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Lead Balloon : Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD]
 
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Lead Balloon : Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD]

DVD ~ Jack Dee
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
Price: £6.88 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

Lead Balloon : Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD] + Lead Balloon - Series 2 [DVD] + Outnumbered Series 1 [DVD] [2007]
Total RRP: £59.97
Price For All Three: £19.84

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Lead Balloon : Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD]
84% buy the item featured on this page:
Lead Balloon : Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD] 4.6 out of 5 stars (21)
£6.88
Outnumbered Series 1 [DVD] [2007]
9% buy
Outnumbered Series 1 [DVD] [2007] 4.9 out of 5 stars (98)
£6.98
Lead Balloon - Series 2 [DVD]
4% buy
Lead Balloon - Series 2 [DVD] 4.9 out of 5 stars (13)
£5.98
Not Going Out: Complete BBC Series 1 [2006] [DVD]
2% buy
Not Going Out: Complete BBC Series 1 [2006] [DVD] 4.6 out of 5 stars (31)
£3.88
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Product details

  • Actors: Jack Dee, Sean Power, Raquel Cassidy, Anna Crilly, Antonia Campbell-Hughes
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: 2 Entertain Video
  • DVD Release Date: 12 Nov 2007
  • Run Time: 176 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000UX7ASC
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,846 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

DVD Description

Jack Dee stars as Rick Spleen, a successful but world-weary stand-up comedian who spends too much of his time hosting corporate events in the BBC comedy sitcom, Lead Balloon.

Rick and Marty, his American co-writer, spend their days arguing, drinking too much coffee, and devising work avoidance strategies.

Further distractions are provided by Magda, Rick’s home help, his show-biz agent wife Mel, their teenage daughter Sam and her feckless boyfriend Ben.

Lead Balloon is co-written by Jack Dee and Pete Sinclair. This DVD includes all six episodes in series 1.

Episode 1: "Rubbish" - Rick fronts a lame government TV recycling campaign which backfires spectacularly. He falls out with café-owner Michael over a homemade fruitcake, and has a full-on row with unhinged baby-present shopkeeper Maureen.

Episode 2: "Wayne" - A teaspoon crisis in the Spleen household leads Rick to petty theft. Meanwhile, Rick's sleep is disturbed by the paperboy, Wayne, who is very punctual, very noisy and has a brain the size of a walnut.

Episode 3: "£5,000" - Rick gets in a punch-up at an awards ceremony and ends up with a black eye. Marty is preparing to pitch a programme to the BBC and Michael is delighted that Rick has accidentally sponsored him a small fortune for his Skipathon.

Episode 4: "Allergic" - Rick discovers he may have inadvertently killed one of Britain's best-loved entertainers, but he's preoccupied by a missing shoe-organiser. Meanwhile Rick prepares for upcoming appearance on topical news panel show Bullet in the News.

Episode 5: "Pistachio" - Rick buys himself a scooter but worries that it makes him look gay. Hosting the Air Conditioning and Climate Control Awards goes disastrously, and a trip to the local dry cleaner ends in a heated argument.

Episode 6: "Fatty" - Rick is publicly humiliated on TV by daytime chat-show host Adam Green. He also has an unfortunate encounter with an acquaintance at the gym, and Ben manages to destroy Rick's brand new DVD player by taking the back off.



Synopsis

The complete first series of the comedy show featuring Jack Dee as comedian Rick Spleen. Features the episodes 'Rubbish', 'Wayne', '£5000', 'Allergic', 'Pistachio' and 'Fatty'.

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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews
5 star:
 (17)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best comedy show for 06 and 07, 4 Jan 2008
Lead Balloon works on every level as every character trait and grouping is a winner and the comedy interaction is so well acted and scripted.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Dee's Day, 24 Mar 2009
By TheGerbilTamer (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)      
Although this show has been often described as 'The British Curb Your Enthusiasm' I can see why, but it's an awful lot better. The storylines centre around Rick Spleen a comedian who has to take various corporate gigs to pay the bills, the other characters are Marty, Rick's witty American writing partner, his partner Mel a showbiz agent, their daughter the lacklustre Sam and their Eastern European cleaner Magda. Special mention must be also be made of the slightly unhinged local cafe owner Michael. Most of the episodes include Rick doing something to avoid opening his wallet, which almost always fails.

It's a great comedy and the sly sarcastic dark wit used throughout is excellent. The characterisation is spot on and I'd advise readers to give it a try if they haven't already.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Watch Without Prejudice, 16 Nov 2007
By Timbo (Northampton) - See all my reviews
I don't mind Jack Dee but I LOVE this show. I could not believe that it had previously been described as a "5th rate Curb Your Enthusiasm". I am a massive fan of Larry David, have all the Seinfelds & all 5 series of Curb - but honestly get past series 3 & the laughs & plot lines wear pretty thin.

It's easy to look down on Balloon as a poor man's "Curb" if you want to apply some intellectual snobbery but trust me on this - you would be wrong. Sure the show gives Larry & his genius a nod, but the dialogue is razor sharp, the character interplay is witty & well observed. In short it is highly watchable & very funny. An essential gem in any comedy collection. My vote for best new comedy of the year.

Series 2 has a lot to follow.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack Dee - Lead Bal^loon
Usually when a comedian does a 'sit com' it can be a bit hit and miss - Jack Dee hit it out of the park! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rosie Harper

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Comedy In Ages
In my opinion Lead Balloon is the best comedy around.

Jack Dee is probably the best comedian around, and also of the best comedy writers. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Adolfhardon

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply brilliant...
If you like the Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm, this is right up your street! Yet another outstanding comedy about an idiot in embarassing situations... Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. Seal

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best comedy dramas on TV
This is British TV comedy at its best, but only if you like this sort of thing! After all, my wife likes Jack Dee but can't stand the excruciating situations in which Rick Spleen... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Rockfordman

5.0 out of 5 stars Lead Balloon is a Winner!
I might even sue Jack Dee for damage to my ribs with laughing so much!
Very clever, very dry and very black at times - but watchable over and over again.
Published 7 months ago by K. Williams

5.0 out of 5 stars Gets better once you know the characters
It's very unfair to describe "Lead Balloon" as a fifth rate "Curb Your Enthusiasm." To be more accurate, it's a second rate "Curb Your Enthusiasm", which means that while it... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. J. R. Burkes

5.0 out of 5 stars Who needs canned laughter?
'Lead Balloon' is simply one of the funniest TV sitcoms of the last ten years. Everything about it is so finely tuned and brilliantly realised - from the Rick Spleen / Jack Dee... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Og Oggilby

5.0 out of 5 stars Johnny S is so wrong.
In response to Johnny S's comment about this series I would just like to say that I don't believe it is in the same league as Curb Your Enthusiasm. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Joe Improbable

3.0 out of 5 stars Lead Zeppellin
As sit-coms written by stand up comedian's go, it's not bad. Dead pan comedy done reasonably well.
Published 14 months ago by M. Ward

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's The Series Two DVD?
I live in the United States and I'm dependent on British humor to satisfy my funny tooth. I need vocubulary, dialogue, and wit. I'm waiting for 'Lead Balloon Series 2'.
Published 15 months ago by Supposed Wonderment

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