The opener was kind of a throwaway, but overall this was another strong episode. I actually laughed out loud several times, which doesn't always happen with Portlandia, even on a good night.
Hip Trouble
The harp sketch wasn't much of an opener. I feel like they would have opened with a stronger sketch if this one hadn't starred hipster empress Joanna Newsom. I liked the musical sound effects as they were trying to smash the harp into the trunk. There are a lot of low-key, goofy, pointless sketches on the show. I often enjoy them. With this one, I just keep wondering how she got the harp out into the country for the hippie jamboree in the first place. Very literal-minded of me, I know. Perhaps that means I am not the ideal audience for Portlandia, but I still like it a lot. So there.
Lost in Portlandia
In the main sketch, Peter (Fred Armisen) and Nance (Carrie Brownstein) (from the "Farm" sketch) get confused when a biker and his hot woman ride by, ask for directions, and call Peter an "old man." Feeling like they need to spark up their lives, they do this kind of half-assed Lost in America thing, with Nance, amusingly, on some kind of ridiculous motorized unicycle that she has trouble controlling. Their trip goes awry quickly as they run into a much "freer" couple (Ebbe Roe Smith and Kristine Levine, amusingly creepy) who mistake their pathetic show of coolness for a come-on.
Saggy Ass Girl Shorts Now in Stock
I can't explain my affection for the sketch that has a hapless Carrie trying to sell her old clothes to insanely judgmental and cruel used clothing store clerk Fred. The way he keeps showing the stuff to his co-worker, her inane cackle, and Carrie's stoic acceptance of the abuse all amused me, and them putting the sign in the window (see header) after she leaves, well, that's just funny. Lance (Brownstein) and Nina (Armisen) return, this time not as fruitfully as in the "Cacao" sketch. South Park already covered Facebook perfectly. Is that a fair comparison?
In the best sketch of the week, Carrie hires a sitter (Ellen Bloodworth, a standout in the "Hide and Seek" sketch from Season 1) to look after her fully grown boyfriend, Doug (Armisen) while she's out. Very funny, and very timely in its mocking of the sort of prolonged adolescence many men experience these days.
Aside from Newsome, this episode also featured Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes. I guess he was one of the hippies? Well, we know he was on the show, and that's the important thing, right?
Best Lines
"We always go out and do stuff and we watch TV late."
--Peter tries to convince Nance and himself that they haven't lost their edge.
"Oh my God. Do you live on a banana farm?"
--Snooty used clothing store clerk to Carrie after he smells her clothes.
"Hey, friend, would you two like to come in for some Pino Gree?"
--Older dude invites Peter and Nance in for some wine, and so much more.
"But make sure he eats something healthy, 'cause when I'm not here, he just wants to eat cereal all night."
--Carrie tells the sitter that Doug can have a snack with his beer.
"'Cause what that leads to is him on IMDB, and he leaves a lot of user comments for movies that haven't come out yet, and it all goes downhill from there."
--Carrie warns the sitter about Doug staring at the On Demand screen for too long.
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