Parents' Guide to

Cavemen

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Ad-inspired sitcom turns oppression into a joke.

TV ABC Comedy 2007
Cavemen Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

giants9
giants9 Adult
February 20, 2014
age 14+

Cavemen.... terrible

I had a school assignment to watch a Tv show that was a flop and evaluate why it may have not been so successful. After reading a lot of reviews and news about this title I came to the conclusion that this show was just flat out terrible. It was based on the geico commercials which in there own right are funny. But you cant base a show off of the success of a commercial. Other problems that arise is that they were accused of being racist saying the cavemen were suggested to be minorities. I wouldn't suggest this show for anyone.
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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?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

TV Details

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