Black Books: Series 2 (2001)

TV. Hm, *not* as original or as funny as Monty Python or Seinfeld but definitely as funny as Will Ferrell on any given day. And Dylan Moran as Bernard Black does not *shine* exactly -- it's more of a scruffy, muzzy, *smear* really -- if you don't mind the smell. (Warning: Do not eat anything this man prepares in the grimy "kitchen" of his open-and-closed ptomaine tavern! And mind the growling critters underfoot and in the pots!) Dylan Moran as the shop owner is as surly as ever. Bill Bailey as his assistant shines even more brightly (esp. in his outright piano playing, however, his underhanded performances are clearly preposterous). Tamsin Greig has lost her shop next door so seems demoted in script attention but still holds her own. Black Books is an affectionately funny show that grows on you because of the chemistry the trio has together but I wouldn't call it hilarious when I can see many of the jokes coming a kilometer away. Have a laugh or two! 3.5 stars.