Cavorting Cavemen and Comedic Carpoolers Make New Television Series

Two new comedies premiere October 2nd on ABC. "Cavemen" takes the Tuesday, 8-8:30pm time slot, and "Carpoolers" is 8:30 to 9pm. They will compete for ratings against two dramas (NCIS and Bones), a reality show (The Biggest Loser), and Ashton Kutchers social experiment (Beauty and the Geek).

"Cavemen" was born from the characters created by the Martin Agency for the Geico Insurance commercials. The concept was developed in to a series by Josh Gordon and Will Speck (Blades of Glory) and Joe Lawson. In Entertainment Weekly, Gordon is quoted, "It started in a really true place --- it wasn't how to make a TV show that could sell auto insurance."

Cro-magnons did not go extinct. They have been living and prospering in hidden communities far removed from their Homo Sapien cousins. Four cavemen come to the suburban south to begin new lives and dispel the notion that Cro-Magnon is less than human.

Nick Kroll is Nick, a cavemen who sees racism and bigotry all around. He is constantly wary of being a member of what he terms the oldest minority in the world.

Bill English, who starred in the indie film "The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell", plays Joel. He has a beautiful, high society Southern belle girlfriend, Katie (Kaitlin Doubleday) and just wants to fit in the modern world. Actor Sam Huntington (Superman Returns) is his little brother, Andy. Kate's best friend, Thorne (Stephanie Lemelin) just wants to party.

"Cavemen" delivers a serious message about racism that could overshadow the comedy. The idea that the series won't help sell car insurance seems na•ve. Transformers started as a toy before they got a television series. It didn't hurt their sales.

The second half-hour is "Carpoolers", a comedy about four men, their lives, and daily carpool journeys. They all live in the suburbs and face the everyday trials. Carpooling gives them the opportunity to grouse, complain, brag, commiserate and laugh about their lives.

Leading the cast is Jerry O'Connell (Crossing Jordan, Sliders) as Laird, a womanizing dentist. Newly divorced and back in the game he isn't shy about his latest conquests. In the pilot he meets the new guy, Dougie (Tim Peper) and says, "Ever meet a woman so hot you could have sex with her phone number?" "Carpoolers" is O'Connell's first comedic role and he doesn't hold back.

Fred Goss is Gracen, a traditional husband to Leila (Faith Ford). He causes more problems in his job as a mediator and spouse than he ever solves. Comedy veteran, Jerry Minor (Arrested Development, Saturday Night Live) plays Aubrey, whose mission is life is supporting his lazy wife.

Writer/Executive Producer Bruce McCulloch (Kids in the Hall) and Emmy Award Winning Executive Producers/Directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Arrested Development) present a laugh filled thirty minutes of guy jokes, guy situations, and life as they perceive it. "Carpoolers" is at times juvenile and in bad taste, but so are men.

Go to abc.go.com to see some hilarious clips from the pilot.

Here is an ironic twist to this combination of Tuesday night comedies. "Cavemen" features Cro-magnons and in the mid-Nineties, Jerry O'Connell did battle with Kro-mags in the science fiction series, "Sliders". Makes one think doesn't it?