You may have heard that as part of the fall line up of new shows, ABC is producing a show based on those Cavemen from those Geico commercials.  I feel like that there should be a commentary for advertising as art selling advertising should pop up somewhere, but it doesn’t seem appropriate for this blog.  But perhaps its “clever” foray into wilds of new media *is*.

For example, did you know that the Cavemen guys have set up a fake twitter profile, and are sending out fake twits?

Unbelievable.

We should make a distinction that fake blogs, i.e. flogs, are usually the form of some kind of attempt at deception, that is, on the surface the blog might appear authored by someone or be about something, but in reality is authored by someone else (see the Edelman Flog scandal of 06).  On the other hand “character blogs” are usually not at all deceptive, but are clearly authored by some corporate marketing wag who is supposed to be a corporate character, or embodiment thereof.  If Ronald McDonald were to author a blog lamenting the loss of the “super-size” option?  That would be a character blog (and a fine satire, actually).  You could make an arguement that Fake Steve Jobs is both, actually.

So, right now thecaveman twitter profile *is* a fake profile / twitter, I wonder if it would be more appropros to use the term “character twitter”? Nah, doesn’t roll of the tongue as nicely. ;)

At any rate, listen, I “get” how continuous partial attention is a new thing and its something we’re all trying out.  And yes, I “get” that people in my “demo” don’t mind be advertised to as long as its new and entertaining.

But jeez man.  Paying some corporate wag write fake twits in the persona of *caveman* as marketing pop for an upcoming comedy?  And then interacting with fellow Twitterers?  With witty twitters like “Just watched the Bourne Ultimatum. He brings out the primal caveman in me. I wanted to hit a woolly mammoth with some jujitsu!“  — it seems so cutting edge, my brain is bleeding.

I honestly don’t know how the Twittering community will take to thecaveman, but early adopters being earl adopters, my money’s on plenty of derision, scorn and ridicule.