Sneak peek at ‘Cavemen’ not encouraging Bill at Make the Logo Bigger has unearthed a clip of ABC’s new sitcom Cavemen, based on the Geico commercials, and wonders if the series could make history by being “yanked halfway through the first show.” It is painful to watch. Bill laments that the actors from the ads are gone—they’ve been replaced by newcomers Nick Kroll, Dash Mihok and Bill English, whom you may know from T-Mobile’s popular “Secret Lovers” ad, in which he plays the betrayed friend. The only marginally recognizable name in the cast is John Heard, who apparently has fallen on hard times. —Posted by Tim Nudd

May 21, 2007 in Geico | Permalink

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wow. that was painful. over under on this one is about 2 episodes i would think.

Posted by: t | May 21, 2007 3:40:11 PM

NOW can those of us who always thought this a bad idea -- vs. the fawning hopefuls who assumed this would usher in a new era of content-driven advertising, "brand social currency" and creative recognition -- NOW can we say "I told you so?"

Posted by: Duane | May 21, 2007 4:48:35 PM

Even worse is the Carpoolers clip that follows.

Watch the driver's hands jerking nervously on the wheel as he drives in a STRAIGHT LINE on the highway.

Posted by: IA | May 21, 2007 4:48:45 PM

We posted on this last week and another today (http://www.dhadm.com/content/snl-abc-caveman-series/). The second Caveman post was from a clip on SNL last Saturday.

Check it out, pretty funny.

Posted by: DS | May 21, 2007 5:21:25 PM

Duane, it's still a good idea if the show were written as tightly as most of the spots were. This though looks like anything but. Based on the clip I saw, I blame the execution, not the original idea.

Posted by: makethelogobigger | May 21, 2007 5:47:31 PM

Puh-leeze. The spots suck....and its evil spawn of a TV show is even worse.

Posted by: The Truth | May 21, 2007 5:57:06 PM

makethelogobigger –

Can't disagree. But the reasons I forecast failure had everything to do with execution, even before the first scene was filmed. What scripts well in :27 seconds doesn't always translate in to 18 solid minutes –- especially when the central conceit is fairly treadworn to begin with (fish out of water), and what makes the shorter form so brilliant is the air between the jokes.

Network sitcoms are all about broad casting and rimshots. The Geico campaign wasn't jokey. Hard not to spot failure coming.

Posted by: Duane | May 21, 2007 6:47:00 PM

Nothing says “stinging wit” like incessant babble. That was just awful.

Posted by: Thanks You TV, for everything. | May 22, 2007 12:35:54 AM

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