Returning: Portlandia

Oddball US sketch comedy Portlandia returns to ABC2 this week and there are more stars making guest appearances.

Series two features Selma Blair, Heather Graham, Steve Buscemi, Kyle MacLachlan, director Gus Van Sant, Aimee Mann, Sarah McLachlan, James Mercer and local Portland musicians Jenny Conlee and Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), and Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney).

Created, written by and starring Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein (WILD FLAG, Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist), US sketch comedy series Portlandia returns for its second season. The show is driven by a series of hilarious character-based shorts all of which take place in ‘Portlandia’, the co-creators’ dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon where 90s culture reigns supreme and political correctness is all the rage.

Armisen and Brownstein play an array of colourful and unique characters which include a militant bike messenger; an artsy couple who attach cut-outs of birds to everything (“put a bird on it”); self-righteous feminist bookstore owners; and a punk rock couple.

In episode one, Fred and Carrie learn about the art of mixology and love as they venture outside of Portland on a quest. Bryce and Lisa gleefully sing about pickling anything and everything. And Toni and Candice get the repairman in to service the air conditioner at their feminist bookstore. Guest stars Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live).

Thursday, 18 April 2013 ABC2