Cavemen

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Ad-inspired sitcom turns oppression into a joke.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that in this silly sitcom (which was inspired by a series of Geico insurance ads), cavemen are on the receiving end of prejudices similar to those experienced by African-Americans and other minority groups. Jokes about oppression and prejudice are constant, and, while treated with humor, could be interpreted as making too light of a serious real-life subject. Sexual humor is common (in one episode, a woman tries to seduce a caveman because of the stereotype that cavemen are "wild" in bed), as are social drinking and words like "hell" and "screw." Couples occasionally kiss, embrace, or dance seductively, but these moments are brief and usually comic.

  • The main characters are members of an oppressed group, and the connections the show makes between them and real minority groups, like African Americans, can be a jumping off point for discussion -- but it can also seem belittling to a serious subject.
  • Some slapstick/comic violence, like accidently hitting someone with a stick.
  • References to sex and relationships, such as the stereotype that cavemen are "wild" in bed. Some brief kissing and embracing between couples, as well as the lead-up to the possibility of sex.
  • Mild profanity like "hell" and "screw," as well as some sexual language, like "balls."
  • The show was inspired by a series of Geico insurance commercials.
  • Some social drinking and occasional drunkeness.

What's the story?

If you were a fan of the Geico insurance commercials about oppressed cavemen, you're in luck. Now the three hairy Cro-Magnons have their own sitcom -- called, fittingly enough, CAVEMAN. Lead character Joel (Bill English) is engaged to a beautiful modern woman who loves him for the caveman that he is, though her family hasn't yet accepted him. Nick (Nick Kroll) is the cynical best friend who sees judgment everywhere and lashes out frequently. And Joel's little brother, Andy (Sam Huntington), is an easygoing fellow, perhaps a little slow on the uptake, who's oblivious to others' opinions of him. The three guys consistently find themselves in situations where they have to deal with misunderstandings and stereotypes associated with cavemen.


Is it any good?

 

Most of the circumstances are outright gags -- don't expect much subtle humor here. What little depth the show has comes from its allusions to modern race relations. For example, when money goes missing at a party, all eyes immediately turn suspiciously toward the central trio -- the only cavemen in attendance -- pointing, albeit lightly, toward the embedded racism of mainstream society.

While the caveman gags quickly wear thin, the cavemen-as-minority formula is actually a good opportunity to discuss racial and other types of prejudice with teens. The Cro-Magnons serve as a safe proxy for oppressed groups because they're so unreal, but their experiences can shine a light on what certain groups really go through. Of course, the danger here is that sometimes the show's lightweight approach to the serious subject of race ends up feeling like belittlement rather than examination.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about the media's relationship to stereotypes, prejudice, and oppression. Does the media typically reinforce the beliefs that lead to these problems or question them? Can addressing serious topics with humor help shed light on their sobering realities? In the case of this show, does it take that approach, or does it belittle the experiences of real-life minority groups? Families can also discuss the show's origins. Does knowing it was inspired by a series of ads make you take it more or less seriously? Why?


This review was written by Sierra Filucci
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Terrible, terrible, terrible.
I had been looking forward to the cavemen series. I even had my recorder set up so I wouldn't miss the show. What a disappointment for my wife and I. We turned the show off after about 15 minutes because we just couldn't stomach any more of the trash. This is by far the worst show I've watched on TV in a very long time.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Cavemen?
ABC teaches our society to be more accepting of other races by using cavemen as the example of what's different? I'm sure hispanics and blacks and gays appreciate being rolled into the group that includes cavemen. In any event, the show was NOT about cavemen. It was about three roommates who had big hair and brows. It was My Two Dads without the kids. And, it was probably more about insurance than cavemen. Horrible.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Funny show, but I was disappointed...
I have been anxiously awaiting this show considering I love the Geico ads, and there's nothing good in prime time on Tuesday nights. I needed this show to work, and although it had its funny moments, I was expecting more. I'm trying to give it a shot, so unless it improves, I'll bag it. If I were you, I'd watch just to see if you like it or not, but if you don't enjoy it, then just keep flippin' the channels on your remote.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
 
..........
STAY THE HECK AWAY!!

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
TV rating:TV-PG
Network:ABC
Cast:Bill English, Nick Kroll, Sam Huntington
Genre:Comedy

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

 

vote now

Will you see Cavemen?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it