 Ball based Lester 's story on aspects of his own life . Lester 's re @-@ examination of his life parallels feelings Ball had in his mid @-@ 30s ; like Lester , Ball put aside his passions to work in jobs he hated for people he did not respect . Scenes in Ricky 's household reflect Ball 's own childhood experiences . Ball suspected his father was homosexual and used the idea to create Col. Fitts , a man who " gave up his chance to be himself " . Ball said the script 's mix of comedy and drama was not intentional , but that it came unconsciously from his own outlook on life . He said the juxtaposition produced a starker contrast , giving each trait more impact than if they appeared alone . 
 Ball<a href='been_done' title='1'><mark></mark></a> based Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>story on aspects of his own life . Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>re @-@ examination of his life <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>parallels</mark></a> feelings Ball had in his mid @-@ 30s ; like Lester , Ball put aside his passions to work in jobs he hated for people he did not respect . Scenes in Ricky <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>household reflect Ball <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>own childhood experiences . Ball suspected his father was homosexual and used the idea to create Col. Fitts , a man <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>who</mark></a>" gave up his chance to be himself " . Ball said the script <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>mix of comedy and drama <a href='negative_concord' title='9'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='10'><mark>not</mark></a>intentional , but that it came unconsciously from his own outlook on life . He said the juxtaposition produced a starker contrast , giving each trait more impact than if they appeared alone . 
Ball been based Lester  story on aspects of his own life . Lester  re @-@ examination of his life parallel feelings Ball had in his mid @-@ 30s ; like Lester , Ball put aside his passions to work in jobs he hated for people he did not respect . Scenes in Ricky  household reflect Ball  own childhood experiences . Ball suspected his father was homosexual and used da idea to create Col. Fitts , a man " gave up his chance to b himself " . Ball said the script  mix of comedy and drama ain't intentional , but dat it came unconsciously from his own outlook on life . He said the juxtaposition produced a starker contrast , givin each trait more impact den if they appeared alone .