Black Books

Just The Facts

  1. Black Books ran for three seasons, from 2000-2004.
  2. Originally aired on Britain's Channel 4, as a sister show to the sitcom Spaced.
  3. Stars Dylan Moran (Bernard Black, creator and writer), Bill Bailey (Manny Bianco) and Tamsin Greig (Fran Katzenjammer).
  4. Mainly set in Black Books, Bernard's second-hand bookshop.

Characters

Bernard

Bernard is a "grumpy Irish bastard" whose sole friend is Fran. Bernard doesn't seem to want or need the society of others, but takes delight in tormenting anyone he comes into contact with. Manny and Fran describe his heart as being a shard of ice and a piece of flint, respectively. Bernard did have one girlfriend, once, but she disliked him so much that she pretended to be dead to get away from him.

Manny

Manny is Bernard's long-suffering assisstant. He not only works for Bernard, but lives with him, in Bernard's flat upstairs over the shop. Manny is the only one of the three that shows any genuine compassion for others-Fran's humanity is nearly always self-serving.

Cracked on Black Books