‘Portlandia’ characters come to life

The television show had no sooner popped onto the IFC channel last year than it built a loyal and devoted following arguably not seen since the Rob Reiner-directed film “Spinal Tap” was released in 1984. Although “Spinal Tap” looks behind the scenes of “England’s loudest band,” and “Portlandia” shows everyday life in that Oregon city both do so with a special, ironic humor.

“I grew up in Seattle, actually,” said co-star and co-creator Carrie Brownstein during a recent online chat when asked if the stories are drawn from her life. “But I’ve lived in PDX [the airline code for Portland] for over a decade now. There are definitely a ton of ideas that come from just being a part of that city, being observant and what not. But a lot of it is drawn from my own life.”

Brownstein, a well-known musician from both Slater-Kinney and Wild Flag, and “Saturday Night Live” veteran Fred Armisen, the show’s co-creator and co-star, each have a huge storehouse of life experiences from which they could draw inspiration. Perhaps what makes “Portlandia” so popular is the everyman tone. Not only is it not elitist but it pokes fun at some socially sacred cows including feminists, vegetarians, and others in grass-roots America.

But the show that revolves around a whacky cast of characters played by Brownstein and Armisen is more than that. Anyone who missed last season’s third episode, where singer/songwriter Aimee Mann plays a cleaning lady in a whacky household — needs to watch it immediately.

“Portland is a good placeholder for the ways that people romanticize a city,” said Brownstein during the chat. “And it provides a unique aesthetic backdrop.”

Clearly the entire concept has resonated with a wide audience. “Portlandia The Tour” was recently extended to other cities, including Washington.

That will be fans’ chance to get up close and personal with some of the series’ best loved characters including Peter and Nance, the uber eco-conscious couple and, of course, Toni and Candice, the owners of the feminist bookstore Women and Women First.

Although there won’t be new characters introduced on the tour, there will likely be some on future episodes of the show. And there will be more guests to join the already impressive list that has included musician Eddie Vedder, director and actor Penny Marshall and actor and musician Tim Robbins.

There’s something about the lack of pretense in that statement that sums up why “Portlandia” may be so popular — it’s one of the few to walk a fine line. Instead of overtly laughing at a group, “Portlandia” laughs with a group, much as “Spinal Tap” did with musicians.

“We have scratched sketches but not necessarily because of meanness,” said Brownstein. “In general, I don’t think Portlandia is a mean-spirited show. It is an earnest show, a love letter.”

SClB