September 27, 2006

Jack Dee & Peter Sinclair's Dry Sitcom 'Lead Balloon'.

(Posted In Comedy Cult Drama TV UK / Ireland / Australia / New Zealand )

jackdeeleadballoon.jpegYou like your comedy dry, dry like a desert without any sign of an oasis? Well, Jack Dee's been around for quite some time now, probably close to fifteen years on TV, though largely coming and going in various stand-up shows - both his own series, of which there have been a few in various guises and on different channels, and in other peoples' shows too - and has become one of many comedians to turn to acting.

BBC Four is the home for his co-written sitcom called 'Lead Balloon' which starts on October 4th 2006, and it looks to be pretty autobiographical with him playing Rick Spleen - a man sharing his profession and some of what's likely to be his work ethic considering Dee is somewhat of a eternal revivalist who has risen and fallen in popularity over the years; a survivor who has actually managed to get a whole lot better and avoid the pitfalls of fame, well, the obvious ones as far as I remember.

If this takes your fancy, worth going back and seeing some of the more recent stand-up material, a little more tempered and pallatable than the incredibly depressing material from earlier, but you never really know quite how you're going to take it until you get your first taste. He certainly is a love him or hate him figure at first glimpse, though it's going to obviously not entirely be really what the mans about (god forbid judging him without knowing him through anything but his work) and everyones' taste will vary. I will be trying to tune into this, a much more preferable kind of work to see him featuring in. Oh, and Director Alex Hardcastle has been a Producer for shows like 'Keith Barrett' with Rob Brydon and Dee's own recent mega-hit TV series 'Live at the Apollo'.

'Lead Balloon' BBC Four Official Site; includes clips and trailers. Jack Dee at Wikipedia.

» Posted by logboy at September 27, 2006 12:32 PM
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Reader Comments

oldboy wannabe

» Posted by mrmarzo at September 27, 2006 01:36 PM

Curb your enthusiasm wannabe, but without the humour. It even has the same background music. Appalling.

» Posted by Dave at October 17, 2006 09:55 AM

Shame. bad, bad acting. format stolen from Curb. I Like Jack Dee in standup but this was poor. The supporting cast was stronger than the leads - the guy in the cake shop and the .

» Posted by Simon at October 24, 2006 08:40 AM

So what its like Curb. Curb is like Seinfeld and Gary Shandling. Nothing is new. Its a funny show with great acting from all. The jokes are strong and the scenarios cringe-worthy. To say it has no humour is silly (and prob means you saw a clip and not an episode). If you like Curb/Seinfeld/Early Doors/Office then you will love this.

» Posted by b blair at October 27, 2006 10:49 AM

There is nothing funny about this. A very very bad copy of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Nobody can do this format like Larry David and his cast could.

» Posted by Brian O'Boyle at November 8, 2006 03:19 PM

your wrong lead balloon is great i really enjoyed watching the 1st series hope to see more of the same hats off to jack dee and peter sinclair

» Posted by dan at January 28, 2007 06:19 PM

I actually fancy ricky gervais he's so funny - so don't call me a hater of realism in comedy. It's all the rage now but Mr Dee seems to use the realism and do nothing with it. There's no romantic side stories, no cringingly funny moments and no daring references to racism, sexism,discrimination to the disables etc. (when I say this I don't mean laughing at them, but you know what larry from curb your enthusiasm does...)
Jack also fails to properly laugh at himself and make himself a real butt. On the contrary he seems to mould the rest of the characters in order to make himself look better or "cool". I tried to keep an open mind but seriously, nothing made me scream with laughter in Lead Balloon.
I'd also like to add, I think that When the Whistle Blows (Andy Millman's sitcom in Gervais's "Extras") was much more hilarious which just shows the difference between natural born talent and ... what can we call it - a copy cat? Or is that too harsh?
Jack is a cute little fellow and I wish him all the best!

» Posted by juveriah at March 31, 2007 10:44 AM

I actually change my my mind - that was really mean... ricky gervais is starting to piss me off too now lol

» Posted by Juveriah at May 21, 2007 06:04 AM

Like a cross between extras and one foot in the grave, i found jack dees petty-ness and grumpy-ness hilarious!

» Posted by TG at July 7, 2007 05:54 AM

Like a cross between extras and one foot in the grave, i found jack dees petty-ness and grumpy-ness hilarious! i think there's a few people on here who don't 'get it'.

» Posted by TG at July 7, 2007 05:55 AM

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