Dunno, hit or miss. Some bits are pretty good, others are torture and go on and on as if there's no director. It's roots are in SNL so it has that whiff of Andy Samberg inspired anti humor that tries to see just how uncomfortable they can make you before you turn away. It's very heavy on irony that's not ironic, almost like a fake show that the fake writers on 30 Rock would pitch as a plot device. But some bits are pretty good as long as they keep them short and tight.

Every time I watch this series it gets funnier. I don't even need local- grown organic weed to feel happy about it, the joy just emanates from my fair-trade TV, even my 12 year old adopted rescue alpaca thinks it's dope. I swear I've met every single Portlandia character, and there are a lot of them, in my own home town... all their foibles, their nuances, their ridiculousness... so brilliantly captured by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. I am Portlandia. No, we are Portlandia. This is observational humor on a whole new level. If you don't take life too seriously and like to laugh at those who do... this show is for you. TVTropes will need to add 100 more tropes after this show, because the characters are so precisely cut from the social fabric there is no ocean-polluting waste. I need more episodes.

I started watching PORTLANDIA one night when I couldn't find anything else and thought "Why not see what this is all about?" I am so glad I did.This is one of the most original sketch comedies since KIDS IN THE HALL from the 1980's. Armisen and Brownstein have created a zany collection of well-meaning oddballs, politically correct, former hippies and smug yuppies all occupying a quirky universe within the confines of Portland, Oregon.This is intelligent, satirical comedy that requires the viewer to notice the eccentricities of each new character they encounter, from the city's Reggae-loving mayor to the two militant feminist that run the "Women and Women First" bookstore. Both observational and situation gags abound! I personally have enjoyed it and I'm finishing up Season 2. Can't wait to see what new characters are introduced in the next few seasons.If you're a fan of sketch comedy or if you're just looking for something a little different, give it a shot. Great stuff!!

Because this is what people in Portland are really like(!) How hard is it to just write skits when you are just documenting people from real life...at least with Seinfeld, most people would agree it was actually funny and would make you actually laugh. Portlandia just makes me and my ex local bf cringe big time. Portland like the show is love or hate and it depends if you are doing a fly by visit or have to live in that long-term. The people there (especially the pretentious try hard hipsters or the downright overeducated coffee shop bums) are annoying as hell, JUST LIKE THIS SHOW. The only thing Portland's got going for it is the organic food scene and the cheap $2 movies!!!(Disclaimer: My review is formed from the fact I have only ever managed to see one episode - the first with the farm chicken- in its entirety - subsequent episodes were just too boring or annoying to sit through so only snippets were seen).