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Hello. This is Fred Armisen. Testing one two.
Hi! I am going to try to answer questions. I'll try. Here are some I saw already:
-What was your main inspiration for Portlandia? Working on projects with Carrie. That turned into making videos which then turned into the show. Our surroundings in Portland became the setting. -How much of your material do you write for your SNL skits? I write with other writers there. It's the most fun, getting to collaborate with smart and funny people. -Is it amazing playing the most well-known parody of the President? I love doing it.
-Are most Portlandia characters based on people you've met? For some reason, it's the other way around. We make people up, then somehow we see them walking around. Or biking around. -Who have been the best hosts on SNL while you've been on the show? So many and for different reasons. I like ex-SNL cast members. Like, Molly Shannon for example. I get star struck. I watched them on this show. 10
informedtexan307 karma
Hi Fred. I, of course, love Portlandia. My question is, why haven't we seen more of the little old lady from the Hide and Seek sketch? If you don't mind my saying so, she stole every scene she was in!
rattus77385 karma
She is back in another episode. Her name is Ellen Bloodworth and she is so funny.
schnauzieslol264 karma
Does Carrie have as impressive a vocabulary in real life as she does in written things? She kinda makes me feel dumb in a good way.
ceanders205 karma
Hey Fred, thanks for doing this!
Portlandia is so, SO good at absurdist comedy, even as it relies so heavily on parody - but are there any ideas that you guys have had for stories or vignettes on the show that you thought you wouldn't be able to pull off, or that you wouldn't be able to do on TV for whatever reason?
rattus77195 karma
Yeah. Sometimes we can't think of a good enough idea for it. We wanted to do something about the tram system in Portland. But there was no way to do it. How do you end it? What is it? So we just left it.
Judas250200 karma
Hey Fred! I'm a Portland native and am wondering if you have taken part in Zoobombing yet?
Walrusamongus194 karma
How did you manage to squeeze all the filming for the show into the two nice days we get in Portland per year? :P
Eustis144 karma
That's the best thing I've ever seen. I desperately want to do it to someone and hope that they catch the reference before nailing me in the balls/face.
Ninja Edit: I guess I should ask a question. What's been your favorite project to work on?
harmala138 karma
I loved your "scene" with Jeff Tweedy in Wilco's "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" documentary. How did that come about?
rattus77174 karma
Total crazy luck. I was opening for Jeff on this tour. And that director, Sam, was just this guy with a video camera. I did not take him seriously at all. Yes, good luck with your movie. A few months later it was for me the first time I was on a big screen. That movie is so good.
[deleted]137 karma
Mr. Armisen, would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or fifty duck-sized horses?
burroughsfan101 karma
Fred! Were you at the latest Kills concert a few months back at the Crystal Ballroom here in Portland? I thought I saw you walking by, but I wasn't sure if it was you. Killer concert too!
hobbbz97 karma
What parts of your upbringing turned you into the comedian that you are today?
rattus77196 karma
Mad magazine, Benny Hill, SNL, my dad, George Carlin, Steve Martin, Martin Lawrence.
[deleted]90 karma
How much longer do you plan on staying with Saturday Night Live? Any big plans after?
rattus77152 karma
I never think ahead too far. I will say that I love it. But every time I try to plan things out, something completely different happens. After? Movies, more Portlandia, and another type of TV show maybe?
rattus77181 karma
Kyle is always great, but now he's more of a regular cast member. The Battlestar Galactica cast were so cool. I couldn't believe I met them. Steve Jones too.
lindsayadult66 karma
How did you become friends with Carrie Brownstein? What inspired you two to work together? How do you feel when you see skits like "Shit Girls Say," which totally feels like it should be on Portlandia.... LOVE EVERYTHING YOU DO! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
rattus77141 karma
Thank you!
I saw that! So funny.
Carrie and I had many mutual friends. Then she came to an SNL years ago. And right away we were like 'we are friends'
rattus77186 karma
let's see..Jeff Goldblum, Miranda July, Ed Begley Jr., Steve Jones, Johnny Marr, Andy Samberg, Amber Tamblyn, Penny Marshall, Tim Robbins, Jack McBrayer, Kristen Wiig
hg_swell57 karma
I think I read about this somewhere, but with Portlandia on tour now, would you ever consider doing a show in the same vein of various cities around the country?
rattus7788 karma
Yes. We are trying. But we have to work on other things too. We'll do more.
dashtyle54 karma
Who's the funniest person you've ever gotten to work with? Who are your biggest comedic influences? Do you ever wish your music career had panned out?
rattus77117 karma
Kristen Wiig. Jason too.
And influences..I answered above.
But also... Many SNL casts. Howard Stern. Monty Python. SCTV
dacos9252 karma
Would there ever be some Portlandia-esque characters appearing on SNL skits?
threeseashells49 karma
So this can't be authentic, right?
If it is, I would like you to know that I would, indeed, eat the cat poop.
edit: Verified, so, that's good.
mappyman45 karma
Why would you say I seem to find more fans of the show outside of Portland than people actually living here?
avapepper39 karma
Is Lorne Michaels really Mephistopheles, and did you have to sign your soul over to him in a contract signed in blood? If so, when is the contract up and what's next?
If not, does he intimidate the shit out of you anyway?
If so, or if not, can you do a decent impression of him? And would you dare?
Also, the Wieden + Kennedy sketch was the best thing ever.
rattus7758 karma
He is a kind genius. I am here because of him. I loved doing that W&K one
[deleted]33 karma
I based my username off of your show. How much of the show is improvisation?
duck_jb31 karma
I just want to say that Portlandia has totally tainted (in the very best of ways) the running commentary in my head. I now try to slip in lines and references into daily conversation, even if I am the only one who gets them, just to amuse myself. My questions is, what was the "Put a Bird On It" and Jennifer Lawson (thebloggess.com) issue like from your side? Because the ending of that whole deal... awesome and you got another fan over here for life.
Shut_Up_Dude23 karma
How did you and Carrie get together originally (where did you meet)?
Do you enjoy writing or acting on SNL/Portlandia more?
How did you get in touch with Wilco/Jeff Tweedy?
Love your work, by the way. You're an inspiration to me!
rattus7747 karma
We had mutual friends but met at an SNL party
Both
I used to work for his wife.
THANK YOU!!!
brucegoosejuice22 karma
What's your favorite character to play in SNL and Portlandia?
How much does your interest in music play into Portlandia?
WeatherResize19 karma
What amount of work goes into developing a skit to be put into production? Does your inspiration come from observing locals?
rattus7738 karma
A lot. Writing, scripting everything, casting, sets, sound, music clearance, there is so much that must be done.
And yes.
Buckbeak6919 karma
I saw that you played drums on some songs for Les Savy Fav's album Let's Stay Friends, do you have any music related projects planned for the future?
Acenate913 karma
Ugh, this kinda guy's doing an IAmA? IAmA's are OVER!
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