This is such a quirky series. We are never to ask why a man who hates books and customers and all the stuff that goes with running a bookstore would own one. In this one, Manny is asked to come work for Bernard who can't remember asking him. After he starts the job there are a series of hilarious events, including the job interview. Also, whenever customers arrive, they are abused and shouted at. Manny has a more conventional view of business. Fran, of course, is also in her own world. This hilarious little comedy is delightful and original.
5 Reviews
Manny gets the job.
Sleepin_Dragon21 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Manny turns up at Fran's gift shop, explaining that he's got a job with Bernard at Black Books. Bernard is unaware he's hired Manny, having been horrendously drunk when he offered him the job. Manny's given a one day trial, he's given the rules of the shop. Manny's suggestions for improvements to the shop don't go down well, and when he sells a load of books Bernard has no other option then to let him go, until Fran steps in.
Drunken Irishman in a comedy, it's a winner for me! I love the premise, I love the trio of main actors, the show was an absolute winner, this was a great episode, fun gags, especially the mobile phone and the angry customer.
Great script, slick delivery and great timing, excellent episode 9/10
Drunken Irishman in a comedy, it's a winner for me! I love the premise, I love the trio of main actors, the show was an absolute winner, this was a great episode, fun gags, especially the mobile phone and the angry customer.
Great script, slick delivery and great timing, excellent episode 9/10
'You there - Lord of the Rings, let's talk about how this whole, er, one-day-trial thing is going. At the moment you're fired.'
scorfield-5171114 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Bill Bailey's character, Manny, has been offered work in Bernard's bookshop, but the latter has no recollection,having made the offer after being blind drunk. The plot then centres on our die-cast misanthrope looking for any opportunity to retract that offer throughout the working day.
This episode highlights how Moran became the youngest ever winner of the Perrier Award in 1996, and that in the closest vote ever, he pipped Bailey into second place. Even Moran states Bailey should have won. Moreover, co-written by Linehan, this episode also has his unmistakable comedic flourishes, aside from making a cameo appearance as the most eager book buyer ever. The first of these has to be the physical comedy, shot perfectly, of Black swaying back from the bar to the wrong table to seal the deal on Manny's employment to the bemusement of an old lady. Another has to be the appearance of a fly in the shop,which after landing on the accounts ledger for the briefest moment, leaves in disgust, slamming the door on the way out.
Black veers from inventing reasons to get rid of Manny, from inventing stories, such as telling Fran he was 'sucking his trousers and laughing' to welcoming Manny back on board with the offer of a celebratory bottle of wine. The best scene is when Manny, having placed a bet with Black that he can recommend and sell a book to the next customer to walk in, is met with blasts of fury and vitriol from the angriest man one could meet.
Once again, Black's anti-social attitude towards his customers is to the fore, with our foul-mouthed 'Fawlty' ridiculously at one point in anguish declaring his wish that they leave him alone. Indeed, his reputation is such amongst the local clientele that as soon as they realise the shop is open and Black has departed they descend en masse to clear the shelves. Moran and Linehan have hit a rich seam of hilarity from the absurdity of a man running a bookshop with no interest in selling books. Hence his open displeasure at having to replenish his stock,and the classic line delivered to Manny: 'You sold a lot of books. You got on well with the customers. I Have to fire you'.
Moran later revealed in interview that his character of Bernard Black was based upon a real-life Dublin second-hand bookshop owner, who looked like he had: 'swallowed a cup of sour milk and peed himself at the same time.' Moreover, he had 'this green bilious expression, years of displeasure have shaped his face'. Black's lack of hygiene, and social etiquette is brilliantly shown in this episode by his 'freshening up' simply by directing the shower spray in his face, and his wheeling of his chair to slovenly urinate through the open doorway of the shop toilet. He even declares that he had thought he was gay until 'I found out about the prohibitive standards of hygiene, and all that dancing'.
This episode fleshes out to a much greater extent the character of Bernard's oldest friend, and next-door shop-owner, Fran Katzenjammer, played by Tamzin Greig. Relieved that she has in Manny a degree of normality, she actively encourages his appointment. Though during the series we learn very little of her past, Manny's questioning of any sexual relationship with Black, leads to the latter's wonderful summation: 'she remembers, and I'm not allowed.' Katzenjammer is the German term for 'a hangover', and it is obvious that Fran and Bernard's friendship has been imbibed with alcohol. Their lunch-times are spent over a bottle, and here Fran takes this as an opportunity to get to know more about Manny. This also allows the writers to highlight Black's caustic attitude, and the brilliance of the script. As soon as Manny tells them he was born in London, Bernard retorts: 'Not so fast David Copperfield. If you're going to go that far back, we're going to need popcorn or something.'
The power-relationship between Fran and Bernard becomes clear when, learning that Bernard has fired Manny at the end of the day, she metes out a physical beating to get him reinstated. The juvenile attitude of Black is summed up neatly, when having earlier had the comic set-up that Manny suffers from a sharp pain to the head just before his mobile rings, Black petulantly sets his phone to redial at the close of the episode.
One footnote to the episode is that of the many uncomplimentary terms Black uses to name his assistant, the one highlighted above for this episode nearly became even more salient as Bailey unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Gimli, the dwarf, in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
This episode highlights how Moran became the youngest ever winner of the Perrier Award in 1996, and that in the closest vote ever, he pipped Bailey into second place. Even Moran states Bailey should have won. Moreover, co-written by Linehan, this episode also has his unmistakable comedic flourishes, aside from making a cameo appearance as the most eager book buyer ever. The first of these has to be the physical comedy, shot perfectly, of Black swaying back from the bar to the wrong table to seal the deal on Manny's employment to the bemusement of an old lady. Another has to be the appearance of a fly in the shop,which after landing on the accounts ledger for the briefest moment, leaves in disgust, slamming the door on the way out.
Black veers from inventing reasons to get rid of Manny, from inventing stories, such as telling Fran he was 'sucking his trousers and laughing' to welcoming Manny back on board with the offer of a celebratory bottle of wine. The best scene is when Manny, having placed a bet with Black that he can recommend and sell a book to the next customer to walk in, is met with blasts of fury and vitriol from the angriest man one could meet.
Once again, Black's anti-social attitude towards his customers is to the fore, with our foul-mouthed 'Fawlty' ridiculously at one point in anguish declaring his wish that they leave him alone. Indeed, his reputation is such amongst the local clientele that as soon as they realise the shop is open and Black has departed they descend en masse to clear the shelves. Moran and Linehan have hit a rich seam of hilarity from the absurdity of a man running a bookshop with no interest in selling books. Hence his open displeasure at having to replenish his stock,and the classic line delivered to Manny: 'You sold a lot of books. You got on well with the customers. I Have to fire you'.
Moran later revealed in interview that his character of Bernard Black was based upon a real-life Dublin second-hand bookshop owner, who looked like he had: 'swallowed a cup of sour milk and peed himself at the same time.' Moreover, he had 'this green bilious expression, years of displeasure have shaped his face'. Black's lack of hygiene, and social etiquette is brilliantly shown in this episode by his 'freshening up' simply by directing the shower spray in his face, and his wheeling of his chair to slovenly urinate through the open doorway of the shop toilet. He even declares that he had thought he was gay until 'I found out about the prohibitive standards of hygiene, and all that dancing'.
This episode fleshes out to a much greater extent the character of Bernard's oldest friend, and next-door shop-owner, Fran Katzenjammer, played by Tamzin Greig. Relieved that she has in Manny a degree of normality, she actively encourages his appointment. Though during the series we learn very little of her past, Manny's questioning of any sexual relationship with Black, leads to the latter's wonderful summation: 'she remembers, and I'm not allowed.' Katzenjammer is the German term for 'a hangover', and it is obvious that Fran and Bernard's friendship has been imbibed with alcohol. Their lunch-times are spent over a bottle, and here Fran takes this as an opportunity to get to know more about Manny. This also allows the writers to highlight Black's caustic attitude, and the brilliance of the script. As soon as Manny tells them he was born in London, Bernard retorts: 'Not so fast David Copperfield. If you're going to go that far back, we're going to need popcorn or something.'
The power-relationship between Fran and Bernard becomes clear when, learning that Bernard has fired Manny at the end of the day, she metes out a physical beating to get him reinstated. The juvenile attitude of Black is summed up neatly, when having earlier had the comic set-up that Manny suffers from a sharp pain to the head just before his mobile rings, Black petulantly sets his phone to redial at the close of the episode.
One footnote to the episode is that of the many uncomplimentary terms Black uses to name his assistant, the one highlighted above for this episode nearly became even more salient as Bailey unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Gimli, the dwarf, in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
Really absurd
CursedChico8 November 2020
Manny's First Day
Prismark101 June 2020
If you are eagle eyed you will spot co-writer Graham Linehan in this episode.
A drunk Bernard mistakenly offered Manny a job in the pub and the next morning Manny is at work.
Bernard realises that he has made a mistake and places him on trial.
Unlike Bernard, Manny wants to sell books which upsets Bernard
It is a clash of the misanthrope Bernard and the good natured Manny which leads the comedy. Then there is mischievous Bernard who keeps ringing Manny's mobile phone for the pain in his head it causes
Although you do wonder if the customers have ever heard of Waterstones.
A drunk Bernard mistakenly offered Manny a job in the pub and the next morning Manny is at work.
Bernard realises that he has made a mistake and places him on trial.
Unlike Bernard, Manny wants to sell books which upsets Bernard
It is a clash of the misanthrope Bernard and the good natured Manny which leads the comedy. Then there is mischievous Bernard who keeps ringing Manny's mobile phone for the pain in his head it causes
Although you do wonder if the customers have ever heard of Waterstones.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
