10 Shows & Movies Like Portlandia (2011)

Description: Curb Your Enthusiasm and Portlandia both thrive on awkward social interactions and improvised dialogue. While Curb focuses on Larry David's misadventures in Hollywood, Portlandia does the same for Portland's hipster scene, with both shows finding humor in the minutiae of everyday life.

Fact: The show is largely improvised, with only a rough outline for each episode. Larry David initially didn't want to appear on camera but was convinced by the producers. The 'Seinfeld' reunion episode in Season 7 was a ratings hit.

Description: Arrested Development and Portlandia both use rapid-fire jokes, callbacks, and absurd situations to critique societal norms. While Portlandia focuses on hipster culture, Arrested Development skewers wealthy family dysfunction with a similar irreverent tone.

Fact: The show was famously canceled due to low ratings despite critical acclaim. The Bluth family's banana stand is a nod to a real frozen banana stand in Newport Beach. The narrator, Ron Howard, was uncredited in the first season.

Description: Like Portlandia, It's Always Sunny thrives on cringe humor and satirical takes on modern life, though with a darker edge. Both shows feature characters who are oblivious to their own absurdity, creating comedy out of their misguided attempts to navigate the world.

Fact: The show was originally rejected by multiple networks before FX picked it up. Danny DeVito joined the cast in Season 2 to boost ratings. The gang's bar, Paddy's Pub, is based on a real dive bar in Philadelphia.

Description: 30 Rock and Portlandia share a surreal, fast-paced comedic style and a love for satirizing niche cultures—30 Rock targets the TV industry, while Portlandia mocks hipster lifestyles. Both shows feature strong, quirky female leads (Liz Lemon and various Portlandia characters).

Fact: Tracy Morgan often ad-libbed his lines, leading to some of the show's funniest moments. The character of Jack Donaghy was inspired by NBC executive Jeff Zucker. The show won multiple Emmys but struggled with ratings throughout its run.

Description: Like Portlandia, Parks and Recreation is a satirical comedy that pokes fun at local government and quirky small-town culture. Both shows feature eccentric characters and a mockumentary style, highlighting the absurdities of everyday life with a mix of dry and absurd humor.

Fact: The character of Ron Swanson was inspired by a real-life Libertarian government official. Amy Poehler was pregnant during the first season, which is why her character often carries large bags or stands behind desks. The show was initially criticized for being too similar to The Office but later found its own unique voice.

Description: Community, like Portlandia, thrives on meta-humor and pop culture parody. Both shows celebrate weirdness and feature characters who are deeply invested in their own bizarre subcultures, whether it's a community college study group or Portland's hipster scene.

Fact: The show's infamous 'Paintball' episodes were inspired by action movies. Donald Glover based Troy's character on his own childhood. The show was nearly canceled multiple times due to low ratings.

Description: Veep and Portlandia both use sharp, rapid-fire dialogue to satirize their respective worlds—politics for Veep, hipster culture for Portlandia. Both shows excel at finding humor in the incompetence and vanity of their characters.

Fact: Julia Louis-Dreyfus won six consecutive Emmys for her role as Selina Meyer. The show was originally planned to be a sequel to the British series The Thick of It. Many of the insults were improvised by the cast.

Description: Brooklyn Nine-Nine shares Portlandia's offbeat humor and ensemble cast dynamic. Both shows thrive on quirky character interactions and satirical takes on institutional settings—Portlandia on hipster culture and Brooklyn Nine-Nine on police procedurals.

Fact: Andre Braugher, who plays Captain Holt, had never done comedy before this role. The show was canceled by Fox after five seasons but was revived by NBC due to fan outrage. The Halloween heist episodes became a fan-favorite tradition.

Description: Schitt's Creek and Portlandia both explore the clash between urban elitism and small-town life, with a focus on quirky characters and heartwarming humor. Both shows celebrate the absurdity of their settings while finding genuine humanity in their characters.

Fact: The show was co-created by Eugene Levy and his son, Dan Levy. Catherine O'Hara's wigs and outfits became a signature part of her character. The show initially struggled to find an audience but gained popularity through Netflix.

Description: The Good Place and Portlandia both use absurdity to explore deeper philosophical questions, albeit in different settings. While Portlandia satirizes earthly hipster culture, The Good Place does the same for the afterlife, with both shows featuring eccentric characters and witty dialogue.

Fact: The show's twist ending in Season 1 was kept secret from even the cast. The philosophy discussed in the show is based on real ethical theories. Ted Danson had never done a network sitcom before this role.