Portlandia

Cradles Broken Glass · March 2011

I apologize if their is already a thread on this, but just in case there isn't one...I love this show!!! As an added bonus it stars the magnificent Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney. I'm sad b/c there probably isn't going to be a new show for a little while, but you can check it out on IFC if you are interested. Anyone else enjoy it?

Kilgore_Trout · March 2011

IFC has tons of stuff on it i always want to watch but i dont get that channel... i think i might upgrade so i can see this, todd margaret, onion news network, and arrested development reruns

Cradles Broken Glass · March 2011

Kilgore_Trout wrote:

IFC has tons of stuff on it i always want to watch but i dont get that channel... i think i might upgrade so i can see this, todd margaret, onion news network, and arrested development reruns

The Onion always comes on right before Portlandia on Friday nights, both are great. I'm also addicted to the Freaks and Geeks reruns. You should upgrade, I think it's one of my favorite channels, they also show some decent movies.

aspoonfulweighsaton · March 2011

I REALLY wanted to love this show and was looking forward to it for a while when I had first heard about it. Unfortunately, it's just really not that good IMO. I might laugh twice in the almost 30 minutes. The funniest skits are when they play a couple and Carrie is the guy with the mustache and wifebeater. That low voice cracks me up. I mean I appreciate weird and off-beat humor as much as anyone, but most of the skits just leave me either shaking or scratching my head.

The Aimee Mann thing was pretty hilarious though.

TheGhost · March 2011

It's way funnier if you're familiar with Portland. EVERYONE in town has an opinion about it. Personally, I'm proud that my town has a distinctive enough culture that it can be made into a cliche and mocked! Portland being described as "where young people go to retire" is priceless!

Cradles Broken Glass · March 2011

aspoonfulweighsaton wrote:

I REALLY wanted to love this show and was looking forward to it for a while when I had first heard about it. Unfortunately, it's just really not that good IMO. I might laugh twice in the almost 30 minutes. The funniest skits are when they play a couple and Carrie is the guy with the mustache and wifebeater. That low voice cracks me up. I mean I appreciate weird and off-beat humor as much as anyone, but most of the skits just leave me either shaking or scratching my head.

The Aimee Mann thing was pretty hilarious though.

"Cocoa" is now a running joke around my house. I think it's hilarious when she plays a guy. I agree that not all of the skits are hits, but it's definitely a quotable show. I thought the Aimee Mann thing was funny too. Also, the feminist bookstore is great.

Wobbie · January 2012

I just saw the EV episode. Portlandia is pretty much a :wtf: show.

81 · January 2012

imalive wrote:

I just saw the EV episode. Portlandia is pretty much a :wtf: show.

is it worth seeking out to view?

Sprunkn7 · January 2012

81 wrote:

imalive wrote:

I just saw the EV episode. Portlandia is pretty much a :wtf: show.

is it worth seeking out to view?

yes, worth watching....I thought it was funny. Rest of the show, meh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEqj68woTwA

LikeAnOcean · January 2012

I've been watching the first season on Netflix..

Pretty funny, but I could see how some might not find it amusing. It pokes a lot of fun at hipsters and the indie music scene.

thefixer9 · January 2012

I really tried to like that show but I'm just not that into it.

LikeAnOcean · January 2012

thefixer9 wrote:

I really tried to like that show but I'm just not that into it.

It's hit or miss with me. I don't laugh hard, but it keeps me amused.

thefixer9 · January 2012

Gob wrote:

thefixer9 wrote:

I really tried to like that show but I'm just not that into it.

It's hit or miss with me. I don't laugh hard, but it keeps me amused.

I mean it's ok to watch when there is nothing on to watch. It's not bad but it's not awesome...

musicismylife78 · January 2012

im both a hipster and a resident of the pacific northwest, so this show is close to home. I love the cameos by all the indie rock people. Colin Meloy, Corin Tucker, James Mercer, Aimee mann, Some jokes are so specific to the pacific northwest that i wonder if we are the only people that get it. The scene where they track down that guy who does the mixed drinks, and emerge from the car in California, and carrie says "what is that, why is it so bright (the sun was shining) and why is the sky and sun not covered by clouds." the bike references as well. Fixies are well known, but Portland is an especially bike friendly city. The mayor appeared for a quick second, as an aide for an actor who plays the mayor. but the real mayor of portland, sam adams has a George Washington type Isaac Brock in his office, and introduced the Decemberists this summer at their show in portland.

Its kind of interesting being the demographic and type of person they are mocking, but its a smart show. And plus its pretty damn meta, because the theme song, or song soundtracking the credits are Washed Out, a band thats popular with hipsters but fits the overused stereotype that its a band that is big with the indie folks but no one else knows who they are. And of course Carrie is a hipster herself, appearing on NPR, a resident of portland, and in two indie bands.

I personally think making fun of hipsters is old and tired. Its part of the reason, i flip out, or flipped out in that pitchfork thread i made a few weeks ago. People make fun of hipsters not because they really hate them, or dislike them, but because its cool and trendy to dislike and trash them. And the jokes that most people come up with are boring and cliche. Portlandia is self referential and smart and genuinely funny, plus you know its all tongue firmly planted in cheek because many of the cameos and the cast are all hipsters themselves. plus its damn accurate.

musicismylife78 · January 2012

plus if you arent familiar with any of the indie rock bands and ideas being referenced i think the show might seem pretty obscure and out there. The decemberists, the shins and Sleater Kinney as well as Aimee Mann, are all successful musicians, but how many people actually know what the band members look like, how many of the average viewing public would know what James Mercer or Colin Meloy look like? So I also think the show is pretty much written for and about hipsters. Washed Out appeared on a few best of 2011 lists, but again, how many people when they hear the theme song, pick up on that its Washed Out?

musicismylife78 · January 2012

oh yeah and how about them using jenny conlee who went by the name sparklepony in that skit? again, its so obscure im sure most people, even fans of the decemberists would miss it. Thats part of the fun of the show I think. Its lampooning and lambasting a segment of the population, yet throws a bone to the demographic in every single episode by referencing bands, or people or things only that demographic would be into or understand. As I said, millions of people know who the decemberists are, but how many people know what their accordian/keyboard player/piano player looks like?

LikeAnOcean · January 2012

musicismylife78 wrote:

oh yeah and how about them using jenny conlee who went by the name sparklepony in that skit? again, its so obscure im sure most people, even fans of the decemberists would miss it. Thats part of the fun of the show I think. Its lampooning and lambasting a segment of the population, yet throws a bone to the demographic in every single episode by referencing bands, or people or things only that demographic would be into or understand. As I said, millions of people know who the decemberists are, but how many people know what their accordian/keyboard player/piano player looks like?

I caught James Mercer from the Shins and Corin Tucker in a season 1 episode..

musicismylife78 · January 2012

Gob wrote:

musicismylife78 wrote:

oh yeah and how about them using jenny conlee who went by the name sparklepony in that skit? again, its so obscure im sure most people, even fans of the decemberists would miss it. Thats part of the fun of the show I think. Its lampooning and lambasting a segment of the population, yet throws a bone to the demographic in every single episode by referencing bands, or people or things only that demographic would be into or understand. As I said, millions of people know who the decemberists are, but how many people know what their accordian/keyboard player/piano player looks like?

I caught James Mercer from the Shins and Corin Tucker in a season 1 episode..

i did too, are you a fan of those bands? and of the music the show lampoons? i think the point is, james mercer and corin tucker could be in a crowd of people and go unnoticed by the majority of the people in the crowd.

LikeAnOcean · January 2012

musicismylife78 wrote:

Gob wrote:

musicismylife78 wrote:

oh yeah and how about them using jenny conlee who went by the name sparklepony in that skit? again, its so obscure im sure most people, even fans of the decemberists would miss it. Thats part of the fun of the show I think. Its lampooning and lambasting a segment of the population, yet throws a bone to the demographic in every single episode by referencing bands, or people or things only that demographic would be into or understand. As I said, millions of people know who the decemberists are, but how many people know what their accordian/keyboard player/piano player looks like?

I caught James Mercer from the Shins and Corin Tucker in a season 1 episode..

i did too, are you a fan of those bands? and of the music the show lampoons? i think the point is, james mercer and corin tucker could be in a crowd of people and go unnoticed by the majority of the people in the crowd.

The Shins are my second favorite band ever.

Wobbie · January 2012

musicismylife78 wrote:

im both a hipster and a resident of the pacific northwest, so this show is close to home.

what makes you a hipster? I only hear the term but don't really know what qualifies one as a hipster. :?

dcfaithful · January 2012

imalive wrote:

musicismylife78 wrote:

im both a hipster and a resident of the pacific northwest, so this show is close to home.

what makes you a hipster? I only hear the term but don't really know what qualifies one as a hipster. :?

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