Oh, joy! Another very strong episode of Portlandia. The more consistent it is, the less time I waste wondering why every woman I know likes the show so much.
A Different Dream
They tricked me. When the show opened with Jason (Fred Armisen) from LA talking to Melanie (Carrie Brownstein) about his trip to Portland and "the dream of the '90s," I started wondering, is this a repeat? But no, this is a clever revamp of that song from the pilot, wherein Jason explains how the traditions of Portland (home brewing, knitting, handlebar mustaches, etc.) are similar to those of the 1890s. It was a solid opening, featuring the gentle mockery of hipsterism that these guys have gotten so adept at. The show just got better from there.
Toddler Tastemakers
The main sketch featured the welcome return of Kyle MacLachlan as the mayor. Upset that his police department stopped a performance of "Trek in the Park," (meaning Star Trek), he asks Fred and Carrie to help improve the image of the local police. They naturally decide that a fashion makeover is in order. So we get to see Annie Clark (That was St. Vincent, right? I really worry about missing all the cool musical cameos.) modeling a stylish poofy police miniskirt for a grizzled old police chief (Lester B. Hanson).
A Gateway to Other Mediocre Pop Music
There was also an odd but funny animated sketch about hipster rats plotting to raid a "zero packaging" food market. Actually, on a good night, the phrase "odd but funny" applies to everything on this show. My favorite sketch was the one where Fred and Carrie play parents who are horrified because their preschool's music library includes an album by Mike and the Mechanics. I think that Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse was in that one. The Sean Hayes bit about the bad art warehouse for coffee shops was the closest this episode came to a sketch falling flat.
I recommend this show to pretty much everyone, because it's mostly light and accessible, but sometimes people tell me, "It's weird." Well, yeah, but if you laugh, the weirdness is working. Like those goofy sound effects when that map in the mayor's office kept falling off the wall. Why was that so funny?
Best Lines
"People took streetcars. They rode inconvenient gearless bicycles that hurt your back."
--Melanie discusses the 1890s.
"Hi, I'm a person. I live up on Main Street..."
--A rat (Armisen) calls the "zero packaging" market for more info.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm also not sorry to interrupt."
--Brendan (Armisen) has to draw the attention of his fellow parents to the preschool's music library.
"What that is, is a gateway to other mediocre pop music."
--Carrie shoots down a parent who defends Mike and the Mechanics' "The Living Years."
"There's not many places to put the gun, but she won't need to carry a gun, because she can arrest with those looks."
--Carrie describes a police outfit during the fashion show.
Recommendations:
