NEWS: Geico Ads Launch Sitcom Pilot

CULTURE: Geico Ads Launch Sitcom Pilot

Picking up where Encino Man left off (sans Pauly Shore), last week ABC gave the go-ahead to start production on a sitcom based on the manic-depressive cavemen made popular by Geico TV commercials. That gecko with the Cockney accent is pissed.

The Geico ads are a commercial favorite, but this sitcom could prove heavy-handed and over inundate the viewer with its advertising-disguised as-entertainment scheme that producers claim "subtly reminds viewers of a brand name."

While I'm all for quirky, minute-long ads featuring endearing cavemen, I don't think there is anything subtle about a TV series in which Geico gets a royalty check for a plotline that has been done ad nauseam about monsters facing prejudice in the harsh reality of modern society.

The sitcom will be funny, yes. For the first few episodes. But, how many reminders to switch car insurance does one really need? Surely not an entire season's worth.

Next up: Jared from Subway stars in sitcom about a sarcastic family man who can't shake his overbearing in-laws.

I love the Caveman... hope this doesn't suck (which it probably will).

I hear the high-fiving squirrels are also pissed.

Terrible idea. Just terrible.

No cast? That's pretty fucked up if they don't use the dudes who play the cavemen in the commercials, doncha think?

Seriously though, this is going to blow. I wonder how many episodes 'til the cavedudes' car breaks down and they (begrudgingly) get EXCELLENT roadside service?

But ACTUALLY, now that I've read the whole adjacent article I'm infinitely more interested in this:

Holy shit.

Those BK commercials are like a disturbing Aphex Twin video. I don't think I could subject myself to a 90 minute movie about some creepy fast food mascot. And I can't imagine that any movie studio would really invest in this.

no fucking way

AWESOME! Just AWESOME!

You are pretty off base.

1) geico gets a royalty check because they employed the ad agency who created the character. The characters are the intellectual property of Geico, and as such they should get a royalty check.

2) The show isn't going to be a Geico commercial.

3) The show will have to deliver ratings to succeed, so if people don't like it, they won't watch, it won't get ratings, and we can complain about something else.

4) The cavemen would best be described as "sanguine" certainly not "manic-depressive."

Being that Geico has no say in their creativity of the show, how funny would it be if the Cavemen have an accident in their car and call Progressive?!

Sanguine, perhaps, but I think of them more often as entrenched in weltschmerz. Definitely not manic-depressive, though.

LMAo even if they pawn this off to be a comedy that massk is going to make it a horror flick, cant wait!

1. Thank you to the poeple who cought the manic depressive thing.

2. The show could very well be funny, I'm looking forward to seeing it

3. I think that's taking it a bit far. I think people will accept it as a tvshow, not Geico trying really hard to get new customers.

i think i'd rather see something to the equivalent of an Ultimate fighting Championship between all the current commercial icons. Seeing something like Ronald Mcdonald fighting it out with the blonde haired dude from the Altell commercials would be pretty cool in my eyes. Everyone would get their advertising in one season.

"The King" scares me. He's just a little too creepy for me.

Isn't the Geico Caveman the radioactive guy on HEROES?

I didn't realize anybody liked the caveman commercials. I can hardly sit through a full 30 second spot; I'd never watch the show.

The King is fucking hardass.

I have all his bobbleheads, watches, toys, videogames and... GASP! - airfresheners!

I just love how blatantly creepy he is.

When I first heard about this last week I was all for it, but hearing that ABC has picked it up I'm pretty sure they're going to fuck it up. True good sitcoms don't come around that much and don't really see this being one of them. I love the commercials though.

This is going to be horrible.

Also, hate to be completely anal retentive, but "cockney" is a dialect, not an accent.

I thought it was an australian accent, anyway.

That's hilarious, my 9 year old says that every time she see that guy on "Heroes."

Me and my wife kept saying the same thing! If you read through the postings on IMDB though, it says it's not him but the actor thinks it's funny.


Here's a sneak preview of Cavemen: Someone makes an offensive off the cuff remark about cavemen. Caveman crosses arms and looks away disdainfully. Audience laughs.

And then at some point the caveman tries to give his garbage disposal "more power", which really pisses off Jill. Then it's all up to caveman Wilson to give the much needed neighborly advice that solves all their problems.

that's every sitcom in the past 30 years. why start having standards now?