The dream of the '90s continues to thrive on Portlandia, the sketch comedy series from Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein that's back for a third season on IFC (Fridays 10/9c). Armisen has spent the past 11 years as a member of the Saturday Night Live ensemble, while Brownstein is best known as a member of indie rock groups Sleater-Kinney and Wild Flag. But during their off months, the comedy partners have created a whole new world of quirky characters, from militant bike messengers to feminist bookstore owners. Armisen answered our showrunner survey to explain why you should make a visit to Portlandia.
read moreDownton Abbey survived World War I. But can the country manor weather the latest skirmish, a below-stairs battle between those scheming servants O'Brien and Thomas?
That's just one of the many entertaining questions and diverting dilemmas presented by the long-awaited — and well worth the wait — third season of this Masterpiece Classic addiction, which returns like a delicious if bittersweet bonbon. (And how I hope you've kept the blinders on regarding the many spoilers issuing from across the pond during the recent U.K. telecast.)
"No family is ever what it seems from the outside," muses the formidable Dowager Countess (the peerless Maggie Smith) during one of the many crises that beset the Crawleys and their loyal servants over the next seven Sundays (PBS, check tvguide.com listings). read more
This week, Betty White did "Gangnam Style" and a Pakistani man turned selling fish in a London market into a YouTube pop sensation. Plus, check out a spoiler-filled sneak peek at the upcoming season of Portlandia, as well as a montage of the Worst Movies of 2012 reviewing themselves.
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