Over the past few years, we've seen a rise in awkward comedy. Basically, that means we've seen the rise of The Office, Extras and the superb Curb Your Enthusiasm. So, aping away, Jack Dee appeared with Lead Balloon (BBC Two, Thursday, 9.30pm). However, Dee's vehicle has a couple of major differences... firstly, there is absolutely nothing to like about his character and secondly, it's not funny in any way shape or form.
Dee plays a chap called Rick Spleen, a scowling moron who pays the bills by being a comedian. He skulks around finding distaste with the world, only to find out that the world hates him tenfold in return. It's the 'straight guy getting shat on' schtick that has worked so many times in the past... so why does this show fail so miserably?
Sadly for Jack Dee, he's created a character that is impossible to side with. Look at David Brent for example. He's odious, stupid and distasteful... but somewhere, underneath all that hideousness lies a heart. Where Brent clearly wants to please everyone all the time, Dee's Spleen is, in short, a horrible human being. If Curb Your Enthusiasm thrives on the spiraling surrealism of misunderstanding, then Lead Balloon is a sequence of events that are easily rectified... but aren't.
In last night's episode we saw Rick Spleen act like a bigot, a racist, a cheap-skate, a hopeless blockhead, a mewing drip and cruel and heartless. Great! Where does this bloke live? I'll buy him a pint... with glass in it. We saw Spleen's housekeeper leaving because he called her a dog. We saw Spleen stitch up a woman on a gameshow which resulted in him begrudgingly buying her a car. This in turn took our protagonist to a used car dealer, who wouldn't sign off the receipt for a car at a higher price (to make him look more generous). He then bought a dodgy motor and, when the police called, he stitched an honest guy up. Through all this, we saw him completely unable to look after himself or his family because of the departure of his housekeeper. Now you tell me... what's to enjoy there?
Don't get me wrong... I love a black comedy. In fact, I would say that that black comedy is the best kind of comedy there is. However, good black comedy falls into two categories... that with a heart and biting satire. Chris Morris in the Brasseye shows is repugnant... but he's making a point. Larry David isn't a lovable character... but means well. Rick Spleen is an odious turd in a world of seemingly nice people. He's not an anti-hero... more... anti-life. This cold dead programme sits belly up in the fish tank just... stinking. Is it some kind of clever 'get out of jail free card' irony that this show is called Lead Balloon? If so, they could have come up with something more appropriate like Don't Watch This Show or That Dismal Comedy Show With Jack Dee Hijacking His Own Career...
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It wasn't great was it... and I agree, there's just nothing to love about Rick Spleen, and that's a real failing.
I am an American. I used to live in L.A. I live here now.I ,too, saw the show and laughed and laughed. Unless I am missing some kind of inside english joke? I think -you are wrong.
Firstly,this infatuation with Curb and everything American really has to stop.(on that however, if you really want the Grail -see the Larry Sanders show- thats who David took it from) Ive always thought English comedy to be far superior, but still enjoy aspects of American shtick and this show married the two worlds for me a bit. I found it funny and related to it, as much as the office and extras. As far as the character being too dark, I see no difference with Dee or David. The only difference being that L.D is playing himself -a multi-millionaire who doesnt have to work, while Spleen is middleclass comedian who has to struggle. Perhaps you, like too many are just a bit too rich celebrity obsessed? Personally, Im fine with Spleens tax bracket. Finally, before promoting U.S progamming, you should consider what the American media think of English TV. ..a bit like bush and blair, old bean.
M Collins
Couldn't disagree more with you Mof. I love Lead Balloon and think it's one of the funniest things on TV with the exception of Armstrong and Miller. I don't think it's entirely original (obviously there are similarities with The Office) but it's still very good. I don't ever watch American comedy programmes (I always think they are trying too hard). But anyway I love the Rick Spleen character - he seems wonderfully curmudgeonly and quintessentially English.
I have to say that Mof seems to think it's ok for David Brent to be a bumbling idiot falling in and out of situations, whereas there is no forgiveness for Dee's character doing this because presumably he's of higher intelligence & is fully aware of the mistakes he makes, making his less likable. Personally, I don't agree...I think Rick Spleen is just as much a bumbling idiot, just in a different way. What makes the difference between Spleen and Brent is pride and what cost each character will pay to rectify a bad situation. Whereas we'll laugh at the idiocy of what Brent might do, we'll cringe, laugh and be shocked (a bit like what a Jimmy Carr joke does to you) at what Spleen might in an attempt to try and save face. Add to the fact something sorely missed....the joke is that Rick Spleen is so hacked off with the way the world is and the bad luck he endures, he isn't meant to be likable! The world has turned him that way into sure a misery guts!
For me, Lead Balloon excels in picturing a situation spiralling out of control. The humour is often in the detail...in the episode about the drugs company going bust at Rick's fault, we see him playing hangman and losing only for the word "Fiend" to splash on his computer screen. Almost as though even the computer is pointing a finger and having a laugh at his expense. Unlike The Office, the moments of subtlety make Lead Balloon worlds apart from anything else and refreshingly honest. Whether Spleen is likable or not doesn't matter. It's the situations he's in that does.
I admit however that the 2nd series sadly falls short of the 1st series. This though is only due to the incredibly high standards the 1st series set. As the reviewer is so critical of the show in the review and hasn't alluded to the fact this is Series 2, it begs the question has the reviewer even seen the 1st series? I can't imagine so! Otherwise there would be comment about the 1st series, followed up with how the 2nd has either gone from something good to something very bad or how Series 1 was no good and the 2nd Series has made the show even worse. The absence of this speaks volumes!
I have to say that Mof seems to think it's ok for David Brent to be a bumbling idiot falling in and out of situations, whereas there is no forgiveness for Dee's character doing this because presumably he's of higher intelligence & is fully aware of the mistakes he makes, making his less likable. Personally, I don't agree...I think Rick Spleen is just as much a bumbling idiot, just in a different way. What makes the difference between Spleen and Brent is pride and what cost each character will pay to rectify a bad situation. Whereas we'll laugh at the idiocy of what Brent might do, we'll cringe, laugh and be shocked (a bit like what a Jimmy Carr joke does to you) at what Spleen might in an attempt to try and save face. Add to the fact something sorely missed....the joke is that Rick Spleen is so hacked off with the way the world is and the bad luck he endures, he isn't meant to be likable! The world has turned him that way into sure a misery guts!
For me, Lead Balloon excels in picturing a situation spiralling out of control. The humour is often in the detail...in the episode about the drugs company going bust at Rick's fault, we see him playing hangman and losing only for the word "Fiend" to splash on his computer screen. Almost as though even the computer is pointing a finger and having a laugh at his expense. Unlike The Office, the moments of subtlety make Lead Balloon worlds apart from anything else and refreshingly honest. Whether Spleen is likable or not doesn't matter. It's the situations he's in that does.
I admit however that the 2nd series sadly falls short of the 1st series. This though is only due to the incredibly high standards the 1st series set. As the reviewer is so critical of the show in the review and hasn't alluded to the fact this is Series 2, it begs the question has the reviewer even seen the 1st series? I can't imagine so! Otherwise there would be comment about the 1st series, followed up with how the 2nd has either gone from something good to something very bad or how Series 1 was no good and the 2nd Series has made the show even worse. The absence of this speaks volumes!
I completely disagree and love Lead Balloon. Its perfectly dark in places but also extremely funny, the situations Rick Spleen finds himself in are uncompromising and grimacing and I think he does what everyone else really wants to do but is afraid to. Again, as in Extras, it shows the bad side of celebrity and fame and does so very well.
Have just started watching this series on BBC Entertainment. I think it is extremely funny. I watch the repeat and laugh just as much. Jack Dee and the cast are excellent. Live and work in Singapore when I get to the UK hope this is available on DVD it's a must have for me.