I should probably point out to begin with that ‘Cavemen’ has already undergone some changes since the pilot with recasts and the like. The show’s flaws, though, are already set in stone (stone…cavemen…see what I did there?), and won’t be fixed by any amount of recasting.

See, cavemen didn’t actually go extinct millions of years ago.  They have continued to operate alongside their human successors for millennia, and have become integrated into our culture…somewhat.  ‘Cavemen’ is supposed to be a metaphor for the racial oppression that minorities face.  Instead, it turns out to be an excuse to tell every ethnic joke you can think of but never be allowed to make on television, all behind a thin “we’re talking about cavemen, not real minorities” veil.

And I could maybe overlook that if the show was funny.  But it’s not.  I found myself smiling pleasantly a few times…you know, the “I know what you’re trying to do…I’m amused” smile, and I actually chuckled at exactly two points, but neither of those chuckles had to do with the lead characters or material, but rather the performances of the secondary characters.

It’s really just not worth your time.

C-

‘Cavemen’ debuts Tuesday, October 2 at 8/7c on ABC.