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Season 1 – Black Books

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Black Books Sep 2000 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Comedians Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey star in the much-loved offbeat sitcom about bad-tempered, eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black and his long-suffering assistant, Manny. Bernard has no use for people outside his shop and sometimes, not much use for the people inside it either. He prefers to spend his time reading, drinking and smoking. Manny, assisted by Bernard's oldest friend, Fran, who runs Nifty Gifty, a shop down the way, frequently tries to adjust Bernard's attitude and get him to be more social.
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Black Books — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Nancy Banks-Smith Guardian 02/25/2020
I found this slightly surreal series offered one helpless yelp of laughter per episode. Go to Full Review Charles Bramesco New York Times 10/29/2018
"Black Books" is as amusing as it is existentially bruising. Go to Full Review Evan Sawdey PopMatters 10/29/2018
Yet the dynamic of Black Books is bizarre from the get-go, coming across almost as if Samuel Beckett wrote a sitcom. Go to Full Review Roxanne Sancto Paste Magazine 10/29/2018
If you like grumpy, drunken Irish bastards, Bernard Black (Dylan Moran) will soon become your new hero-he sure as shit is mine! Go to Full Review Gem Wheeler Den of Geek 10/29/2018
Black Books remains one of the most memorable comedies of recent years, as much for its wonderful characters as for its endlessly quotable scripts. Go to Full Review Emily Ashby Common Sense Media 10/29/2018
4/5
As twisted and alcohol-soaked as it might be, witty writing and a sharp cast make Black Books as much fun as happy hour at the neighborhood pub. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John C @RT34609022 10/12/2024 Too obvious. Too sad. Too real. See more 06/20/2021 Maybe a bit too offbeat for my taste, but it's blackening good fun. See more 03/31/2020 One of the most hilarious show I have ever seen. See more ma'ark t @RT57514104 08/31/2019 Weird and funny. An easy watch. See more Read all reviews
Black Books — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Dylan Moran

Bernard Black

Tamsin Greig

Fran

Bill Bailey

Manny

John Arthur

First Customer

Mark Aiken

Ben

Dominic Carter

First hooligan

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 29, 2000 Cooking the Books Foul-tempered bookstore owner Bernard Black must take care of his own taxes after his accountant flees from the police. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 6, 2000 Manny's First Day Bernard drunkenly offers Manny a job at the bookstore, but when he regrets the gesture later, he can't seem to get rid of him. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 13, 2000 Grapes of Wrath Overwhelmed by the filth, Manny enlists the services of a creepy cleaner; Bernard reluctantly agrees to house-sit for a friend. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 20, 2000 The Blackout After too much espresso, Manny thinks he's a 1970s cop and winds up helping a real officer of the law; Bernard is snubbed after a dinner party. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 27, 2000 The Big Lockout Bernard gets locked out of the shop, and Manny gets locked in, when neither of them can operate the new security system. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 3, 2000 He's Leaving Home Tension builds between Bernard and Fran after Manny runs away; on his own, Manny is picked up by a photographer with a beard fetish. Details

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Black Books — Season 1

Black Books Black Books Black Books View more photos

Season Info

Director
Graham Linehan, Nick Wood
Executive Producer
William Burdett-Coutts
Screenwriter
Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan
Network
Channel 4
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Sep 29, 2000