Both Anderson and Cull suggest that the series, with its bespectacled protagonist, boosted the self-confidence of young viewers who wore glasses. The name "Joe 90" has become a popular term of endearment for both children and adults who wear glasses similar to Joe's, such as snooker player Dennis Taylor. During the 1990s, comparisons were made between Joe and then-Prime Minister John Major, also known for his large glasses. Jeff Evans, author of "The Penguin TV Companion", criticises the glasses as a plot device, writing that they make Joe "look more like the class swot than a secret agent."