GEICO's had a long run of successful campaigns -- I confess a liking for the lizard-spokesman ads, myself. Have you noticed that the fellow who plays the marketing VP and lizard-sidekick in those ads is also all over in other ads that need a nebbish?

Good job tracking down all the "filmography" for the cavemen...

"Oh Great, a Talking Gecko" - Gidget, the unemployed Taco Bell Dog

My lady and I enjoy Geico's pseudo-reality TV ad that goes "But the house was built too small!"

Mark, that's the famous "Tiny" ad, which you can air at Martin Agency site (click above)

And thanks DrPat

My lady and I enjoy Geico's pseudo-reality TV ad that goes "But the house was built too small!"

The sad thing is, I was going to watch that show given the ad.

I am deeply offended by these caveman ads, as they mock and belittle the struggles of real disadvantaged minorities who still struggle against callousness and discrimination every day at the hands of the oppressive racist Republican theocracy...

This is now staked as MY moral high ground. I am the alpha male of this territory!!!

just don't pee on the pixels

Geico may put out entertaining ads, but they SUCK big time as an insurer: go with them, and count on being screwed.

makes sense: they spend all their money on ads

No, seriously: why do you think they advertise themselves as being the insurer of "good drivers"? It's because as soon as anybody files a claim, they cut them off, even when it's only $5 over the arbitrary "damages limit" they set ($500, BTW - pretty small).

Hmmm. I've used them off and on for a good part of the past 8-9 years, never had a problem....

Does anyone know if Kanye West had worked something out with Geico to mention them in his son Gold Digger? He also mentions them in another song which doesn't come to mind. I tried googling to find out but couldn't.

To answer the above questions No Geico has not worked anything out with Kanye West for a name frop for goodness sakes. Did you guys ever think that just maybe when he was in that bad car wreck Geico was his insurance company and treated him fairly. I swear why do people always have to think in such a negative light. Also as for the comment "why do you think they advertise themselves as being the insurer of "good drivers" ...can you name me one commercial where they specifically say we only insure good drivers? Also as to the comment about they will drop you after one claim also a bunch of bogus bull. The only time that you will be dropped is if you had numerous claim within a small time frame or if it was something serious such as driving under the influence and than you would of had to kill someone. Come on people I know its easy to hate the big bad insurance people, but seriously enough is enough. I know it seems pointless to have insurance and yada yada but your not complaining when you do have that at fault accident and now do not have to shell out 25,000 for someones medical expenses and another few thousand not only for the other persons veh, but if you carry the right coverage your own. Stop being so negative people.

do you work for an insurance company, April?

You're right in assuming Geico has a large ad budget. It comes out of Warren Buffet's pocket. He foots the bill for all their advertising. Geico is owned by Berkshire Hathaway. I used to be an agent (called "insurance counselors" by Geico). Geico is actually a 3 tiered company. They have Geico or Geico General for preferred risk drivers (this is usually the only company placement where you get a decent rate). Geico Indemnity is for standard risk, and Geico Casualty is where you pay through the nose. Here are some of the reasons for the high rates:
1)Most insurance companies make their money on investments, so they usually lose money on the premiums they charge. That's fine as long as you have a good economy, but when it starts to go south, so does the company balance sheet. Ask State Farm if you don't believe me. Geico stays in the black by setting their premiums based on their risk. If you've called in for a quote, you know they ask your life history and then some to get the "right rate for the right risk".
2)Geico has stricter underwriting guidelines than most companies. They go back 5 years on driving history instead of the traditional 3 years for most other companies. They go back 10 years for DUI's and suspensions. Company placements and rates are figured by computer, and I don't know anyone in the company that can fully explain why some of the rates come out so high. If the computer goes down, the counselor is not even supposed to tell you that's what happened or they will get in trouble. They just tell you someone will call you back with a rate. One of the principles I had trouble grasping was when they tell you they "underwrite" for certain accidents and "surcharge" for others. I just knew a surcharge cost more. If you have a number of accidents, for example, and 2 or 3 weren't even your fault, they would still "underwrite" for the ones you didn't cause, which means more money out of your pocket. I didn't agree with that, because the way I saw it, another insurance company already hiked up somebody's rate because of those accidents, and now Geico is getting paid as well. I felt drivers were being charged twice for the same accident, and that's one of the reasons I left.
3)More and more insurance companies now charge extra for bad credit. I can sort of see that from a business perspective, but not from the excuse Geico uses; that if you are in bad debt up to your eyeballs, you are distracted in your driving because of the added financial pressure.
4)Certain states pay more because of rampant insurance fraud. Some states pay more because state insurance commissioners mandate that insurance companies charge a fee to recover unpaid traffic fines.

Yes I do how could you tell? :)

GEICO, just like every other insurance preys off the bad luck of others, specifically, Us. I have been a customer for over 20 years and still have nothing good to say about them. It sickens me that they spend my hard earned money on these braindead advertisements. All I can say is They just spent a ton of my money on car insurance ad's, and I don't think thats funny.

April, it was pretty obvious, but that's okay.

Fascinating info Insider, thanks.

And insurance sucks in general, Mark - it's legal extortion, especialy for car insurance

"Comment by Al Barger on September 28, 2005 01:57 AM: I am deeply offended by these caveman ads, as they mock and belittle the struggles of real disadvantaged minorities who still struggle against callousness and discrimination every day at the hands of the oppressive racist Republican theocracy..."

Amen! Right-on Al! You are one of they few people who have looked through all of Buffet's subterfuge and seen his true insensitive anti-PC feelings towards minorities today. The caveman ad is just one of many by him. The ad people at Geico are mainly minorities much the same way malt liquor companies hire minorities to focus on their demographics. In this case its probably just CYA in case people like Al file a class action suit. Hasn't any one even seen the hidden meaning behind the tradeword "gecko" yet? Jeez! I guess you'd have to be wearing a black man's moccasins to see, huh? "Gecko" is the sub-standard English verbal corruption of the word "Geico". Much the same way a African-American tongue-tied pugilist (i.e. boxer) would mispronounce it! Wake up America. The "theocracy" Al Barger speaks of is quite real... not just over-sensitive black people complaining!

Why would Buffet do this? When you have $$$ today you can do whatever the heck you want. Look at Tycho, Enron, Arthur Anderson (aka Accenture), etc. Why not a little "racist humor" mixed in with your capitalism to secretly amuse your fat-cat white racist buddies like Mr. Bush?

"WARREN BUFFET HATES BLACK PEOPLE!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffet
Rev. Al Sharpton

thanks Rev Al, I seriously considered voting for you after seeing you on SNL

You people are just plain silly. Warren Buffett does not hate black people. Quit running off at the mouths (or keyboards) in this matter. And quit taking things so personal. I happen to have met Warren Buffett and he is an awesome guy. As for the remark regarding GEICO taking your "hard earned bucks" and using them for there commercials. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. Your money, not one cent, is spent on those commercials. SO chew on that for awhile. Geico does not racial profile. I mean what the hell they were cavemen not "black" men or "hispanic" men. Cavemen, no matter how much you feel "sorry" for them no longer exist get over it. And as for the term "even a caveman could it" was only meant to intend that when cavemen did exist there was no technology and they wouldnt know what it is they were using. But that it was just so simple to get a quote online "that even a caveman could do it", without any knowlege of technology. I think some people need to get a life and quit trying to find the negative in things.

You guys have to be kidding. The Geico commercials are hilarious, end of story! Cavemen have nothing to do with minorities, what's the matter with everyone???? I'm black and race is the absolute last thing I'm looking for in Geico's caveman commercials! Hasn't any ever seen the "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer" bits on SNL? If a caveman can get a quote anyone can! Don't you all get it? Stop starting trouble and go have a drink or something. Please don't blow the humor in these commercials by pulling the race card. GET OVER IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

totally agree Derrick, thanks: sometimes a train going into a tunnel is just a train going into a tunnel (or insert your own potential metaphor)

Forgive me... But as April so kindly pointed out,

"As for the remark regarding GEICO taking your "hard earned bucks" and using them for there commercials. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. Your money, not one cent, is spent on those commercials. SO chew on that for awhile.

I chewed, and now I wonder where the monies that Should be going towards the ad budget are actually going?? Anyway, just another big business looking out for the little guy...

The commercials were funny the first few times... but enough already.. every 30 minutes??? If Mr Buffett needs something to spend money on, I have a 92 Explorer that needs tires...

Mark, good point about the ubiquity factor: not sure at what point repetition crosses over the line into annoyance. Also, at a certain point the observer says, "Damn, they must spend a lot on advertising, hmm," which is actually what generated this post

Is it just me, or does one of the Geico cavemen look like Val Kilmer. Sorry Val, but if you were a caveman, you could be a twin for one of these guys.

Maybe it really was Val. Caveman makeup is a great disguise when you don't want the whole world to know you needed to pick up a little extra spending cash.

Does anyone have a reciepe for the Roasted Duck with the Mango Salsa.

The Roast Duck with Mango salsa is such an oldy but goody receipe. It is so old, it was even popular with the Prehistoric North American Man who ate the meal to help him survive the last ice age. It has long been forgotten. Simply roast the duck, add the mango salsa on top and chow down! For details see the old hunter/gather's handbook / the early days.

I heard it was popular amonst the ancient chinese. Along with many other goods being traded into the great empire, Mangos were popular with the salsa workers. Legend has it, it took years before they could produce such a sauce that could complement the beloved duck. It wasnt until the barbaric Yugslovians (cavemen) introduced the ultimate mango salsa. See ancient Chinese cookbook.

The Revered-end Al Sharton has got it right, finally someone with some insight to end this "roast duck with a mango salsa eating caveman". The portrail of the minority as a caveman eating such a lavish entree, while the other simply "doesn't have an appetite" is all too common is this bigotry filled corporate America! How could you eat when you've been compared to a caveman, not even human yet pre-human.....like an APE! And the other is so desperate he doesn't mind a meal on "the man".

Now, enough of the politics and a little history. The roast duck with a mango salsa originated with the mongols. Ghengis Khan, during his conquering years, revered the chinese methods of duck preparation, particularly the roasted duck. Only two problems; one the roasting method naturally produces a dry meat (many a cook are said to have been beheaded due to such a mishap); two, although brutal, Khan was known in inner circles to have a crippling addiction to sweets. He would literally kill for candy. As Khan continued his conquests west into Europe, he encountered a unique commplement to his duck: a salsa made with a fruit from the lower Balkans (formerly Yugoslavia). This fruit, extremely sweet, was said to be an aphrodisiac and would make "Man go" crazy. Hence, the derived name "Mango". The locals so charished this fruit that men would run to the mountains and hide their stash in caves. These "cavemen", as they were known, were a not particularly appealing, and hence, shunned from society altogether. A minority populuation resulted, as did further descrimination against these "cavemen", as you are still seeing today. And what of Khan? His roast duck with a mango salsa induced sex-craved pychosis drove him to further exploits (of land and women) until he eventually contracted a VD (thought to be syphillis) and died a blind, blood-thirsty but horny bastard. Goes to show that the way to a man's heart is not through his fly, but truely through his stomach. See recipe for details.

He who duck roast shall duck hop.

I find Geico to be politically incorrect, useing a lame Austrailian accent. There are no agencies in Austrailia,we are not Austrailian,and the lizard is difficult to understand. Maybe he could get a job at the outback with the rest of the lame accents. or are you the one that writes their add.

Get someone who could write a commercial.

no rules, just right

I think the Caveman commercials are funny. And I happen to be a minority. As someone else said, don't take things so seriously...that won't help in the long run.....
think about that one for a while, I'll wait here/

I think that other guy is Val Kilmer as well. Thought it the first time I saw(r) that commercial.

He's got really bad hair in person. Remember those Radio Shack ads he used to do? Me and the wife would LOAO's at that.

I bet Geico is run by a bunch of racist white men with big fat ugly flabby white pimply butts who love little weird talking lizards.

I can see how one might jump to conclusions about how there may be a hint of racism in there but did you ever stop and think about how the cavemen look caucasian? and the Geico Rep could actually be taking one of his own prehistoric ancestors out to dinner?
Food for thought.

The commercial is racist and thats the end of it. If you all do your research, black South Africans were called "Kav Maun" by the white South Africans which translates as Ignorant One. Hence using "Cave Men", which is similarly pronounced, for the commercial. The so called "Kav Maun"s were underpaid for their work and fed wild ducks between endless hours of labor. The mango salsa refers to how their employers did not properly cook the ducks and some of the workers became ill from the disease Bacternalitus, which produces mango colored lesions on the skin. So chew on that!

You gave the names of the two guys who portray cavemen. Which of them plays the Geico marketing guy or is there a 3rd actor?

Dadadoom you r truly conspiricy brother get a life its a damn funny ad and thats it ...some how I see you sitting in a room listing to H rap Brown speeches while playing fight the power all the while being pissed that your too youg to have been a part of the 60,s freedom movement or the Black Panther Party.....Oh By THE WAY I'm african american but used to be negro but the was after I was colored......And I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa

I have had more fun reading these comments than watching the GEICO ads. Ads are funny for one reason, to generate revenue! They create interest, get people talking, and bring in customers, which increases their revenue.

With regards to GEICO as an insurer - I used them for many years in the 80s and 90s, but then got burned and switched to USAA. I'm sure they do a good job, I just don't care for them as an insurance provider any more.

Enjoy the ads, they are funny (well, maybe the first three or four times :-). I still chuckle at the majority of the ads--just not the Tony Little or Estaban ads...those were lame.

that caveman does look exactly like val kilmer

Hey peewee (#33) the accent is English not Australian and fyi.. only one i in Australia.

Call it Australian is calling the Amercian accent Mexican.

in regards to the rev al.... i hope you read this post, and are aware that Warren Buffet just gave away 85% of his fortune(30.7Billion out of his 44Billion fortune.... and guess what, a lot of it will go towards aiding African people too.... you're the typical "minority"(I am one too) that always blames others for their miss fortune, stop spending the time blaming someone else and use it to better your self. Rev Jackson comes to mind.

GEICO COMMERCIALS MAKE ME WANT TO STOOP AND PUKE!
IF THE COMMERCIALS ARE REPRSENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY, THEN GEICO INSURANCE SUCKS, TOO.

GET REAL! A STUPID LIZARD!

gosh Ken, I think the cavemen are pretty darn clever

I like the lizard with the "cheesy" eye-lick gesture, myself...

What about us geckos, Eric? What are we, chopped liver?? Sheesh, this country is SO racist!

Can anyone tell me about the tune in the background of the caveman going through the airport. Its very catchy. What is the title and who is the artist, and is there a CD available?

Its called "Remind Me" by Royksopp. They have different versions, the one used on the Geico commercial was the radio edit version.

If anyone cares - there's a movie-like trailer - I don't know if its the NEXT commercial or whether these Cavemen are making a movie...

The geico caveman ads are synonomous with racial discrimination???

Next thing you know, they'll be saying that portraying a gekko in the spotlight is cruelty to animals.

Wake up everyone! These ads are also poking fun at fags!

Wake up everyone! These ads are also poking fun at fags!

I guess that explains why the fags aren't complaining.

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.

woa...and all along i thought the ads were making fun of extremely hairy people.

I think that the geico cavemen ads are hilarious and as a minority, I can honestly say that I see how the ad pokes fun at overly sensitive minorities, and culturally insensitive people. Those minorities could be gay men, blacks, hispanics whatever. However, I don't think that people should be offended. It actually brings to light how people should watch what they say and they won't have to apologize. Also, once an apology is given, there is a point at which one should move (roast duck guy). It also points out that there are some of us who are always going to be very sensitive and not get over things. If you are going to look for an ulterior meaning, look at the whole picture. I am looking forward to the next ads.

mizzday, I agree. But to comment on the being overly sensitive, some people can be so insenitive like the news ad when the the caveman tries to dispel the stereotype appearing to be frustrated and the silly White newcaster lady makes little of it and says "ooh somebody woke up on the wrong side..." or something to that effect, I cracked up. Those commericials are funny. I get a kick out of them. They let people see how insensitive they can be without realizing it. I am, what they are calling us now "African American" and it always amazes me what stupid things can come out of someone mouth that is suppose to be so evolved. It just let you see how how stupid we as a species can be. I mean ALL of us! Those commercial are hilarious. Make more. And, I don't know, is it me,the caveman is hot! And BTW anything having do with cars is shady...Geico maybe good or not...I don't care...I don't drive.But, if I ever do umm I might check out geico those are some brillant commericials.

Hi Eric. My name is John Lehr and I play one of the cavemen. Just wanted to let you and your readers know that if they like the cavemen spots they may get a kick out my new show on 10 Items or Less' which premieres 11/27 at 11PM. Check out these links for more info.

Forgot to add that I play the caveman in the third spot--the one where the sound man says 'Not Cool!' I am also in 2 new spots about to air.--john

It's a commercial, period, point, blank. To start reading racial nuances and all this other crap into it is insulting, and downright retarded. It's a COMMERCIAL. Get over it! All the crying about racism, and minorities...Jesus, get a life and find something to do other than posting in a comment section about a commercial and calling it racist. "Minorities" and other ethnicities can find and twist ANYTHING to be racist....why the hell does milk have to be white?!$! This country is retarded because there are too many whiney liberals crying for political correctness. In this liberal society, you can't say what you want or even make a stupid commercial without having everyone up in arms crying because they were wronged. Get some thick skin, people.

I'm native North American and I l-o-v-e the caveman! I can totally empathize with his character. What's so brilliant about the piece is that so many others can feel him, too. Yeah, he's just a commercial, but it's the cultural subtext that's interesting. The ad parodies all sides.

Face it, the commercial provides a safe outlet for you racist, bigoted freaks to laugh at people complaining about prejudice. Most of you would not dare laugh in public at a black person's objection to the "N word," but you can safely laugh at the caveman's silly "PC" objections. There's nothing funny about people's struggles against ignorance and bigotry. Laughing at those struggles legitimizes oppression. You ought to be ashamed.

Omg, when i first saw the ad for "the house was built too small" I thought, ok, im going to watch that. LOL, im an idiot. I love these Geico ads, smart and funny. The cavemen kill me too, i cannot ever remember looking forward to seeing new commercials. A few co workers and i love them and howl at them.

And some of you people taking the bait Sharpton is waggling out there? , hes just trying to get a rise out of you. Dont be so stupid, have a sense of humor, thats how this string got started for crying out loud..sheeesh.

Quote November 25, 2005 @ 17:38PM -- Robert"Is it just me, or does one of the Geico cavemen look like Val Kilmer. Sorry Val, but if you were a caveman, you could be a twin for one of these guys."

I couldn't agree with you more, I too also thought it Val Kilmer, and I also believe in the latest commercial with the walking belt at the airport has the same look & jestures of Michael Keton.. anyone with me on that one..??

Hate to burst your bubble Scott. The fact of the matter is it's Rosey O' Donald.

The most recent commercial is the one with the caveman at the airport. There is a great tune playing in the background: Röyksopp - Remdind Me (Radio Edit).

The caveman ads operate on several levels. On one level, they make fun of people who are too stupid to know when they're being offensive to others. On another level, they try to make fun of political correctness. I, personally, am offended by the anti-PC aspect of the ads. It suggests that people objecting to being treated badly by the majority are just being silly. Were the Holocaust, Apartheid, slavery, or lynchings silly? Yet, the root cause of all those things was the majority's insensitivity to the pain they were causing other human beings based on nothing more than superficial differences. We should not lose our sensitivity to the pain we cause others. History shows that bad things happen when we do.

Aww man this is horrible. White people are being horribly bashed in this commercial. They are made to look ignorant and hateful I for one wont stand for this stupidity. i am forming a march on warren buffets home. vvvvv---

All sides can make this racist or non pc. So we have a choice we can be a parasite like the revron Al sharpton and the conspiracy/hate baiters or, We can rise above the bullshirt and enjoy some art. when it comes down to it thats all it really is. I wonder if the works of davinci were ever deemed racist by anyparasites??

I was so happy to see the cave man because I thought that stupid lizard thing was gone forever, but NO-O-O! They brought that cocky little S-O-B back onto my tv with his prissy fake Australlian accent. I think the caveman should cook that little cold-blooded bastard over an open pit. In short, the caveman I like, the lizard should die.

Hey John! congratulations on the Caveman role. I know you do other things of higher status than commercials, but that character is just so likeable!
As I know advertising, often the creative process begins by ruling out the obvious lame ideas. Someone probably said (as in purging an obviously stupid option) "so easy a caveman could do it". And then someone else said jokingly that it would offend cavemen... and you can imagine the rest.

The cavemen are portrayed as sophisticated yuppies with only their appearance betraying their neanderthal origins. They don't seem to have a history of oppresion and their only beef is the ignorance of their existence. After all, scientists in the real world tell us that neanderthals became extinct during the pleistocene.
For more laughs go to www.cavemancrib.com. Visit the cavemen's appartment and look around. Discover the roast duck recipe and sneak a peek at the caveman's blog. These characters are going to become huge in the entertainment world. Soon there will be a movie, a TV show, you name it.

Worry about something else; maybe you should worry about REAL racism, discrimination, prejudice, etc.

I am glad that I'm not the only one that thought of Val Kilmer when the second Caveman gave the Kilmer stare.My room mate thought so too.The guys a great actor whom ever he is

Arguing on the Internet is like competing in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded.

Reeeeeevered Al can type. Dam this is one for Ripleys. Hate the frecking caveman and lizard. I have them little lizards all around my house. If I drink enough I take my propane torch and fry the little pricks. Dont have the cavefuckers however Id cook those pricks also. The lizards taste great. It takes about 20 to make a meal if you have french fries with them.

I want to know which one is which. I think one of them is also the Sasquatch in the Jack's Link Sausage "messin with Sasquatch " commercials. At least in one. The shambling and the strange head movements just seem to be the same.

I think you must blame/honor the Martin Agency, they are the ones who come up with this stuff. I don't see a race issue here. Read This

JOHN LEHR,
Just curious...are you the guy who kind of jerks his head to one side? It's an interesting tic to present as an actor, and he's got other subtler moves. ALL of you are great. Before posting this, I looked at every ad on youtube.
Merbs.

Anybody knows if anybody is working on a movie about these cavemen. If not, i think it would be a hit!