Kansas City native tries out new kind of comedy show

By: Caitlin Doran

Posted: 1/14/08

John Lehr is nothing I expected him to be. A medium-sized man in his '40s, Lehr looks more like a friendly neighbor than a big-shot TV executive. Although he is not yet a household name, Lehr is better known as the original Geico caveman in a series of commercials that began to air in late 2005.

Originally from Kansas City, Lehr went to high school across the state line at Shawnee Mission West. He began to act at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill. Soon after graduating from Northwestern, Lehr began to work at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and entered the Chicago Improvisational Festival.

Lehr wrote the pilot script for "Electronic Highway" for Brandon Tartikoff and Viacom. He also wrote the series "News Weasels" for E! Entertainment. After gaining experience in the writing field, Lehr co-wrote and starred in the feature film "Humanoid" with David Schwimmer.

Lehr splits his time between New York and Los Angeles. He's working with his wife, Jennifer, to produce the pilot script for "Ill-Equipped for a Life of Sex," a Warner Brothers Television series.

While on a press junket for his new series, "Ten Items or Less," Lehr decided to stop in Kansas City because he had a family reunion. He also had another motive.

"I wanted to taste some real barbecue," Lehr said.

In "Ten Items or Less," Lehr serves as the co-creator, executive producer and writer, as well as a main character, Leslie Pool.

"Being a writer, a producer and an actor can be exhausting; but on the plus side, I work for six months and get six months off to spend with my family," Lehr said.

The series narrates the happenings in a kitschy grocery store in Reseda, Calif., appropriately entitled "Greens and Grains." The series is filmed in an actual grocery store.

"It's really funny to see customers' reactions to the camera," Lehr said. "Some people completely ignore it, while others are awkwardly transfixed."

The series begins with Lehr's character, Pool, returning to his native Ohio to run the grocery store after his father expires in the bread aisle. The script, which is also written by Lehr, is colorful and abounds with improvisation.

"The cast is really making all of this stuff up as we go along. We put together a loose script that contains a specific game plan to guide the story, but the cast never sees it," Lehr said. "I love spontaneous humor and that is what we are shooting for on this show."

The show is dotted with familiar faces, including Roberta Valderrama from "ER," Bob Clendenin from "That 70's Show," Chris Payne Gilbert from "The Broken Hearts Club" and Jennifer Elise Cox, best known for her portrayal of Jan in the "Brady Bunch" movies.

"I hope this series will lead to comedy that is fresher than most fully-scripted comedy shows. I'm really proud to be a part of it," Lehr said.

"Ten Items or Less" will cut the ribbon on a second season this Tuesday, Jan. 15 on TBS.

cdoran@unew.com