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The '''GEICO Cavemen''' are trademarked characters of the [[auto insurance]] company [[GEICO]], used in a series of television [[advertisement]]s that aired beginning in 2004. The campaign was created by [[Joe Lawson (writer)|Joe Lawson]] and Noel Ritter while working at [[The Martin Agency]]. According to an episode of the public radio show ''[[99% Invisible]]'', "It's so easy a caveman could do it" was first coined by Ritter.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Saunders|first1=George|last2=Ritter|first2=Noel|title=99% Invisible #57-What Gave You That Idea (Standard 4:30 version)|url=https://beta.prx.org/stories/84066|website=PRX|access-date=2017-04-25|archive-date=2017-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426060214/https://beta.prx.org/stories/84066|url-status=live}}</ref> The inspiration for the campaign came from [[Pastoralia (short story collection)|"Pastoralia"]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Saunders|first1=George|title=Pastoralia|date=May 2000|publisher=Riverhead Books|location=United States|isbn=1-57322-161-9|url=https://archive.org/details/pastoraliastorie00saun|url-access=registration}}</ref> a short story by [[George Saunders]], which revolves around a man and a woman, who work as "cave-people" for a failing theme park. In 2004, GEICO began an advertising campaign featuring [[Neanderthal]]-like [[Caveman|cavemen]] in a modern setting.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=geico+caveman&search=Search Geico Caveman Commercials] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124215017/https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=geico+caveman&search=Search |date=2016-11-24 }} at youtube.com</ref> The premise of the commercials is that using GEICO's website is "so easy, a caveman could do it"; and that this slogan offends several cavemen, who not only still exist in modern society but live as intelligent, urbane bachelors. The first three GEICO commercials to feature cavemen were "Apartment", "Apology", and "Boom Mic".
The '''GEICO Cavemen''' are trademarked characters of the [[auto insurance]] company [[GEICO]], used in a series of television [[advertisement]]s that aired beginning in 2004. The campaign was created by [[Joe Lawson (writer)|Joe Lawson]] and Noel Ritter while working at [[The Martin Agency]]. According to an episode of the public radio show ''[[99% Invisible]]'', "It's so easy a caveman could do it" was first coined by Ritter.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Saunders|first1=George|last2=Ritter|first2=Noel|title=99% Invisible #57-What Gave You That Idea (Standard 4:30 version)|url=https://beta.prx.org/stories/84066|website=PRX|access-date=2017-04-25|archive-date=2017-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426060214/https://beta.prx.org/stories/84066|url-status=live}}</ref> The inspiration for the campaign came from [[Pastoralia (short story collection)|"Pastoralia"]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Saunders|first1=George|title=Pastoralia|date=May 2000|publisher=Riverhead Books|location=United States|isbn=1-57322-161-9|url=https://archive.org/details/pastoraliastorie00saun|url-access=registration}}</ref> a short story by [[George Saunders]], which revolves around a man and a woman, who work as "cave-people" for a failing theme park. In 2004, GEICO began an advertising campaign featuring [[Neanderthal]]-like [[Caveman|cavemen]] in a modern setting.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=geico+caveman&search=Search Geico Caveman Commercials] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124215017/https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=geico+caveman&search=Search |date=2016-11-24 }} at youtube.com</ref> The premise of the commercials is that using GEICO's website is "so easy, a caveman could do it"; and that this slogan offends several cavemen, who not only still exist in modern society but live as intelligent, urbane bachelors. The first three GEICO commercials to feature cavemen were "Apartment", "Apology", and "Boom Mic".


[[Jeff Daniel Phillips]] and [[Ben Weber (actor)|Ben Weber]] played the two earliest cavemen. Actor [[John Lehr]] appears most frequently as the caveman, while [[Ben Wilson (actor)|Ben Wilson]] has also portrayed one of the characters.{{cn|date=October 2023}} The makeup effects for the cavemen include facial prosthetics, dental veneers, lace hairpieces, and body hair. They were designed and created by [[Tony Gardner (designer)|Tony Gardner]] and his special effects company [[Alterian, Inc.]] In an online interview with ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'', Joe Lawson said that one aspect of the ads is a critique of modern [[political correctness]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/the-side/qa/geico032007|title=The Evolution of the Postmodern Caveman|first=Erin|last=Schulte|date=March 22, 2007|website=Esquire|access-date=July 3, 2019|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013025923/http://www.esquire.com/the-side/qa/geico032007|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Jeff Daniel Phillips]] and [[Ben Weber (actor)|Ben Weber]] played the two earliest cavemen. Actor [[John Lehr]] appears most frequently as the caveman, while [[Ben Wilson (actor)|Ben Wilson]] has also portrayed one of the characters.{{cn|date=October 2023}} The makeup effects for the cavemen include facial prosthetics, dental veneers, lace hairpieces, and body hair. They were designed and created by [[Tony Gardner (designer)|Tony Gardner]] and his special effects company [[Alterian, Inc.]] In an online interview with ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'', Joe Lawson said that one aspect of the ads is a critique of modern [[political correctness]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/the-side/qa/geico032007|title=The Evolution of the Postmodern Caveman|first=Erin|last=Schulte|date=March 22, 2007|website=Esquire|access-date=July 3, 2019|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013025923/http://www.esquire.com/the-side/qa/geico032007|url-status=live}}</ref>


The cavemen have been honored by the [[Madison Avenue]] Advertising Walk of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/MART24_20091223-222005/313354/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100107112742/http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/MART24_20091223-222005/313354/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-01-07 |title=Martin Agency rolling out new ads for GEICO |last=Llovio |first=Louis |work=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]] |date=2009-12-24 |accessdate=2010-04-13 }}</ref> The ABC TV show ''[[Cavemen (TV series)|Cavemen]]'' is based on the commercials. In 2010, one of the cavemen was spotted filming a series of commercials in [[Homer, Alaska]] on the fishing boat ''FV Time Bandit'' from the television show ''[[The Deadliest Catch]]''. During the shoot, the Mayor of the city presented the caveman with a key to the city.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/uncategorized/article/geico-caveman-gets-key-city-homer/2010/03/15/ |title=Geico 'caveman' gets key to city in Homer |access-date=2021-04-29 |archive-date=2021-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429053652/https://www.adn.com/uncategorized/article/geico-caveman-gets-key-city-homer/2010/03/15/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The cavemen have been honored by the [[Madison Avenue]] Advertising Walk of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/MART24_20091223-222005/313354/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100107112742/http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/MART24_20091223-222005/313354/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-01-07 |title=Martin Agency rolling out new ads for GEICO |last=Llovio |first=Louis |work=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]] |date=2009-12-24 |accessdate=2010-04-13 }}</ref> The ABC TV show ''[[Cavemen (TV series)|Cavemen]]'' is based on the commercials. In 2010, one of the cavemen was spotted filming a series of commercials in [[Homer, Alaska]] on the fishing boat ''FV Time Bandit'' from the television show ''[[The Deadliest Catch]]''. During the shoot, the mayor of the city presented the caveman with a key to the city.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/uncategorized/article/geico-caveman-gets-key-city-homer/2010/03/15/ |title=Geico 'caveman' gets key to city in Homer |access-date=2021-04-29 |archive-date=2021-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429053652/https://www.adn.com/uncategorized/article/geico-caveman-gets-key-city-homer/2010/03/15/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Television sitcom spin-off==
==Television sitcom spin-off==

Revision as of 02:07, 21 January 2024

The GEICO Cavemen are trademarked characters of the auto insurance company GEICO, used in a series of television advertisements that aired beginning in 2004. The campaign was created by Joe Lawson and Noel Ritter while working at The Martin Agency. According to an episode of the public radio show 99% Invisible, "It's so easy a caveman could do it" was first coined by Ritter.[1] The inspiration for the campaign came from "Pastoralia",[2] a short story by George Saunders, which revolves around a man and a woman, who work as "cave-people" for a failing theme park. In 2004, GEICO began an advertising campaign featuring Neanderthal-like cavemen in a modern setting.[3] The premise of the commercials is that using GEICO's website is "so easy, a caveman could do it"; and that this slogan offends several cavemen, who not only still exist in modern society but live as intelligent, urbane bachelors. The first three GEICO commercials to feature cavemen were "Apartment", "Apology", and "Boom Mic".

Jeff Daniel Phillips and Ben Weber played the two earliest cavemen. Actor John Lehr appears most frequently as the caveman, while Ben Wilson has also portrayed one of the characters.[citation needed] The makeup effects for the cavemen include facial prosthetics, dental veneers, lace hairpieces, and body hair. They were designed and created by Tony Gardner and his special effects company Alterian, Inc. In an online interview with Esquire, Joe Lawson said that one aspect of the ads is a critique of modern political correctness.[4]

The cavemen have been honored by the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame.[5] The ABC TV show Cavemen is based on the commercials. In 2010, one of the cavemen was spotted filming a series of commercials in Homer, Alaska on the fishing boat FV Time Bandit from the television show The Deadliest Catch. During the shoot, the mayor of the city presented the caveman with a key to the city.[6]

Television sitcom spin-off

Main article: Cavemen (TV series)

On March 2, 2007, Variety reported that a sitcom based on the cavemen characters, simply titled Cavemen, was being developed for ABC.[7] The magazine reported, "'Cavemen' will revolve around three pre-historic men who must battle prejudice as they attempt to live as normal thirtysomethings in modern Atlanta." ABC announced this series for their fall schedule in May 2007. Originally it featured none of the cavemen from the commercials, but Jeff Daniel Phillips later agreed to join the cast. It premiered on October 2, 2007. In the face of sagging ratings, it was quietly cancelled, automatically being the shortest-lived ABC sitcom of the season. In February 2008, a new series of Caveman commercials featured two of the characters spoofing the premise of the show.

See also

References

  1. ^ Saunders, George; Ritter, Noel. "99% Invisible #57-What Gave You That Idea (Standard 4:30 version)". PRX. Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  2. ^ Saunders, George (May 2000). Pastoralia. United States: Riverhead Books. ISBN 1-57322-161-9.
  3. ^ Geico Caveman Commercials Archived 2016-11-24 at the Wayback Machine at youtube.com
  4. ^ Schulte, Erin (March 22, 2007). "The Evolution of the Postmodern Caveman". Esquire. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  5. ^ Llovio, Louis (2009-12-24). "Martin Agency rolling out new ads for GEICO". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  6. ^ "Geico 'caveman' gets key to city in Homer". Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  7. ^ GEICO Cavemen Will Be Focus of New ABC Sitcom Archived 2007-04-10 at the Wayback Machine, FOXNews.com, March 2, 2007
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