carrie-brownstein
In Portlandia, Brunch Is Never That Simple
Matt Toder · 03/10/12 12:19AMTonight's season finale of Portlandia was a rather different beast than previous episodes: instead of a series of sketches with one recurring story, "Brunch Village" was one story that brought a few characters together. While it wasn't as strong as some previous episodes, the journey that Peter took from indecisive wimp to conquering hero was well rendered, with the added layer of him claiming a decisive victory over indecision. Plus, lampooning brunch is right in the show's wheelhouse.
In Portlandia, Never Leave Your Bike with the Valet
Matt Toder · 03/02/12 10:46PMThe best sketch from an otherwise subpar episode of Portlandia featured Fred and Carrie doing another experiment with off-beat entrepreneurialism. In the past, we've seen them try to be movers who only biked across town or environmentalists who start their own recycling firm. This week, they were bike valets, in a sketch that highlights the contradiction between Portland's earthy bike culture and the service-y realm of valet parking. The business didn't work, but the sketch sure did.
In Portlandia, Recycling is Very Important and Very Specific
Matt Toder · 02/24/12 11:22PMSome of the best Portlandia sketches are pseudo-commercial types where characters attempt to sell not just a product but a way of live to us. In this sketch, twins Marcus and Madeleine attempt to sell us recycling, their particular brand of recycling, and it comes off great. The constant asides, the subtle music cues, and the hilarious prop at the end make for a great sketch.
In Portlandia, Facebook Can Literally Save Your Life (Almost)
Matt Toder · 02/18/12 12:13AMTonight's episode of Portlandia was especially strong, crafting great sketches from the subjects right in its wheelhouse: the inability to remain cool as we age and the infantilization of male hipsters. This sketch brought them both together superbly, as Fred and Carrie swapped genders to bring back Nina and Lance. It's a great bit of commentary about our reliance on technology and the power struggle inherent to any relationship. Also, that completely superfluous fart sound effect is perfect.
Kristin Wiig Stops By Portlandia To Take Fred and Carrie Hostage
Matt Toder · 02/11/12 01:38AMSometimes Portlandia delivers biting social satire of about how lame it is to be cool and sometimes it serves up something a little more absurd. On tonight's episode, Fred and Carrie discover that the key to music stardom is including a cat in their band, which leads to them being taken hostage by guest star Kristin Wiig.
Portlandia Takes Us Back to the Whisker Wars of the 1890's
Matt Toder · 02/04/12 12:30AMThe first sketch of IFC's Portlandia was about how Portland, Oregon is stuck in the 1990's. Now that the series is right in the middle of its second season, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are revising that thesis: Portland is actually stuck in the 1890's, what with the microbrews, the beards, and the general aesthetic of lumberjack chic. Portlandia does a great job of critiquing the posturing that is meant to pass as cool and this sketch really nails it. It also includes one of the series' great lines when Carrie realizes what's happening in Portland and declares, "it's like if President McKinley was never assassinated."
Boise Man Finds Portlandia Offensive: 'White Subcultural Equivalent of a Minstrel Show'
Maureen O'Connor · 01/20/12 05:01PMPortlandia's First Season Finishes Strong
Whitney Jefferson · 02/28/11 03:00PMPortlandia: Sorry About the Music Industry's Downfall, Aimee Mann and Sarah Mclachlan
Whitney Jefferson · 02/07/11 01:00PMPortlandia: Put a Bird on It
Whitney Jefferson · 01/31/11 01:59PMFred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are a Delight on Late Night
Whitney Jefferson · 01/21/11 01:20PMPortlandia begins tonight on IFC! Naturally, Fred and Carrie took to Jimmy Fallon's show for a game which involved drawing random songs to perform with instruments they had never played before. Let's see how it all worked out.
Portlandia Pegs Media Snobs With "Did You Read?"
Whitney Jefferson · 01/11/11 07:00PMWho's Excited for IFC's Portlandia?
Whitney Jefferson · 12/16/10 01:15PMThat's The Way Love Goes: A Valentine's Day for Everyone
Gabriel Snyder · 02/10/10 04:16PMEmily Gould · 10/19/07 01:00PM
Have you been wondering what Carrie Brownstein is up to now that Sleater Kinney has disbanded? We had forgotten to! Anyway, it turns out that she randomly but wonderfully has a sketch comedy website with Fred Armisen now. The one about a feminist bookstore deciding what can and cannot go on the bulletin board is particularly amazing. "My problem with this one is, when I see this drumhead, I see a woman's face. A woman's face on Super Bowl Sunday."