ABC Develop Geico Ad Cavemen Into TV Project

[Chaplin]

There are literally hundreds of pilots that are submitted every year. There's a lot better out there than something about cavemen. Taking a commercial (or SNL skit) and making a television show out of it is an awful, awful idea.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

. Taking a commercial (or SNL skit) and making a television show out of it is an awful, awful idea.

I think a series base on Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer would've been great!

 

[MikeOnTheMic]

Taking a commercial (or SNL skit) and making a television show out of it is an awful, awful idea.

Seemed to work out OK for the Simpsons

 

[nathan]

I just watched the pilot. It was lame. This show won't last one season.

 

[Chaplin]

Seemed to work out OK for the Simpsons

Wash your mouth out! Comparing this caveman idea to the Simpsons??

 

[Gaddabout]

Absolutely. In fact, I'd guess this idiotic idea doesn't get past the pilot stage.

Chap, I know you know the industry. Since when does a bad pilot keep a bad show with a bad premise off the air? I'm betting there's some TV network exec who got his MBA from Stanford who's going to give this show a go, because he/she is looking at the popularity of those characters rather than their narrative value. Anyone remember Max Headroom?

But what do I know? I would've pegged That 70s Show for a 1st season flop. I'm also continually surprised when I list Wings as one of the all-time best comedies and people think I'm poking fun at the History Channel. Surely I'm not the only one who watched Wings more religiously than Cheers.

 

[SunsTzu]

Wash your mouth out! Comparing this caveman idea to the Simpsons??

Simpson's from the Tracy Ulman show were probably on par with the caveman commercials.

 

[Chaplin]

Simpson's from the Tracy Ulman show were probably on par with the caveman commercials.

Come on. That was 1989. You think the tv landscape is the same now as it was then? There was no Family Guy, no Futureama or King of the Hill to compare it to. Plus, Fox was a brand spanking new network, who could afford to take some chances.

 

[D-Dogg]

Plus, Fox was a brand spanking new network, who could afford to take some chances.

Yeah, and now they cancel good shows like Arrested Development after marketing them with piss poor efforts.

 

[Mulli]

Yeah, and now they cancel good shows like Arrested Development after marketing them with piss poor efforts.

Yeah!

 

[SunsTzu]

Come on. That was 1989. You think the tv landscape is the same now as it was then? There was no Family Guy, no Futureama or King of the Hill to compare it to. Plus, Fox was a brand spanking new network, who could afford to take some chances.

My only point was the skit cartoon Simpson's on the Tracy Ulman show wasn't vastly superior to what the caveman thing is today. It seemed to me you were comparing the caveman to what the Simpson's now are when it is more appropriate to compare to what the Simpson's were. I thought Milton was a better cartoon short than the Simpson's.

 

[Treefiddy]

Anyone catch the season premier last night?

 

[D-Dogg]

Anyone catch the season premier last night?

No, the commercial for the show I saw was more than enough. "Do you have a tail?"

Har har...veryfunnygeico.

 

[abomb]

I had zero interest in this, but Carpoolers was developed by a few ex-AD folks. I missed it too though.

 

[NDSunsfan]

I had zero interest in this, but Carpoolers was developed by a few ex-AD folks. I missed it too though.

That's good to hear, because I really liked Carpoolers last night. It seemed funny in different way that the rest of the mind-numbing obvious sit-com jokes, much like Aressted Development.

 

[dogpoo32]

Anyone catch the season premier last night?

I watched 10 minutes of it. Absolutely awful. They even made Nick Swardson (sp?) unfunny. And he's great on Reno 911 and his standup is pretty darn good too.

 

[AZ Shocker]

I watched 10 minutes of it. Absolutely awful. They even made Nick Swardson (sp?) unfunny. And he's great on Reno 911 and his standup is pretty darn good too.

Totally agree. 10 minutes is all I made it through as well. I was really looking forward to this show, but it was terrible.

Swithced over to the new show Cane. Now that was good.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

really tried to give it a go even though they stiffed my buddy ben (one of the original cavemen in the commercials) . . . but man did that suck.

carpoolers was rather lame too, though there was one part that got a spit-take outta me (literally), but now i can't remember what it was.

 

[SunsTzu]

I watched 10 minutes of it. Absolutely awful. They even made Nick Swardson (sp?) unfunny. And he's great on Reno 911 and his standup is pretty darn good too.

I would have actually tuned in to see Nick Swardson.

 

[Joe Mama]

I can tell you guys how embarrassed I am to admit that actually enjoy this show. I'm probably the only person who's gave it more than 15 minutes.

Joe

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can tell you guys how embarrassed I am to admit that actually enjoy this show. I'm probably the only person who's gave it more than 15 minutes.

Joe

don't feel too bad Joe - from everything I've read, it got much better after the first two episodes. But I'm with Ouchie - I won't watch a second out of protest for our friend Ben getting screwed.

 

[CardLogic]

But I'm with Ouchie - I won't watch a second out of protest for our friend Ben getting screwed.

I don't watch this show at all.

Was Ben the "main" character in the Gieco caveman commercials. How, why did he get shafted?

 

[Hollywood]

We taped the first couple of shows and actually watched most of the first one then erased all of them. Bad bad bad bad show.