TV show review: Portlandia

A few weeks ago I started watching this show. It is a semi-abstract/surreal comedy series, featuring two actors/comedians who play a wide assortment of different characters. I'm nearly at the end and I haven't gotten sick of it yet, so I think I can be confident in calling this a Good Show.

The premise is that it takes place in Portland and is (at times) a satire of the culture there. It's... difficult to convey the nature of the show in words. I think it's the kind of thing that you really have to watch in order to grasp.

It might not be for everyone, but I've liked it. It's a nice mindless watch; a bit more offbeat/quirky than Parks and Rec or the American Office. (weaknesses: eczema) It's been quite awhile since I watched either version of The Office, although to my recollection, the UK version has a drier sense of humor. The American version is... not terrible, but definitely overrated. (it's a good thing Russia doesn't exist anymore)

So far, the best episodes of Portlandia I remember have been:
Spyke Drives
Nina's Birthday
No-Fo-O-Fo-Bridge
Pull-Out King
Getting Away
The Story of Toni and Candace
Healthcare
Pickathon
Lance is Smart

ETA: Amore and Rose Route. Open Relationship specifically for the gleefully surreal and dark "Snails" sketch. That's got to be one of my favorites.

Anyways, Portlandia + Arrested Development pretty much comprise the entirety of my comedy consumption these days. Occasionally I might watch one of the later-night shows -- I think Seth Meyers is somewhat superior to the others I've watched in the past. He reminds me the most of Jon Stewart's Daily Show.

ETA Dec. 24: Alrighty, I've finished Portlandia (for the most part -- I skipped a few episodes here and there if they seemed boring, but I might go back and watch them later). Overall it's a decent show, but sometimes it's hit or miss. There are definitely episodes/sketches that stand out as better than the others. Some/many are forgettable. It is not like Arrested Development in which *all* of the episodes (well, that I've seen. Haven't watched the appended newer seasons) are good.