Thanks a lot, Mike Perron. You’ve created a playful and collaborative Twitter adventure that has had me spend more time on Twitter over the past two days than I have in the past two months.
What’s the deal with all of the #Salemia hashtags being typed out by Salem’s most active Tweeps?
The short story is that my filmmaker friend Mike Perron decided it might be fun to envision what a Salem-centric version of the Fred Armisen pet project “Portlandia” might look like. “Portlandia” is an online web series, conceived, written and starring Armisen, that skewers some of the more the ridiculous hipster pursuits and lifestyle choices of a city where everyone seems to be a bike messenger/barista/struggling artist/tattoo landscape.
Not surprisingly, critical review of “Portlandia” has been mixed, with people in Portland embracing both the concept and the product (ironically, of course), and with critics in the trade press suggesting that the show features “an array of tiresome characters.”
Also, I’m not sure why you need to film in Portland to make fun of Brooklyn, NY.
But a show about Salem — well, that would provide some fodder for amusement. That must have been what Mike Perron was thinking because he set about to create some scenes for a potential mockumentary about Salem, and others followed in his wake.
So he sent out a Tweet with the first scene:
perronbrothers Salemia. Opening scene: five hipsters fighting over a half smoked cigarette outside Chelsea’s place… #Salemia
Here’s just a few of the ideas that are taking root:
MelinaTomson Homeowner converts meth lab to grow lab and gets community improvement award. #Salemia (my personal favorite)
GinoCorridori A grassroots campaign in the state penitentiary elects prisoner to the city council. #salemia
aaronjamesyoung@GinoCorridori … and nobody notices a difference #salemia
MnLs In an effort to combat sex-trafficking reputation, City changes nickname from Cherry City to Cougar Town. Curves memberships soar. #salemia
perronbrothers All Salem sign and print shops close after the “Chelsea’s Place”-style cardboard storefront signs become the rage. #Salemia #CherryPity
kidcapitale Trader Joe’s finally opens to overwhelming crowds but soon closes because “the wine was too expensive”.#Salemia
scriptdave Statesman Journal increases readership by 2% following addition of page 3 dedicated to hipster emos. #salemia
perronbrothers Regulars angry that they must wait for a 4:30 pm table after Olive Garden wins “best Italian restaurant” again. #Salemia #CherryPity
Now, to be sure, some of the ideas coming forth seem more like potential headlines from The Onion than ideas for a show about Salem. But I have to say this is one of the more interesting collaborative writing projects I have come across recently. Generally if you put ten strangers in a room and ask them to write a novel you end up with a bunch of junk.
This is junk worth touching.
Too bad that mass media producers tend to be obsessed with what is already popular and old (making fun of hipsters), because our local Tweeps might be onto something.
Don’t forget, it’s Super Blog Sunday in Salem! Click below for more details.
hahahaha, “Trader Joe’s finally opens to overwhelming crowds but soon closes because ‘the wine was too expensive.” LOL ahhh, let’s hope that doesn’t happen!
That one’s my second favorite.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by 93meme, Mike Perron. Mike Perron said: Thanks, E! RT @emilygrosvenor: Junk Worth Touching. Or: The Rise of the #Salemia meme. This is for you, @perronbrothers http://bit.ly/hM6XxS [...]
So I get from this meme: Salem is to Portland as Springfield is to Eugene…the trashy younger sibling. Actually, maybe that’s not too far off.
And, I want to know if any of those trade press critics have actually been to Portland because for me, from just the clips I’ve seen, the show hits the mark exactly. Maybe the joke gets old with the show, but I’ll never get tired of watching “I Dream of the 90s.”
I did have the thought that Salemia/CherryPity is infinitely sadder than Portlandia… Ms. K. Williams Brown thinks the Dream of the 80s is alive in Portland, that might just be true.
I started reading and couldn’t stop laughing. Literally. Tears of laughter! I love #salemia!
There are some good ones out there, and they’re still coming. This might be the most exciting thing to have happened on the local Twittersphere. (Hey, I’m a writer, I can’t help what I think is interesting…).
Lots of creativity surfacing with Salemia. And, that Mike Perron–well, he’s been making me laugh for forty-plus years. Nothing “tiresome” there.
Thanks, Mom.
You’re lucky your Mom reads your blog. I can’t get my mom to read mine.
You’re lucky my Mom reads your blog. She rarely reads mine.
I was glad to see you jump into the salemia fray. Mike Perron is such a creative and funny guy so I wasn’t surprised at all when I started to track the origin of the salemia hashtag to see Mike behind it.
It is a hysterical collaboration.
Yes, I hear you weren’t chicken yourself and have engaged his video services…
Who will play the Fred Armisen role? Maybe Jon Heder, graduate of South Salem H.S.?
If only!
Emily, We were excited to see that Historic Deepwood Estate is on your bucket list! We would like to treat you and a friend to a complimentary tour. We are sending you 2 tickets to the Statesman Journal so check your “In” basket for our envelope! Hope to see you soon, the Staff at Deepwood
Wow, thanks, Deepwood Estate. I’m excited to come. You’re the only traditional item on the bucket list, after all.
I just googled Salemia and this site showed up fourth. Beaten only by 3 Salem, IA’s.
Blog Twitter Text I am so lost in the tech world…e-mails are a stretch too.
Is there an online poker site in Salemia? I went online trying to get more info on Salemia and I ended up getting on a mailing list for Salem Iowa. Anyway, see you in a week.
[...] The rise of the #Salemia meme [...]