It is arguably the most talked about show of the coming television season: ABC‘s “Cavemen.”
Okay, admittedly there have been other TV programs that have prominently featured cavemen. “The Flintstones” come immediately to mind. As does “It’s About Time,” that CBS sitcom about those two astronauts who accidentally pierced the time barrier. And — as a direct result — wound up sharing a cave with Shad (Imogene Coca) and Gronk (Joe E. Ross). And who can forget Phil Hartman‘s inspired turn as the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer on NBC‘s “Saturday Night Live” ?
Phil Hartman as the UnFrozen Caveman Lawyer
Copyright NBC Universal, Inc.
So it’s not the caveman angle that is making this new ABC series the topic of so much discussion. But — rather — the fact that the creators of “Cavemen” drew their inspiration from a popular series of television commercials. To be specific, Geico‘s “It’s so easy a caveman could do it” car insurance ads.
Which (admittedly) sounds like a pretty risky idea to try & build an entire TV series around. I mean, let’s remember what happened the last time that a television network tried to do something like this. CBS rolled out “Baby Bob” (Which was based on a series of ads for FreeInternet.com) with much fanfare in March of 2002. But given that “Bob” ‘s ratings started low and then got lower, the Tiffany Network eventually opted to pull the plug after only eight episodes (Of the 14 that were produced) were aired.
(L to R) Joely Fisher, Elliot Gould, Adam Arkin, Holland Taylor & Baby Bob
Copyright 2002 Paramount International Television
So knowing what happened with “Baby Bob” … A lot of folks in the industry are now scratching their heads over “Cavemen.” Wondering what ABC executives could have been thinking by putting a program with such a thin premise on their Fall schedule.
Ah, but there’s method to the Alphabet Network’s madness. You see, ABC execs have retained Bill Martin & Mike Schiff to be “Cavemen” ‘s executive producers / showrunners. And Martin & Schiff … They know a little bit about keeping a show with a pretty thin premise fresh & funny. Given that Bill & Mike were the executive producers / showrunners of the Emmy-Award-winning “3rd Rock From the Sun” during its six season run on NBC.
(L to R) John Lithgow, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jane
Curtin, Kristen Johnston & French Stewart
Copyright 1996 Carsey-Werner Company
With Martin & Schiff now attached to this sitcom … Well, it’s believed (in-house at ABC, anyway) that “Cavemen” now at least has a fighting chance. That Bill & Mike will be able to deliver a polished & professional product that — just like “3rd Rock” did with its wacky aliens — will use its caveman characters to comically comment on today’s society.
As for this show’s title characters … This trio of cavemen are called Joel (Bill English), his cynical best friend, Nick (Nick Kroll) and easy-going little brother, Jamie (Dash Mihok). Who live in modern-day Atlanta and do what they can to try & blend in. Joel — for example — has gotten engaged to a beautiful Caucasian girl, Kate (Kaitlin Doubleday). But — of course — this then forces Joel to deal with Kate’s prejudiced papa, Trip (John Heard). Who just doesn’t understand what his daughter sees in this Cro Magnon.
(L to R) John Heard, Bill English and Kaitlin Doubleday
Copyright 2007 ABC — Photo by Gale Adler
That’s ultimately what ABC is hoping “Cavemen” will turn into. A buddy comedy that then gives viewers a unique new way to look at stereotypes. In effect comically comment on the issue of race relations by watching these three Cro Mags struggle to make their way in the modern world.
Will this premise ultimately pay off ? Will ABC wind up with another “3rd Rock” -sized hit or just another “Baby Bob” -style blowout ? I guess we’ll know for sure come September, when “Cavemen” starts airing on the Alphabet Network on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m.
(L to R) Stephanie Lemelin, Dash Mihok, Nick Kroll, Bill English & Kaitlin Doubleday
Copyright 2007 ABC — Photo by Craig Sjodin
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