Black Books

Name: Black Books
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2000-09-29
Cast: Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig

2000 | 3 seasons | 25 min | Comedy

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Solid across the board without standing out anywhere. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Superstore or 2 Broke Girls, start here.
The mood: Light and funny.
The pace: 3 seasons: a few weeks of evenings, short, snackable episodes, about 8 hours in all.
What might put you off: Nothing much: an easy pick for most people.

Black Books centres around the foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black. Bernard’s devotion to the twin pleasures of drunkenness and wilful antagonism deepens and enriches both his life and that of Manny, his assistant. Bearded, sweet and good, Manny is everything that Bernard isn’t and is punished by Bernard relentlessly just for the crime of existing. They depend on each other for meaning as Fran, their oldest friend, depends on them for distraction. Black Books is a haven of books, wine and conversation, the only threat to the group’s peace and prosperity is their own limitless stupidity.

How it earned its rating

CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
AudiencesSolid
8.1 out of 10
AwardsNot counted
Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted
Reach & staying powerSolid
Ran for 3 seasons and reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 146K people sought it out in the past year