Ep 11. The Brunch Special

In "The Brunch Special," the eleventh episode of Portlandia's second season, the eccentric sketch comedy show continues to poke fun at the hipster culture of Portland, Oregon. The episode is a tribute to the ritual of brunch, a meal that represents a blend of breakfast and lunch and is a common occurrence over the weekends in the city.

The episode opens with a scene of Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, the co-creators and stars of the show, discussing potential brunch spots in Portland. They are interrupted by a waiter who offers them a free basket of muffins, leading to a discussion on the ethics of accepting freebies at restaurants. This leads into a sketch in which Armisen and Brownstein play two people who refuse to pay for their food and drinks at a brunch spot, causing chaos and disorder.

Another memorable sketch in the episode features a scene at a trendy brunch spot called Fisherman's Porch. Armisen plays a snobbish waiter who is overly pretentious about the restaurant's menu, insisting that everything served is sustainably caught and ethically sourced. Brownstein's character, a patron at the restaurant, attempts to order a simple dish of eggs and bacon, but is forced to endure a torturous process of learning about the health and environmental benefits of the unconventional menu items.

The episode also features a segment on how brunch has become synonymous with day-drinking, with Armisen and Brownstein portraying two people who go overboard on mimosas at a brunch spot. As they become increasingly intoxicated, their behavior becomes more and more erratic, leading to a hilarious and unexpected conclusion.

Additionally, the episode includes a sketch about a couple who refuse to eat gluten, dairy, or anything processed, eventually leading them to a barren field where they forage for food. Another sketch pokes fun at the trend of brunch-goers taking pictures of their food before eating it, with Armisen and Brownstein playing two friends who obsess over getting the perfect shot of their breakfast entrees.

Overall, "The Brunch Special" is a hilarious episode of Portlandia that perfectly captures the quirky, food-obsessed, and trend-conscious culture of modern-day Portland. From poking fun at hipster waiters to lampooning the ostentatiousness of artisanal brunch menus, the episode is an excellent example of the show's irreverent and subversive brand of comedy. Fans of the show will find "The Brunch Special" to be a delightfully absurd and entertaining addition to the series.