IFC has announced that its flagship Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning sketch series Portlandia will return in 2018 for its eighth and final season. The series, currently airing Thursdays at 10PM, has captivated viewers and critics alike since its premiere in 2011 by lovingly satirizing our society’s idiosyncrasies by exploring the eccentric misfits who embody the foibles of modern culture. Portlandia was created by Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel. The show is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and produced by Broadway Video.
“I am so proud to have worked with Fred, Carrie and the entire cast and crew-family of Portlandia to make something so funny and so special,” said creator, executive producer, writer and director Krisel.
Said IFC President, Jennifer Caserta: “There are very few shows that can be credited with both establishing and helping to define a television network, and that’s exactly what Portlandia has done for IFC. It has been at the heart of our ‘slightly-off’ comedy programming strategy since its inception. It is a joy and a privilege to work with Fred, Carrie, Jon, Lorne and everyone at Broadway Video to create a show that was prescient in its satirization of modern culture while having a sensibility and state-of-mind that has only become more prevalent across its run. Only this team of multi-hyphenates could have predicted the increasingly relevant impact that farm to table dining, binge-watching, a TSA red carpet or the pitiful plight of men would have on society. But all good things must come to an end, and we very much look forward to Season 8 or as Bryce Shivers and Lisa Eversman might say… put a bird on it!”
Since debuting six years ago, Portlandia has become a cultural conversation-starter, portraying the great city of Portland as being inhabited by a variety of residents played by Armisen and Brownstein. These resonant characters, such as feminist bookstore owners Toni and Candace, bohemian couple Peter and Nance, and local curators Lisa Eversman and Bryce Shivers, have all managed to perfectly crystallize the hilarity in pickling, artisan coffee, organic chicken, social media protesting and even brunch. Guest stars from the worlds of film, television, music and sports have visited Portlandia through the years including Louis CK, Claire Danes, Judy Greer, Kristen Wiig, Damian Lillard, Natasha Lyonne, Lauri Metcalf, Glenn Danzig, Rose Byrne, recurring guests Kyle MacLachlan, Steve Buscemi, Jeff Goldblum and Kumail Nanjiani, and many more.
Portlandia continues to be as popular as ever as Season 7 premiered earlier this month to great acclaim. Its earlier seasons have been recognized with a Peabody Award in 2012, a Writer’s Guild Award in 2013, four Creative Arts Emmy Awards (most recently, the Outstanding Production Design Award in 2016 for Season 6), and 17 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
In addition to their role as creators, Armisen, Brownstein and Krisel serve as writers and executive producers of Portlandia, along with co-executive producer Graham Wagner. Broadway Video’s Andrew Singer is also an executive producer. Veteran Portlandia director Jonathan Krisel is joined in Season 7 by guest directors Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Alice Mathias, Steve Buscemi, and Bill Benz. Portlandia is shot entirely on location in Portland, Oregon.
Portlandia Seasons 1-6 are available now on Netflix and iTunes. Catch up on Season 7 on demand and on all IFC platforms.
