Today, it’s been exactly 11 years since “Portlandia” debuted on IFC, and the dream of the ‘90s is still alive in Portland. In honor of the show that elicits hearty chuckles + eye rolls — it’s funny because it’s (almost) always true — we’re looking at some of the most on-brand moments from Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s sketch comedy.
If you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at? | Gif via Portlandia
We certainly like to eat locally + ethically sourced food in Portland, and the more we know, the better. The diners in this scene even receive the “papers” for the poultry they’ll be enjoying, which was “fed a diet of sheep’s milk, soy, and hazelnuts.”
Perhaps the most relatable scene of all involves vitamin D-starved Portlanders chasing a single spot of sunlight around the city.
Who’s ready for a tan? | Gif via Portlandia
Anyone who’s spent springtime in the Willamette Valley knows that the pollen + hayfever are no joke, but this skit about being proud of what gives you hives is hilarious. When peanuts + shellfish team up for a pad Thai-themed float — one announcer points out, “Really, for some people, a Thai restaurant is a deathtrap.”
No, You Go: S2, E3
Maybe we’re too polite, or just don’t understand right-of-way, but this standoff at the intersection of Pine Street + 16th Avenue quickly devolves into car washing and getting food delivered.
No, you tow. | Gif via Portlandia
There was never a shortage of celebrity cameos, and when Jeff Goldblum plays a purveyor of artisanal knots + later of doilies, writers struck comedy gold.
Mayhem ensues when two people bring their newly rescued dog Quicksilver (he was saved from a tsunami) to the park. Just “keep your voice down when you say the word water.”
You can never be over-equipped for a hike in Forest Park — well, maybe you can.
Never go for a used GPS. | Gif via Portlandia
Growing older + having to bump up an acquaintance to a friendship is all too real, but when Damian Lillard is available, it’s not so bad.
Lance + Nina invite a humane exterminator to help encourage the ants infesting their home to leave, using a special kombucha blend of course. See if you can catch Fred Armisen cracking up at the 41-second mark.
It’s sort of a carrot and stick situation. | Gif via Portlandia
Whether it’s a film screening or a concert at Edgefield, there always seems to be people who want to set up their living room on the lawn.
Toni and Candance, owners of the fictional feminist bookstore Women & Women First, are two recurring characters who are always caught up in mischief — like harassing a poor air conditioner repairman.
