ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I want to clear up a few things.
Tell me about the whole discussion about the allegory to minorities, etc.
I dont think any of us set out to make it an issue-oriented show.
Credit: Caveman: Carol Kaelson; Bill English: Jesse Grant/WireImage.com
But thats kind of where it ends.LAWSON:Were not trying to make a serious, issues-oriented show.
I mean, it wasnt a discussion going into it.
I think, after the fact, we sort of looked at it and said, You know what?
These are moments where were hitting it a little hard.
And I think its just been a learning process for us.
When we say different, we dont mean, Whoa!
That was a mistake.
And then the pilot will be one direction that they go.
How does that play out?LAWSON:Itll be interpersonal dynamics within the group.
So Nick is a guy whos been working on his PhD for five years and is getting nowhere.
And essentially, he is unemployed.
So thats an interpersonal kind of story that delves more into the dynamics of the group.
Living together in the same space.
One of them in Joel, whos played by Bill [English].
The other is his brother, his younger brother, Andy, played by Sam Huntington.
And the last one is Nick Kroll, who is kind of their long-time friend.
EW: Bills character is the guy whos the nice guy, the good guy.
You know, hes very defensive.
Joel believes it doesnt matter who you are, the harder you work, the more successful youll be.
He believes in the American dream.
Like, hes slightly naive in that way.
He thinks people will judge me as Joel, not just because Im a caveman.
EW: And he seems happy to assimilate.LAWSON:I think he would like to assimilate.
Physically, and everything that comes into it all the makeup.
It actually makes it easier for us.
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As far as my specific character, yeah, hes hopeful.
And hes looking to put his best foot forward.
Joel tries to do whats best for cavemen.
Nick does whats good for Nick.
EW: Nick seems like the eyesore of the group.
He hates everybody.GORDON:I think well see different sides of him.
I think like any character, it evolves over time.
Not to always be a smart-ass.
So, hopefully, thats a dimension that will start to show itself.
EW: Pilots are funny because people want to draw everything out of this one episode.
So hes definitely looking to his older brother, Joel, as the pioneer.
First on the beach.
EW: These are themes that I feel are universal.LAWSON:Theyre fairly universal.
Mundane places like the grocery store, wherever, the beach, whatever normal place.
You dont have to punch it with some kind of a bonus.
You just look at somebody and they kind of stop in their tracks.
Its like, youre very unfamiliar, and that in itself brought us closer together.
Totally changed the situation.
EW: What about the fact that ABC is loaded with pretty people?
Well just round it out with ugly people.
