I always get a queasy feeling when any of the television networks declare that they have a show that is ‘thought provoking.’ That dull discomfort crests into full blown nausea when the thoughts they purport to provoke revolve around race in America. I have just watched a clip from ABC’s Fall series ‘Cavemen,’ and discussed the pilot with a trusted friend who’s watched the entire thing. It is apparent that ABC thinks intent is an ample substitute for insight.

Watch clip from ABC series ‘Cavemen’

Caveman 1 “I always wondered what Reba McEntire would look like as a cromagger.”

Caveman 2 “Please don’t use that word.”

Caveman 1 “It’s okay if we use it.”

Caveman 2 “It’s not okay. You can’t change a negative stereotype if you’re out there reinforcing it.”

Caveman 1 “Magnum PI, Magpie, Sir Mag A lot, Magaroni and cheese…”  Excerpt from ‘Cavemen’

I think it is dangerously easy to trivialize serious issues when you use non-human characters. Like most of you, I’ve seen the GEICO commercials. I’ve always thought their original and silly riff on the minority experience in America was a catchy way to sell car insurance. We can all empathize with the misunderstood and exploited Caveman. Caveman’s hair, features and exasperation; so hilarious. Caveman makes it easy to embrace the frustrations of his quasi-make believe character. In the GEICO joke, Caveman and his people have failed to evolve. They are by definition not quite human. But, ABC tells us the cavemen’s plight as minorities is like that of other minorities. ABC, which minorities would those be exactly?

Watch GEICO caveman commercial

My trepidation is informed by a flashback. Do you remember Steven Bochco’s animated series ‘Capitol Critters?’ It was a cartoon about the vermin who lived in the White House, and it too was meant to teach us something about race in America. Moze, voiced by a black actor, was to represent African Americans. In the original drawing, Moze was illustrated as a gold tooth flaunting, rope chain and sneaker wearing, ‘hood talking COCKROACH. Yes. The black character was the cockroach and I saw the original illustration with my own eyes. Althought the final rendering was toned down somewhat, Moze remained a cockroach. Do you know what the defense of this rendering was? “But, Moze is the wise one.”

I believe the final episode of the 6 or 7 that aired, featured a storyline that had some of the more elite vermin allowing Moze and his cockroach kin to come and live in the formerly segregated, more desirable crevices of the White House. Soon, these more desirable digs are overrun with cockroaches and that presents a dilemma for the hosts. This episode was titled ‘An Embarrasment of Roaches.’ I could not make this up. Steven Bochco has created sensitive, illustrative portraits of human characters; black, white, Asian and Latino. ‘Hill Street Blues’ was breakthrough television. But he lost his way stepping into animation and trying to preach through cartoon.

Also, ‘Cavemen,’ scheduled at 8pm, is sure to attract children. Joe Camel comes to mind. I wonder if ABC has consulting psychologists working side by side with its marketing and promotion teams?

When the network works with writers and network executives suggest ways of improving a show or script, these suggestions are called notes. Keeping in mind that there is always the possibility that the pilot may be rewritten and re-shot, here are my notes for ABC with regard to ‘Cavemen’: The writing and production staff should be fully diverse and have the latitude to express their points of view. ‘Cavemen’ should be more about the majority culture than a single minority culture. ‘Cavemen’ cannot become shorthand for an amalgamation of tired stereotypes of black people. Oh, and last but not least, ‘Cavemen’ should be funny.

Read Defamer’s review of ‘Cavemen’ – “Astoundingly Awful”

Read about Neanderthals and early humans – BBC Science and Nature