Yeah, I never really got the Coupling/Friends comparison personally. Perhaps I've not seen enough of the latter. Either way, I don't really buy it, but just passing it on!
As for Lead Balloon, the only similarity is that both lead characters are involved in comedy. One could argue that the whole characterisation (bitter, foot in mouth, irate, etc etc) is identical in LB to CYE, but as Jack's been doing that as his whole persona for the past decade or so, any such argument is automatic bollocks. 
Interesting point made by Brett Mills in "Television Sitcom" book - I can't remember the exact quote but the idea was that britcoms are usually about loners, weirdos, outsiders, etc., struggling through life, while in American sitcoms it is always stressed how the protagonist cab get by with a little help from your family and friends.
Quote: Aaron @ November 26, 2007, 6:57 PMYeah, I never really got the Coupling/Friends comparison personally. Perhaps I've not seen enough of the latter. Either way, I don't really buy it, but just passing it on!
As for Lead Balloon, the only similarity is that both lead characters are involved in comedy. One could argue that the whole characterisation (bitter, foot in mouth, irate, etc etc) is identical in LB to CYE, but as Jack's been doing that as his whole persona for the past decade or so, any such argument is automatic bollocks.
No it is really like Curb, so much so that even Jonathan Ross at last years comedy awards said "Jack Dee has been working hard on his new comedy by watching Curb Your Enthusiasm DVD's".
It's the same thing, a comedian getting into bother over small social standards that he doesn't agree with. Plus the direction of the show, the way it's formatted is very much like Curb and you can tell Jack wanted to create the British version of Curb, that's not a bad thing but at least have the balls to admit it. He even has the agent who is smarter than him and more sensible if you will, much like Larry and Jeff.
So you're treating Ross's word as gospel? 
Anyway, as a viewer and fan of both, I disagree. They're completely different in style, tone and content. The only real similarity is that they're both comedians, but at vastly different ends of the scale-of-success. Yes, they're both bitchy, 'putting their foot in it' and such, but as I pointed out above, that's been Jack's persona for as long as I care to remember, so arguments along that line just don't wash.
In regards to the managers, Larry's certainly never seemed smarter to me. Perhaps less socially clumsy, but smarter? I'd have gone more for the opposite. Jack's however, is about along the same lines as him. Much more rational and less stubborn granted, but I wouldn't have said smarter, or dumber.
In my mind, comparing the two isn't that far from comparing Blackadder to The Simpsons - after all, the main characters are men.
Quote: Aaron @ November 27, 2007, 9:42 AMIn my mind, comparing the two isn't that far from comparing Blackadder to The Simpsons - after all, the main characters are men.
I think that's a bit harsh, I think there are more similarities between CYE and LB than that.
I think Dee has already said that it was inspired by Curb but there far too many differences to say its the same. As Aaron pointed out, he's unsuccessful, but he's also got kids, a cleaner, he's younger. And all the issues that come with that are different to Curb. It's a different setup. Not to mention that LB is actually written and not part-improvised.
Am I right in thinking that Clement and Le Frenais now work in America and have written lots of stuff there. Obviously a lot of that has been for films but I think that they've also done some TV shows as well.
Jonathan Lynn of the glorious Yes (Prime) Minister redoing Bilko...or have we all had enough drink/therapy/voluntary repeated blows to head to forget.
Quote: Nick @ November 27, 2007, 11:41 AMAm I right in thinking that Clement and Le Frenais now work in America and have written lots of stuff there. Obviously a lot of that has been for films but I think that they've also done some TV shows as well.
Clement's Wikipedia entry suggests that they've both lived there since the 80s (ouch), but going by IMDb, there doesn't seem to be anything in their credits that they couldn't have done living here (or indeed anywhere). So I think I'd be tempted to say that Wikipedia is correct.
Quote: Aaron @ November 27, 2007, 9:42 AMSo you're treating Ross's word as gospel?
No, I'm not taking my opinion from Ross, it was my opinion when I first saw Lead Balloon that this is trying to be like Curb. The fact that Ross also said it shows that it's quite a common conception if he would include that in his opening monologue at the Comedy Awards.
Anyway, as a viewer and fan of both, I disagree. They're completely different in style, tone and content. The only real similarity is that they're both comedians, but at vastly different ends of the scale-of-success. Yes, they're both bitchy, 'putting their foot in it' and such, but as I pointed out above, that's been Jack's persona for as long as I care to remember, so arguments along that line just don't wash.
In regards to the managers, Larry's certainly never seemed smarter to me. Perhaps less socially clumsy, but smarter? I'd have gone more for the opposite. Jack's however, is about along the same lines as him. Much more rational and less stubborn granted, but I wouldn't have said smarter, or dumber.
In my mind, comparing the two isn't that far from comparing Blackadder to The Simpsons - after all, the main characters are men.
I think it's really like it in tone and in style. Just because he has a few different characters in it like kids etc doesn't really count, I'm not saying it's EXACTLY the same in every way. But the premise and style of the show is the same, he gets into the type of uncomfortable situations that Larry would get into and not ones that have been built up in Dee's persona earlier. And why the hell would he go to that cafe every single day when it's so obvious he hates the owner?!
Personally though I don't see that much of similarity - apart from the very basic premise.
But a lot of people have made the comparison between Lead Balloon and Curb Your Enthusiasm, as a result one has to determine that there's some link going on there, even if I can't see it.
(The cafe thing has had me thinking for a while - I think he goes there because Marty wants them to)
Fair points. About the café owner though, I wouldn't have quite said he hates him. I mean, they're not exactly best friends, but I think Rick, however deep down, knows that he's right most of the time. Now that I'm thinking about it further, is he not a kind of submissive character along those lines? I don't mean that he's got lots of leather and chains in a secret room in his house, but in that kind of 'deep-down' manner, he knows that he's a stubborn bastard and needs to be a bit, well, nicer, and more accommodating. No? Maybe I'm thinking about this a bit too much. Hmm.
(And of course, as Mark says more bluntly, Rick just follows him in there.)
Quote: Aaron @ November 27, 2007, 12:00 PMClement's Wikipedia entry suggests that they've both lived there since the 80s (ouch), but going by IMDb, there doesn't seem to be anything in their credits that they couldn't have done living here (or indeed anywhere). So I think I'd be tempted to say that Wikipedia is correct.
I guess the Tracey Ullman thing that they worked on way back when could count towards the thread author was talking about.
Yep, very true. Also that Scottish guy whose name I forget who presents one of those uber-popular shows over there whose name I forget.
Helpful? I think not.
Craig Ferguson ...who shall forever be remebered for the line as Lister's Confidence... "Bingo. Another great idea from the people who brought you beeerrr milkshake."
Or were you thinking of another scot?
No, wasn't the one I was thinking of. But then perhaps I'm getting different people confused. Meh, nicely spotted anyway!