Am I the only one that thinks “Portlandia” isn’t funny?

You know, I used to think that I just didn’t get it. And then for a while, I thought it was a bit crazy or pretentious. But now, after giving it an honest-to-god chance I can say it with confidence:

Portlandia isn’t funny. It just is not.

The new sketch comedy break out hit from IFC starring Fred Armisin and Carrie Brownstein was just added to the netflix roster and at first glance it seemed to have a lot going for me to like. A couple of good comedians doing sketches about the young, hip, organic-lifstyle living residents of Portland. Basically, a sketch show making fun of hipsters.

What ensues is a show that just completely falls flat. Sure, I’ll muster a chuckle every twenty minutes. Don’t get me wrong, I love jokes about hipsters and how ridiculous they and there culture are; I also know that a subject like this can be funny because if seen examples of it outside of this show. I can’t help but think that Portlandia goes about it all wrong. It’s too heavy handed. There is no subtlety or being coy. The sketches are played up so much and amplified as if to say “Oh by the way, this shit is really funny so laugh at it.” And I just can not abide that.

A show that seems to get off on how clever it thinks it is just completely un appealing to me. But if you make a show that thinks its more clever than it really is, then I suppose you can call it the quintessential hipster show by its ideals alone.

1. notesfromlester posted this