Bill Bailey, Dylan Moran, Tamsin Greig of BBC America's "Black Books"

More Black Books

Dylan Moran (Shaun of the Dead, Notting Hill) stars as wildly eccentric bookstore owner, Bernard Black, in an all-new season of the surreally funny hit-comedy, Black Books, premiering Friday, February 10, 2006 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Dylan Moran’s one-man show, Monster, shot in New York, can also be seen in an encore presentation of BBC AMERICA Comedy Live presents Dylan Moran on Saturday, March 12, 2006 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Set in a bookstore of the same name, Black Books follows the oddball antics of Bernard, his well-meaning and long-suffering assistant Manny (Black Books, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and their friend Fran (Tamsin Greig, Shaun of the Dead, Green Wing). Fully devoted to the twin pleasures of drinking and willful antagonism, Bernard, who doesn’t function well in the ordinary world, has created his own safe haven within the grubby confines of his store. Driven by his own alcohol-fuelled logic, anyone attempting to buy a book from him is more likely to meet with the full force of his temper than leave his store with a purchase. He loves his books and dislikes his customers – a combination unlikely to earn him a businessman of the year award.

Bearded, sweet and good, Manny is punished relentlessly by Bernard for the crime of existing. They depend on each other for meaning while their oldest friend Fran depends on both of them for distraction and another excuse for a drink. Bereft of her loathed business concerns (she once owned a nearby gift store, Nifty Gifty), Fran struggles to find significance between struggling to find her ciggies and another bottle of wine.

Among their exploits this season, Manny uses his underworld connections to find Fran a mysterious office job where she’s given nothing to do, Bernard and Manny decide to transform the bug infested bookstore into a restaurant and the three of them embark on an unsuccessful attempt to venture abroad on vacation.

In this heaven of books, where wine and conversation flow freely, the only threat to the group’s nirvana is their own mix of limitless stupidity.

Season One of Black Books won the prestigious Best Sitcom award at the BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television) and was honored with a Bronze Rose at the Montreux Television Festival, also for Best Sitcom.

Boasting a sidesplitting array of bonus features including out-takes, cast commentary, a series two teaser trailer and photo gallery, Black Books: The Complete 1st Series will be available on January 10, 2006 for the suggested retail price of $24.98.

There’s also another chance to see Dylan Moran’s Monster, recorded live at The Village Theatre in New York. This acclaimed performance showcases his talents as an actor, writer and performer to incredible effect as he traverses across an array of topics taking the audience on an unpredictable journey that shifts fluidly from surreal fantasy to acerbic observation via linguistic gymnastics and flashes of the sublime. The effect is overwhelmingly funny and totally unforgettable. BBC AMERICA Comedy Live presents Dylan Moran airs Saturday, March 12, 2006 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.