Here’s a ‘graph from Salon’s review of Portlandia (premiering tonight on IFC, 10:30 pm)—which asks (but doesn’t answer) if the show is actually funny.
The series rather pointedly teases a core section of IFC’s audience — a portion that will watch Armisen and Brownstein’s antics very closely, with an eye for accuracy, and then either roar with recognition and approval, or go on the Internet immediately and write a blog entry about how “Portlandia” doesn’t get Portland or Oregon or feminist bookstores or urban bike culture. Armisen and Browstein’s masterstroke is showing how certain flavors of modern leftist sensitivity/engagement can seem (to outsiders) like passive-aggressive self-absorption laced with contempt for the unenlightened.
Yeah, Salon… but IS IT FUNNY?? Perhaps they never answer that question because anyone who doesn’t think Portlandia is a fall-down LOLocaust either “doesn’t get the joke” or is a butt-sore, white-pants wearin’, fixie-riding, mustachioed hipster.
OH! And speaking of me: With 2% of all precincts reporting, here are the current standings of yesterday’s poll in which I asked “How Full of Shit is Wm. Steven Humphrey?” in regards to my review of Portlandia.
As you can see, a strong majority of you think I’m either pretty full or overflowing with shit. But the voting day is still young! (Actually, I’m wildly surprised anybody thought I was completely shit-less—let alone 13% of you! Carrie and Fred should totally write a sketch about you bike-ridin’, indie-emo-rockin’, organic arugula-eatin’ idiots!)
“passive-aggressive self-absorption laced with contempt for the unenlightened”
We have none of that in Portland.
My take is I’m fine with the subject matter, but execution is so-so. 6 episodes on IFC is about right. Also still not sure how it would be interesting to anyone not familiar with Portland, or a place that shares a lot of these traits with Portland.
Take away from Hump’s review: can we all agree to never use the term “creative class” unless it’s dripping in irony?
What SEO consultant said to keep pimping this biznitch?
@Blabby Yeah, I’m also not totally sure how interesting it would be to folks who are not familiar with Portland.
This isn’t a very sophisticated thing to say, but I think once its run is over, many of us will look fondly back at “that time when there was a sketch comedy show about portland.”
The show itself is clearly on the absurd end of the spectrum – which I appreciate. I don’t think carrie and fred are pissed at stuff. Some jokes/themes tank, and others are funny. But for the ones that tank – who cares (I doubt they even care all that much). They’re just trying to have fun and be weird.
What Blabby said. I think it could get better as they move along but it’s needs to move beyond the one-joke-per-skit-by-way-of-SNL/Lonely Island-style. If they could start layering jokes and moving to longer skits it could become more than Fred and Carrie play dress-up.