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Television networks nowadays are constantly exploring new avenues to find their next hit. In the flood of the reality-television programs, the sitcome unfortunately is largely ignored and with the exception of Two and Half Men, I can’t think of a single sitcom on all network channels that is a serious contender for the ratings. All-time hits like Friends, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Will & Grace, and of course Seinfeld have no comparative contemporary shows. But ABC and “Grounded for Life” creators Bill Martin and Mike Schiff are spinning off the Geico Caveman commercials into a sitcom. Based on the characters from the Geico commercials, “Cavemen” revolves around three cavemen who strive to live normal lives in modern-day Atlanta.
Honestly, I love the Geico commercials and although I no longer use their product, they have created a classic mold from which subsequent equally-hilarious commericals can be made much like the Mastercard’s classic “For everything else, there is Mastercard”. The fact that cavemen exist amongst us and are a significant minority makes for plenty of sitcom moments. My favorite commercial is the one that has three cavemen at a party where two of them are talking about the decision of one of them to switch to Geico whereas the third one is completely oblivious and involved in his yo-yo love life. The use of the minority angle and discrimination in their depiction in Geico commercials is keeping in times with the latest immigration issues. Or for that matter, even traditional discrimination against homosexuals.
Given the fickle nature of today’s audiences, I don’t know if the sitcom will be successful or even take off beyond the pilot episode but the fact that the producers were involved with one of my all-time favorites, Third Rock from the Sun gives me plenty of hope. That sitcom operated on a similar premise where aliens are living amidst ordinary people and learning about life on Earth. Fans of the show will remember when Sally started crying and said, hey why am I leaking? The Caveman sitcom should have plenty such moments and probably a basic understanding of prehistoric times may be needed for some moments. But then, if you get the Flintstones, you’ll get this too and that doesn’t make me feel good. Too much smart will probably kill the show but will at least make it watchable.
[image source: Doopokko's Flickr stream].
by Patrix | on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 at 12:48 pm | 
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