‘Portlandia’ Sneak Peek: Fred’s Disturbed by Carrie’s Hunky New Boyfriend

Fred is usually quite comfortable with his nerdy self, but when Carrie pops up with a hot new boyfriend, Fred begins to question not only her values but his own identity in Thursday’s “Carrie Dates a Hunk” episode of Portlandia.

“He’s good looking … like, to the point where it’s creepy,” Fred says to Carrie, speaking about Dax (guest star Ryan Hansen) in the clip above.

Carrie points out that Fred doesn’t think attractive women are creepy, and when he confirms that, she accuses him of operating under a double standard.

“Yeah, that’s why it’s a double standard,” he says. “It’s standard.”

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Fred’s world is rocked further when Dax also turns out to be smart and a drummer (like Fred) who likes to carry Carrie and show off his drumming skills on her butt. It all leads to a Jets-vs.-Sharks-style showdown between Fred with his fellow nerds and Dax with his fellow hunks, with an outcome that makes Fred wonder if his life has been a lie all these years.

Elsewhere in the second episode of the quirky comedy’s seventh season, purchasing an expensive new rug proves to be a traumatic experience for couple Melanie and Lars, while Drew and Andy sing “What About Men?” — their tongue-in-cheek ode to how men (like “beer in Prohibition”) are an undercelebrated, endangered species.

Portlandia airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on IFC.