Portlandia (20112018) Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Fred Armisen and rock 'n' roll guitarist Carrie Brownstein first cracked up audiences as the internet sketch-comedy duo ThunderAnt. That led to this absurdist series set in Portland, Ore., that gently pokes fun at the laid-back Pacific Northwest city and the many eccentric characters that call it home. Among the many recurring guest stars on the series are Ed Begley Jr., Jeff Goldblum, Natasha Lyonne, Kumail Nanjiani and Kyle MacLachlan, who plays Portlandia's mayor.