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IMDbPro

Lead Balloon

  • TV Series
  • 2006–20112006–2011
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Jack Dee and Antonia Campbell-Hughes in Lead Balloon (2006)
  • Comedy
Rick Spleen is a world-weary comedian who ends up doing far too many corporate jobs to pay the bills.Rick Spleen is a world-weary comedian who ends up doing far too many corporate jobs to pay the bills.Rick Spleen is a world-weary comedian who ends up doing far too many corporate jobs to pay the bills.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Jack Dee
    • Raquel Cassidy
    • Sean Power
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Jack Dee
    • Raquel Cassidy
    • Sean Power
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Episodes27

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos16

    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Jack Dee in Lead Balloon (2006)
    Jack Dee in Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)
    Lead Balloon (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Dee
    Jack Dee
    • Rick Spleenas Rick Spleen
    27 episodes27 eps • 2006–2011
    Raquel Cassidy
    Raquel Cassidy
    • Melas Mel
    26 episodes26 eps • 2006–2011
    Sean Power
    Sean Power
    • Martyas Marty
    26 episodes26 eps • 2006–2011
    Anna Crilly
    Anna Crilly
    • Magdaas Magda
    26 episodes26 eps • 2006–2011
    Antonia Campbell-Hughes
    Antonia Campbell-Hughes
    • Samas Sam
    26 episodes26 eps • 2006–2011
    Rasmus Hardiker
    Rasmus Hardiker
    • Benas Ben
    26 episodes26 eps • 2006–2011
    Tony Gardner
    Tony Gardner
    • Michaelas Michael
    26 episodes26 eps • 2006–2011
    John Biggins
    • Clive Grayas Clive Gray…
    7 episodes7 eps • 2006–2011
    Robbie Coltrane
    Robbie Coltrane
    • Donaldas Donald
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Sophie Winkleman
    Sophie Winkleman
    • Donnaas Donna
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Alex Lowe
    • Phil Randellas Phil Randell…
    2 episodes2 eps • 2008
    William Hoyland
    • Ambroseas Ambrose
    2 episodes2 eps • 2007–2008
    Simon Greenall
    • Adam Greeneas Adam Greene
    1 episode1 ep • 2006
    Steven Alvey
    • Peter Rootas Peter Root
    1 episode1 ep • 2006
    Michael Fenton Stevens
    • Trevoras Trevor
    1 episode1 ep • 2007
    Charlotte Hudson
    • Siobhanas Siobhan
    1 episode1 ep • 2008
    Ted Robbins
    • Bob Fairchildas Bob Fairchild
    1 episode1 ep • 2006
    Ian Ashpitel
    • Graham McLeanas Graham McLean
    1 episode1 ep • 2006
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Rick Spleen: You know what Mel told me about Michael? She found out he used to work in the City, had a complete nervous breakdown, completely flipped out, had to give it up, wanted to do something else so he opened this place instead.

      Marty: You Brits, you don't know how to do nervous breakdowns properly! In the States, you have a nervous breakdown, you don't open up a whole food restaurant. No, no, you become a bum. You live on the streets, you put all your stuff in a shopping cart, you pick food outta garbage cans.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #15.105 (2011)

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Very watchable - although predictable and limp.
    Rick Spleen (Jack Dee) is a married middle-income comedian but finds that life rarely goes right for him or makes him happy.

    Jack Dee is a one note comedian whose one joke is to look cynically at life and all the strange customs it entails. So it is no surprise that this comedy sees him as a sourpuss comedian (although we don't see him perform on-stage) who doesn't like much about modern life and finds lots to complain about.

    From the first few episodes the formula is clearly set in stone. Something small goes wrong and in an attempt to solve the problem Spleen makes things worse and worse. The old "drowning man" scenario - the more he thrashes the deeper down in to the water he goes.

    A regular crew of characters come and go (usually after taking from him) although he has a nice show biz wife who (in the custom of sitcom) spouts the common-sense that, if followed, would prevent the show being made in the first place!

    The problem is that this is one of those micro-joke comedies. There is nothing to laugh at, although you might grunt a few times and desperation of the script is often exposed. Would you want to hurt somebody just to save yourself some money (you'll have to watch the show to fully understand), only a horrible person would do that!

    Like his offbeat comedian college - Rick Gervais - he is not really an actor, so he just stands there and delivers the line without stress or feeling. At times he sounds like a speak-your-weight machine.

    He has a horrible daughter (Sam) who only appears to cadge money through emotional blackmail - who tags along the kind of boyfriend that you fear. Thankfully Spleen is too far up his own backside to know that he is being taken for a ride and the child always gets her prize.

    Comedians are often not funny off-stage. Many times the product of a long hard struggle where money was tight and friends are spaced out. It is a loners profession. Spleen is just not that funny off-stage (is he any good on?) - indeed most of the good lines are actually spoken by others.

    Jack Dee is a lucky comedian - he came along at a time when his cynical lines where lapped up by an equally cynical audience. Here he is just a fall guy for everyone and anything and not the sharp one-liner guy that would be much more magnetic and watchable.
    helpful•14
    63
    • Pedro_H
    • Oct 23, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 2006 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Оловни балон
    • Production company
      • Open Mike Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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