Maybe it really appeals to me because, you know, I was totally into Portland before everybody knew about it. Now that's it's sold out and everything I don't live there anymore, but, I still like the show? Anyway, you've probably never heard about it.
I want to like this show. I'm giving it every damn chance in the world to be funny. But other than about 3 chuckles per episode.... it's not.
Like all sketch comedy, it's hit and miss. I've only seen two episodes, but I loved the one where the folk musician is a cleaning lady. The ultra-hip office new hire was pretty good too, and the scene at the cell phone company is pretty much exactly why I have a crappy cell.
It depends on what you like. I have friends who are not from Portland or have even been there tell me it's their new favorite show. I think it's hit or miss myself, but I appreciate the fact that it sometimes makes me cringe, because then I know it's not too far off from the truth.
I don't think the actors are from Portland. They should have hired locally. I don't find big laughs, but the weirdness is supposed to add to the amusing ambience. It kind of invites outsiders to laugh at short-haired hippies and the Portland subculture.
I watched 3 2-minute previews Thursday night OnDemand and I thought they talked like outsiders. You know, they had no Portland accent. Sounded foreign, like they came from at least Pendleton or somewhere. Some actor said he or she is from the East. Maybe I'll re-watch the 6 minutes to clarify this important point.
That was Aimee Mann from 'til Tuesday. Voices Carry? One of he biggest pop hits of the '80s? Hello? [video=youtube;EnKdg_H5Z4o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnKdg_H5Z4o[/video]
lol. I thought the exact same thing. It's doubly ironic to me because while I lived there about 2/3 of the people I knew weren't originally from Portland. So "hire locally" is an even weirder concept.
I tried the show last night, it's just too... "weird" for me. Maybe it's because i'm from Southern Oregon?
If you have comcast, even if you don't have the channel, its free ondemand. I think they are also streaming it on their website.
New season of Portlandia debuts tonight on IFC. http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2012/01/hey_portlanders_portlandia_sea.html I like the show. It's one of those shows where the second and third viewings are better than the first time you see an episode. Ride Complete!!
