 Dee cites the early films of Woody Allen, "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as other "cultural influences" that helped set the tone of the series.Controller of BBC Four Janice Hadlow stated the series was in the "same ballpark" as "Curb", though it is not quite as autobiographical.The name "Lead Balloon" comes from the expression "To go down like a lead balloon", meaning to be received badly by an audience.