Black Books - British comedy from Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan (creator of The IT Crowd)

[Jasun]

I've just re watched the show for the third time now, and I feel sorry for the people who may not have seen this, so here's a thread. With a synopsis shamelessly stolen from IMDB.

[b]Synopsis:[/b]
[release]Bernard Black runs his own bookshop even though he doesn't much like people who buy books and hates having customers. Next door to Bernard's shop is the Nifty Gifty gift shop run by Fran, probably Bernard's only friend in the world. When Bernard's accountant goes on the run Bernard employs stress victim, Manny to help in his shop. This leads to a series of surreal adventures around the shop[/release]

[b]Characters:[/b]
[release]Bernard Black - Played by Dylan Moran[/release]
[release][t]http://images.wikia.com/blackbooks/images/c/c4/BernardBlack.jpg[/t]

Bernard is an anti-social, heavy drinking chain-smoker who owns a small London bookshop - an unusual vocation, given that he detests customers and delights in physically and verbally abusing them at every opportunity[/release]

[release]Fran Katzenjammer - Played by Tamsin Greig[/release]
[release][t]http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/8300000/Fran-black-books-8376953-491-283.jpg[/t]
Bernard's best (and only) friend in the world, Fran, is Bernard's lunch time drinking partner, a neurotic and boyfriend-desperate woman who owns the pretentious arts and crafts shop next to his.[/release]

[release]Manny Bianco - Played by the one and only Bill Bailey[/release]
[release][t]http://images.wikia.com/blackbooks/images/3/3f/MB_1).jpg[/t]
Bernard is cynical, abrasive and lazy, and is perfectly happy that way - but his life takes an unexpected turn when he sells 'The Little Book of Calm' to hyper-stressed accountant Manny Bianco, who against all odds ends up swallowing it. When the dust is settled, Manny will have a new job, Fran will have a new friend, and Bernard's life will be far more surreal.[/release]

All episodes of Black Books are available to watch for free on 4OD, but if you don't live in the UK you may be able to get it through other means. I'd highly recommend putting some time aside to watch all three series, as it's probably one of the best comedies to grace British television.

[darcy010]

One of the funniest shows I have ever seen.
I have the entire box set, complete with a Black Books wine set.

[marden]

I watched few episodes and I loved them. I guess I got lazy and stop watching. Maybe I'll try to finish all the seasons.

[Aries]

I love Black Books. I got to meet Dylan Moran a few months ago, I found him having a smoke and a coffee before one of his shows by accident. I'm familiar with the people that ran the theater he performed in and as such I just walk around and have a chat with the crew. He's a nice enough guy, but even though you can tell he hates people he won't let it get in the way of his job which is to entertain them. He knows he's a public performer, so we talked about Black Books (which he seemed a little exasperated about, I'm probably 345208534th person) and about his live show before he blatantly told me he wanted time to himself, so we parted.

With all things considered, he's a nice guy. Thought I'd share that. Black Books is a favourite show of mine.

[Rusty100]

I liked it, but in small moderation. It really got on my nerves. But at least not as fast as all his other shows did (IT Crowd is painfully unfunny)

[editline]26th January 2012[/editline]

It's like the Big Bang Theory UK

[Pal13]

Gonna check the shit outta thissss.

[Party Boy]

If you like this or IT Crowd, watch Father Ted. Made by the same guy. So funny.

[killerteacup]

[QUOTE=Rusty100;34397118]I liked it, but in small moderation. It really got on my nerves. But at least not as fast as all his other shows did (IT Crowd is painfully unfunny)

[editline]26th January 2012[/editline]

It's like the Big Bang Theory UK[/QUOTE]

Big Bang Theory is IT Crowd US

[Forss]

[QUOTE=killerteacup;34397467]Big Bang Theory is IT Crowd US[/QUOTE]

Besides both having a few "nerdy jokes" they aren't even remotely similar.

[ElectronicG19]

[QUOTE=killerteacup;34397467]Big Bang Theory is IT Crowd US[/QUOTE]
Except it isn't is it?

[Jasun]

The IT Crowd is genuinely funny.

The Big Bang Theory is not.

[ElectronicG19]

You wouldn't get this in The Big Bang Theory
[media][URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZZx1xmAzg&feature=relmfu[/URL][/media]

[TF2Master]

I watched Dylan Moran do stand-up once in real life, he was not funny, I was very disappointed

[Party Boy]

Really? I loved his standup

[Gmod4ever]

I've been considering making this thread. I absolutely love Black Books.

I only decided to check out the series because it had Bill Bailey in it, though. I absolutely love Bill Bailey. One of the few people I've seen merge music and comedy so well. The Emo Self-Harm Song is still one of my favorite stints of his.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_Y2nBr_c4w&feature=player_detailpage#t=9s[/media]

[editline]26th January 2012[/editline]

And for anyone who hasn't seen Black Books and is considering it, watch this before you decide.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A10PvpbPJZw[/media]

[Rusty100]

[QUOTE=ElectronicG19;34402325]You wouldn't get this in The Big Bang Theory
[media][URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZZx1xmAzg&feature=relmfu[/URL][/media][/QUOTE]

Well do you get equally unfunny stuff, so