commercials

Bill O'Rights · 03-02-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaniFaye

this is fantastic!!! I will def watch!!!

Ahhhh...you're just gonna watch 'cause it's set in Atlanta.

Seriously...I love those "caveman" commercials. Funny funny funny shit. Often, better than the shows that they're sponsoring. But a sitcom? I just don't see it working. I give it three episodes before it's axed, and then even the commercials will be ruined.

So simple...even a caveman can see it coming.

Charlatan · 03-02-2007, 10:32 PM

Ha, these must have started running after I left North America.

Funny stuff. Oddly, I know the guy that is the voice at the end of the commercials. He makes a mint doing those tags.

As for the sitcom... could work but I tend to see Bill's suggested scenario as the most likely one.

...I wonder if Geico is going to help pay for the production budget on the series.

snowy · 03-02-2007, 10:34 PM

I like cavemen. I really like these commercials.

I will watch this show.

Grasshopper Green · 03-03-2007, 05:21 AM

The commercials are hilarious, but I don't see stretching that humor into a half hour program. If it works..then good for the cavemen!

Lizra · 03-03-2007, 06:04 AM

I hope the writers are good too. The guys always look hilarious. Love all the eye-rolling.
A good way

to promote more unquestioning general acceptance of evolution, as it should be.

Mister Coaster · 03-05-2007, 11:11 AM

I agree with the majority here. I think the Geico commercials (as a whole, not just the caveman series) are some of the best done out there, if not THE best.

But taking this EXACT idea and putting it into a sitcom leaves me scratching my head. It looks like all the same creative team is on board, so on that hand I think it should work. On the other hand, think of all the SNL sketches that were really funny on the show, but SUCKED as a full-feature film.

ShaniFaye · 03-05-2007, 11:16 AM

oh come on, Night at the Roxbury rocks hehehehe

warrrreagl · 03-05-2007, 11:21 AM

Ahh, if only Phil Hartman were still alive - the Geico guy could hire Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer to handle his civil rights complaints.

Willravel · 03-05-2007, 11:35 AM

Warrrreagl, you've got that right. I'd not only watch that, I'd download the podcasts!

Mister Coaster · 03-05-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warrrreagl

Ahh, if only Phil Hartman were still alive - the Geico guy could hire Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer to handle his civil rights complaints.

Queue the Guinness Commercial guys... "Brilliant! Brilliant!"

pig · 03-05-2007, 12:10 PM

mr.coaster got my exact sentiments down. unless there is some serious shannigan development to this thing, i think its very likely to turn into a vortex of suck so sucky that geico will have to completely abandon the whole funny commercial gimmick.

The_Jazz · 03-05-2007, 12:29 PM

Oh good god. I can't believe that all of you are getting excited about something based on something AN INSURANCE COMPANY is doing. Something is seriously wrong when there are people that aren't me getting excited about something an insurance company is doing. Hey, anyone want to discuss the new excess policy for invasive medical devices that Colony just came out with?

While the commercials are funny, I think that it's going to be difficult to wrap this into a show-length format without either making it an infomercial for Geico or amputating the edge that these commercials have.

For the record, I'd like to watch a "Less Filling, Taste Great" debate for a half hour with the 70's and 80's celebrities Miller Lite recruited than what's proposed here.

Willravel · 03-05-2007, 12:38 PM

The Jazz.....are you a caveman?

The_Jazz · 03-05-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

The Jazz.....are you a caveman?

We prefer the term "insurance broker".

Willravel · 03-05-2007, 01:39 PM

Touché.

Oh and congrats again on making moderator. Even though there wasn't a vote, I voted for you.

Bill O'Rights · 03-05-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

The Jazz.....are you a caveman?

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

We prefer the term "insurance broker".

I KNEW it!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

Even though there wasn't a vote, I voted for you.

Sure there was. Your vote just didn't count. Consider yourself...Ohio

The_Jazz · 03-05-2007, 02:59 PM

Too bad that 1) neither of you are hot chicks that I could hit over the head with my club and drag back to my cave and 2) that my wife would be horrified by me both abducting a young woman to hold hostage as well as referring to our house as a "cave".

Consider yourselves luck.

BOR, I hope you realize that you're responsible for all my sins as a moderator. I guess that makes you more of an Ohioan than poor poor Will.

Crack · 03-30-2007, 10:50 AM

The cavemen are awesome. People always ask me what the hell is wrong with me when I laugh so hard at the commercials. It's hard to explain why they are so funny.

It's like I feel bad for what they go through, but then again... YOU'RE A FREAKING CAVEMAN... or something like that.

Aurakles · 04-02-2007, 08:36 PM

If they can do it right (good writing, acting, situations, etc.), this might be the next big thing. I certainly love the commercials.

Lady Sage · 04-03-2007, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

Sure there was. Your vote just didn't count. Consider yourself...Ohio

Thank you for twisting that knife...

Bill O'Rights · 04-03-2007, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Sage

Thank you for twisting that knife...

There...there...
At least you guys tried.

I live in Nebraska. The battlecry; "Go Big Red" doesn't just mean Husker football.

The_Jazz · 04-03-2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

There...there...
At least you guys tried.

I live in Nebraska. The battlecry; "Go Big Red" doesn't just mean Husker football.

I always thought Nebraska was full of communists. America! Love it or leave it! Let's invade Nebraska!

Sorry, back on topic: cavemn R teh shiat.

I should ban myself for being an asshat...

Cynthetiq · 04-03-2007, 11:13 AM

see.... just the man trying to keep the caveman down...

Quote:

CAVEMEN LEFT IN RUBBLE
By DON KAPLAN
LINK

April 2, 2007 -- TALK about reinventing the wheel. None of the three ac tors who play cavemen in the beloved Geico commercials will get to star in the ABC comedy they've inspired.
John Lehr, Jeff Phillips and Ben Weber, who under layers of Cro-Magnon makeup have inspired a cult following, have been kicked out of the cave as the concept goes Hollywood.

In their place, newcomers Nick Kroll, Bill English and Kaitlin Doubleday have been cast to play the group of hypersensitive Cro-Mags who wrestle with prejudice and feel victimized by modern culture, reports Variety.

Lehr is barred from appearing in the show because he is under contract with TBS for "10 Items or Less," the comedy he created and stars in, but it is unclear why Phillips and Weber were passed over.

Neither could be reached for comment. Joe Lawson, the associate creative director at the Martin Agency who originally came up with the ads, declined to comment.

"Go figure," says Lehr, "I'm blessed. How incredible is it that there was even the most remote possibility that I could've been in two comedies?"

Lehr plays the caveman so conflicted with the way the modern world has treated him, he winds up in therapy. The doctor is played by "Rocky" star, Talia Shire.

In one spot he spars with her about the difference between the mentality of a caveman versus a psychiatrist, until his cell phone rings. "It's my mother" he sighs, "I'll put her on speakerphone."

"It's so funny, I work my ass off in Hollywood for years, I get a show that I create and star in and the thing that I'm much more known for is being a caveman in the Geico ads," says Lehr.

"It's a little bizarre. I'm so thrilled to be a part of this thing, but I never thought these spots were going to become as popular as they have - much less be the jumping off point for a TV comedy."

Bill O'Rights · 04-03-2007, 12:59 PM

Hmmm...see? They're already well on their way to screwing this up.

And it's not even filming yet.

Steeeerike one!!

Willravel · 04-03-2007, 01:50 PM

I call it blatant bigotry against cro-magnons.

Mister Coaster · 04-03-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

Hmmm...see? They're already well on their way to screwing this up.

And it's not even filming yet.

Steeeerike one!!

Sir, yes sir. Call it strike one or call it the first nail in the coffin, the so-called "Hollywood experts" are screwing up this screwy idea. I'll still watch the pilot, assuming it gets made and put on the air.

snicka · 04-04-2007, 08:36 AM

oh god... this reminds me of the Baby Bob show. Now that was a POS and I worked at the company that spawned it.

The_Jazz · 04-04-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snicka

oh god... this reminds me of the Baby Bob show. Now that was a POS and I worked at the company that spawned it.

I need a reason not to ban you for that admission. Please, gimme something redeaming that you've done....

snicka · 04-04-2007, 12:46 PM

Let me clarify. I worked for FreeInternet.com which started the original ad campaign. I had nothing to do with the making of the tv show, I would have killed myself long ago if I had.

03-02-2007, 03:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
FoolThemAll Walking is Still Honest Location: Seattle, WA	I'm both horrified and amused. Maybe I'll be surprised and the latter will overtake the former. If the writers are good, this just might - maybe - have potential. __________________ I wonder if we're stuck in Rome.

03-02-2007, 05:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	If they do this right, and keep the awkward-is-funny spirit of the commercials, it could fun. I'll definitely watch if it's in the vein of The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm. On the other hand, if they just run with the gimmick, like say That 80's Show, complete with over-zealous laugh-track, it's complete a waste of time. The writers and producers have a real challenge on their hands here. That Shark is just a hop, skip and a jump away. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

03-02-2007, 05:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	this is fantastic!!! I have to say all of the geico commercials are my favs....wonder if they could incorporate "the movie guy" thats one of my favorites of theirs outside the caveman ones. I will def watch!!! __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

03-02-2007, 06:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	I laughed earlier when I found out that one of the cavemen is one of the guys from Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (the bald one) __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

03-02-2007, 09:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	agh, nevermind. The guy I'm thinking of was the bald dancing guy for the Six Flags commercials __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

03-02-2007, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	It's an idea so ridiculous, not even a caveman would green-light it! Uh oh.

03-02-2007, 02:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
sadistikdreams lonely rolling star Location: Seattle.	I will die a happy man if they have cameos with the Gecko, and use the whole "I have good news" scenario at least ONCE in the show. I love Geico.

03-02-2007, 07:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	The cavemen are: Jeff Daniel Phillips and Ben Weber I don't see Queer Eye for the Straight Girl on their IMDBs, but that person may have been an extra caveperson.

03-02-2007, 10:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Ha, these must have started running after I left North America. Funny stuff. Oddly, I know the guy that is the voice at the end of the commercials. He makes a mint doing those tags. As for the sitcom... could work but I tend to see Bill's suggested scenario as the most likely one. ...I wonder if Geico is going to help pay for the production budget on the series. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

03-02-2007, 10:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I like cavemen. I really like these commercials. I will watch this show. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

03-03-2007, 05:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	The commercials are hilarious, but I don't see stretching that humor into a half hour program. If it works..then good for the cavemen! __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

03-03-2007, 06:04 AM	#14 (permalink)
Lizra Insane Location: rural Indiana	I hope the writers are good too. The guys always look hilarious. Love all the eye-rolling. A good way to promote more unquestioning general acceptance of evolution, as it should be. __________________ Happy atheist

03-05-2007, 11:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	I agree with the majority here. I think the Geico commercials (as a whole, not just the caveman series) are some of the best done out there, if not THE best. But taking this EXACT idea and putting it into a sitcom leaves me scratching my head. It looks like all the same creative team is on board, so on that hand I think it should work. On the other hand, think of all the SNL sketches that were really funny on the show, but SUCKED as a full-feature film. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

03-05-2007, 11:16 AM	#16 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	oh come on, Night at the Roxbury rocks hehehehe __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

03-05-2007, 11:21 AM	#17 (permalink)
warrrreagl pinche vato Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton	Ahh, if only Phil Hartman were still alive - the Geico guy could hire Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer to handle his civil rights complaints. __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed.

03-05-2007, 11:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Warrrreagl, you've got that right. I'd not only watch that, I'd download the podcasts!

03-05-2007, 12:10 PM	#20 (permalink)
pig pigglet pigglet Location: Locash	mr.coaster got my exact sentiments down. unless there is some serious shannigan development to this thing, i think its very likely to turn into a vortex of suck so sucky that geico will have to completely abandon the whole funny commercial gimmick. __________________ You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

03-05-2007, 12:29 PM	#21 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Oh good god. I can't believe that all of you are getting excited about something based on something AN INSURANCE COMPANY is doing. Something is seriously wrong when there are people that aren't me getting excited about something an insurance company is doing. Hey, anyone want to discuss the new excess policy for invasive medical devices that Colony just came out with? While the commercials are funny, I think that it's going to be difficult to wrap this into a show-length format without either making it an infomercial for Geico or amputating the edge that these commercials have. For the record, I'd like to watch a "Less Filling, Taste Great" debate for a half hour with the 70's and 80's celebrities Miller Lite recruited than what's proposed here. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

03-05-2007, 12:38 PM	#22 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	The Jazz.....are you a caveman?

03-05-2007, 01:39 PM	#24 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Touché. Oh and congrats again on making moderator. Even though there wasn't a vote, I voted for you.

03-05-2007, 02:59 PM	#26 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Too bad that 1) neither of you are hot chicks that I could hit over the head with my club and drag back to my cave and 2) that my wife would be horrified by me both abducting a young woman to hold hostage as well as referring to our house as a "cave". Consider yourselves luck. BOR, I hope you realize that you're responsible for all my sins as a moderator. I guess that makes you more of an Ohioan than poor poor Will. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

03-30-2007, 10:50 AM	#27 (permalink)
Crack Misanthropic Location: Ohio! yay!	The cavemen are awesome. People always ask me what the hell is wrong with me when I laugh so hard at the commercials. It's hard to explain why they are so funny. It's like I feel bad for what they go through, but then again... YOU'RE A FREAKING CAVEMAN... or something like that. __________________ Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex. ~Halx

04-02-2007, 08:36 PM	#28 (permalink)
Aurakles Crazy Location: behind open eyes	If they can do it right (good writing, acting, situations, etc.), this might be the next big thing. I certainly love the commercials. __________________ Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.

04-03-2007, 12:59 PM	#33 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Hmmm...see? They're already well on their way to screwing this up. And it's not even filming yet. Steeeerike one!! __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

04-03-2007, 01:50 PM	#34 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I call it blatant bigotry against cro-magnons.

04-04-2007, 08:36 AM	#36 (permalink)
snicka Crazy	oh god... this reminds me of the Baby Bob show. Now that was a POS and I worked at the company that spawned it.

04-04-2007, 12:46 PM	#38 (permalink)
snicka Crazy	Let me clarify. I worked for FreeInternet.com which started the original ad campaign. I had nothing to do with the making of the tv show, I would have killed myself long ago if I had.