Portlandia
– This series on IFC isn't new (4th season comes out in 2014), but,
like too many things, it's new to me. Portlandia
is a sketch-comedy co-created and co-written by Fred Armisen, Carrie
Brownstein, and Jonathan Krisel (who also directs) and executive produced by
Lorne Michaels. Armisen, Krisel, and Michaels all come with the Saturday Night Live pedigree, of course,
but Brownstein, of the band Sleater-Kinney, is a newcomer to the TV world. And
she is simply brilliant to watch. The series takes place (and is shot entirely
on location) in Portland, Oregon, and it revels in the city's kooky reputation
through equal parts silliness and stinging social satire.
The first episode sets the tone via a song
that explains how the dream of the '90s (when people were encouraged to be
unambitious and weird) is alive in Portland—the city where young people go to
retire. Throughout each episode, Armisen and Brownstein play a series of
recurring characters that mock and celebrate what makes Portland so unique.
Having never been to Portland, I watch as an outsider. But like all the great
shows, it brings me in just far enough so that its world starts to feel both
familiar and entirely foreign to me (think M*A*S*H). The list of guest stars who
have visited—either as themselves or a crazy character—is also impressive: Aimee
Mann, Steve Buscemi, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Goldblum, Chloe Sevigny, Edward James
Olmos, Kyle MacLachlan, and many more. When Aimee Mann plays herself working as
the cleaning lady for a couple (played by Armisen and Brownstein) who are fans
of her music, but have much to criticize about her cleaning, you know that
something awesome is happening.
One final note: I love the series open. In the tradition of any successful open (the ones you watch with each episode), it creates a mood that perfectly matches the show. The music ("Feel It All Around" by Washed Out) feels both dark and happy and the video features locations around Portland shot in a greenish hue that's equal parts welcoming and odd. It's as much a character as the ones played by Brownstein and Armisen. It makes me want to go to there. Of course, despite the flannels still hanging in my closet, I'm not sure that my nerdy self could handle all that kookiness in person. But a visit would be nice.
One final note: I love the series open. In the tradition of any successful open (the ones you watch with each episode), it creates a mood that perfectly matches the show. The music ("Feel It All Around" by Washed Out) feels both dark and happy and the video features locations around Portland shot in a greenish hue that's equal parts welcoming and odd. It's as much a character as the ones played by Brownstein and Armisen. It makes me want to go to there. Of course, despite the flannels still hanging in my closet, I'm not sure that my nerdy self could handle all that kookiness in person. But a visit would be nice.
