IFC Greenlights Fred Armisen Comedy, ‘Portlandia

Posted on 06 August 2010 by Robert Seidman

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via press release:

IFC GREENLIGHTS ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES “PORTLANDIA,” FROM FRED ARMISEN, CARRIE BROWNSTEIN & JONATHAN KRISEL

Starring Armisen & Brownstein; Guest Starring Kyle MacLachlan

Broadway Video Producing

Series to Debut on IFC in 2011

Los Angeles, CA – August 6, 2010—IFC has greenlit “Portlandia,” an original short-based comedy series that lovingly illustrates the people and values of Portland, Ore.  Fred Armisen (“SNL”) and Carrie Brownstein (vocalist/guitarist, “Sleater-Kinney”) star in the series, alongside guest stars Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks,” “Sex & The City”) and Aubrey Plaza (“Parks and Recreation”).  Armisen and Brownstein write the series with Allison Silverman (“The Colbert Report”) and Jonathan Krisel (“SNL,” “Tim and Eric”), who is also the series’ director.  The series is executive produced by Lorne Michaels.  “Portlandia” begins production later this month and is shot entirely on location in Portland.

“This series truly personifies the sharp-cool-twisted filter of IFC’s programming,” said Debbie DeMontreux, senior vice president of original programming for IFC.  “Fred and Carrie are amazing artists and their distinct sense of humor makes this show uniquely IFC and sets it apart from anything else on television.  We’re equally excited to work with Lorne and Broadway Video given their legacy of producing such well known and well regarded shows.”

“I’m so excited about working on this,” said Armisen.  “It’s a passion project I have been working on with Carrie Brownstein for a while, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my off seasons from SNL.  Working with Lorne has been especially nice.”

Each half-hour episode of “Portlandia” will include interwoven short films starring Armisen and Brownstein, which portray the progressive personalities, aesthetics, and values of “Portlandia”, the creators’

dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Ore.  In the series’ premiere, viewers will meet the owners of a feminist book store; a militant bike messenger; an artsy couple who put cut-outs of birds on everything; and a punk rock couple negotiating a “safe word” to help govern their love life.  The first episode also depicts Armisen and Brownstein meeting with the Mayor of Portland (Kyle MacLachlan) who solicits the duo to write a new theme song for the city in a segment that also features the real mayor of Portland (Sam Adams) playing the assistant to MacLachlan’s “mayor.”  That theme song, and all the series’ original music, is written and performed by Armisen and Brownstein.

About IFC

IFC creates and champions authentic, original content that is “Always On. Slightly Off.”  Since 1994, IFC has cultivated television programming that challenges the conventions of storytelling.  Today, IFC continues to embrace content with an indie perspective.  Original series

- headlined by brand-defining scripted and sketch comedy – air alongside an extraordinary collection of films and cult TV shows.  Long and short-form original content inspired by music, web, gaming, animation, news, and culture is available on multiple platforms.  IFC provides viewers access to must-see festivals and events around the country, like the Film Independent’s Spirit Awards and SXSW.  IFC.com features exclusive video, podcasts, blogs, news and reviews cultivated and written by industry experts.  The network’s On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives fans the opportunity to watch select content from IFC whenever they want.  IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.

About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC

Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC).  Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world’s most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters, IFC Midnight and IFC Productions).  Additional information about Rainbow Media’s multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.

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