The 6-part IFC Original short-based comedy series "Portlandia", created, written by and starring Fred Armisen ("SNL") and Carrie Brownstein (vocalist/guitarist, WILD FLAG, Sleater-Kinney), premieres on IFC Friday, January 21, 2011 at 10:30 PM ET/PT. Each episode's character-based shorts draw viewers into ""Portlandia"," the creators' dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon.

"Portlandia"'s inhabitants include but are not limited to: the owners of a feminist book store; a militant bike messenger; an artsy couple who attach cut-outs of birds to everything ("put a bird on it!"); an organic farmer who turns out to be a cult leader; an adult hide and seek league; and a punk rock couple negotiating a "safe word" to help govern their love life. The first episode depicts Armisen and Brownstein meeting with the Mayor of Portland (Kyle MacLachlan) who solicits the duo to write a new theme song for the city. This segment features a cameo from the real mayor of Portland (Sam Adams) playing the assistant to MacLachlan's "mayor." Much of the series' original music is written and performed by Armisen and Brownstein.

An assortment of guest stars inhabit "Portlandia", including Kyle MacLachlan ("Twin Peaks", "Sex & The City"), Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation"), Selma Blair ("Legally Blonde", "Hellboy"), Heather Graham (The Hangover), Edie McClurg ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), Kumail Nanjiani ("Michael & Michael Have Issues"), Jason Sudeikis ("SNL", "The Cleveland Show"), and Gus Van Sant ("Milk"). Singer/songwriter Aimee Mann also guest stars, alongside James Mercer ("The Shins"), and local Portland musicians Jenny Conlee and Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) and Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney).

Brownstein and Armisen spent years observing the joyous eccentricities of Portland, Oregon (when Fred was on hiatus from SNL), which spawned their "Thunderant" project, a compilation of online videos that combined their unique music styles and comedic sensibilities. Their artistic collaboration garnered an online cult following, as their "Thunderant" characters resonated with a young audience celebrating individuality, free spirit and weirdness.

This season, the series returns to its sketch-driven roots as characters find themselves in all-too-relatable situations: Fred and Carrie attempt to become storytelling experts to impress friends at a dinner party; the Goth couple discover the wonders of Bed Bath and Beyond; Toni and Candace retire from the feminist bookstore and contemplate what's next for their lives; Carrie dates a hunk; Fred tries to start his own Portland-based cell phone company; and much more.