This week in the paper, I wrote about two Portland State University researchers who dug into the “Portlandia hypothesis” about the city being where “young people go to retire.” The studies are really interesting and you should go read about them, but I was wondering what the people behind Portlandia think of all the hubbub around the joke. This year, I visited friends in LA, New York, and San Francisco and every single place I went, people responded to where I was from with some sort of line like, “Portland? Oh, so, you’re retired?”
For this week’s story, I emailed with Portlandia producer (and all-around nice guy) David Cress about the over-used joke, how it got started, and how it hits home.
MERCURY: Why do you think that “young people go to retire” joke has gotten so much traction—enough to warrant a study? In what ways is it an accurate jab at Portland?
DAVID CRESS: I do sympathize with academics and economists when they are trying to figure out some of the contradictions inherent in Portland economy. For instance, how does a city with such a low mean per-capita income support so may high-end restaurants and coffee shops and dog walkers? Who the hell can afford to live in all those condos? Having lived here for many years I ask myself those questions all the time.
How did that joke come about? Do you remember who originally said it or what you thought when you first heard it?
I first heard it at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival. I think it was Patton Oswalt who said his visit to Portland had convinced him someone had accidentally exploded an anti-ambition bomb in Portland. He also speculated that we may be, as a populace, smoking too much weed. I don’t believe any of our writers were at that show so it may be a conclusion many people are reaching at the same time.
The study found that young Portlanders are seeking work or already working at rates equal to the rest of the country, but that we have the highest underemployment for any city in the country. What are your thoughts on this reality, as someone who knows Portland well?
We do seem to have a great supply of educated and creative young people. Its been a plus to the film industry. The wages positions are good given the relative cost of living reduction of Portland over LA or NY so I don’t think that factors in. I think we get to choose candidates who in general are stronger than I’d get in LA or NY especially in the entry level positions and the less technical positions.
William Burroughs said this about San Francisco long before Fred Armisan stole it.
“before Fred Armisan stole it.”
Hello, this post is an interview with the guy who heard the joke and then decided to use the joke on Portlandia. His name is David Cress.
“For instance, how does a city with such a low mean per-capita income support so may high-end restaurants and coffee shops and dog walkers? Who the hell can afford to live in all those condos?”
Well, if you’re only counting the money actually made in Portland by working Portlanders, of course you’re going to come up short. If you could find a way to count all the money handed out to the hip, young transplants of Portland by their out-of-state parents, then perhaps you’d be able to explain that income gap.
Duh.
ROM, Cress seems to state that he heard something similar from Oswalt but that an unnamed writer who didn’t hear Oswalt’s set came up with it. In other words, we still don’t have an answer to the question. How will I sleep tonight?
Or rather we *do* have an answer. As the first commenter stated, Burroughs said it about San Francisco, probably during the hippie days. I’m pretty sure the Portlandia writer was aware of the Burroughs quote.
I’m looking forward tobreading about the origins of some of my favorite knock-knock jokes
Did he just openly admit that the most popular piece of his television show was ripped off from a stand-up act?
I didn’t think my opinion of Portlandia could get any lower.
The “ambition bomb” joke was completely different than the “where young people go to retire” joke.
I also love how furious this joke’s repetition makes Sarah.
Embrace it, Sarah – we all know from both personal experience (and from your article!) there are an above-average amount of people here who are happily, intentionally underemployed. That’s partially why the line has such staying power.
If we could find a way to count on Snagglepuss’ import strategy for the long term, we’d have the strongest economy possible:
“count all the money handed out to the hip, young transplants of Portland by their out-of-state parents…”
We don’t even have to offer anything in return (unless you count 1-hr-long waits at Pine State Biscuit).
The “joke” may be old by now, but it’s stuck around because the phrase is kind of clever.
And it’s unique, as opposed to the dumb and ripped-off “keep Portland weird.”
Agree with CC, although I don’t know that the pecentage of said individuals is all that high