Two views of 'Portlandia'

The "real" Portlandia

Given the barrage of publicity this past weekend, I imagine a lot of you have already read what critics and ordinary viewers had to say about "Portlandia," the IFC cable show that premiered on Friday.

Reporter William Yardley went to The Gilt Club, where the opening sketch was filmed (and where Lori and I have eaten dinner a couple of times), in putting together his piece, "Can a City This Self-Serious Take a Joke?"

The Oregonian's Kristi Turnquist asked readers to weigh in with their thoughts. Check 'em out here.

For a change of pace, consider these two perspectives from the I-5 corridor -- one from Seattle, another from Salem.

The Everywhereist explains "Why Seattlites Love Portlandia"

For us, Portland is like our town’s weird little sister. She shows up to family reunions with new piercings and tattoos, and a life-partner of unspecified gender named Nico. Compared to our stodgier siblings in Idaho, Montana, or even Northern California, Seattle is hip and cutting edge. But next to the counter-culture Bohemia of Portland? We’ve become mainstream. We’re the alternative music section in Target.

Meanwhile, Hinesight says "'Portlandia' makes this Salemite envious."

(M)y wife and I watched the first episode of IFC's Portlandia with more than a little city-envy. Portland is just way hipper, greener, progressive, and energetic than our sleepy Salem. I can't begin to imagine what a comparable Salemandia TV series would be like. All I know is that it'd be boring.

 How about you, readers? Seen it? Thoughts?

Photograph: www.larson-tech.com