"Motorcycle," this week's installment of Portlandia,included the sharpest sketch of the season, so far. (There are only threeepisodes left!) What makes the standout scene so remarkable is that it doesn't focus on Fred or Carrie, but on an elderly character actor. The sketch, "Adult Babysitter," co-stars Ellen Bloodworth, a Portland-based actor who trained in improv in Chicago in the1960s (with comedy legends like Mike Nichols and Elaine May), as a babysitter left in charge of watching Fred while Carrie has to go out for drinks with co-workers. Ellen's superior babysitting skills help manage Fred's attention deficiency while he bashes drums, plays video games and chugs beer. The sketch isn't online, but ifyou've seen it, then definitely check out this behind-the-scenes video where Fred, Carrie and director Jonathan Krisel discuss their thrill in discovering Ellen living in character. [Also note that Carrie says, "I want her back every year," hinting that we have many more seasons of Portlandia to look forward to!]
Overall, "Motorcycle" was a strong episode; at this point in the season, it really feels like Fred and Carrie are flexing their comedy muscles, figuring out what they do best and sticking to it. The episode's cold open sketch, "Small Hatchback," featured Fredand Carrie's knack for writing great slapstick comedy. I can't imagine thescript for this sketch said much more than, "Fred and Carrie try to cram JoannaNewsom's giant harp in the back of a tiny hatchback." I laughed hardest at the1:25 mark when Carrie flies in frame from out of nowhere and lands on the harplike a stage diver at a hardcore show. In addition to Newsom, the sublimely silly sketchalso has a cameo from Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold.
