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DID YOU READ

Disney loyalty in Tomorrowland.

Disney loyalty in Tomorrowland. (photo)

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Today is day two of the first ever D23 Expo, one of the weirdest flexings of corporate muscle I’ve ever seen. D23 is like Comic-Con for Disney fans. Adults are invited to pay $90 for a four-day pass or $30 for one (kids get in for $66/$22) to go listen to an extended sales-pitch. Well, some of the time: the schedule is vast and unwieldy, with something for everyone (…who is rabidly into Disney).

Just like in Disneyland, you can take a photo with a widely beloved character. The type of person who wishes he were a business reporter can attend sessions with high-level Disney chairmen. The historically minded can enjoy dry-sounding panels like “The Magic of Disney in the Art of Disney Stamps”: “Starting with a 1968 commemorative Walt Disney stamp, some of the most popular stamps in USPS history have honored the Disney legacy. Hear this trio discuss the history of stamps, the USPS stamp program and the inspiration behind the ever-popular Disney stamp collection.” W00t! And Thomas Kinkade is doing a meet-and-greet.

The event is meant to be a consolidation of Disney brand loyalty, which, the New York Times‘ Brook Barnes writes, is widely considered “one of the strongest in the world.” But today’s Disney empire has all kinds of products that aren’t very Disney-esqe; part of the expo (like a floor exhibition cleared off to props from “Lost”) seems designed just to club you over the head with how much the company owns.

No matter how successful Disney continues to be, it’s hard to imagine the company commanding the same shiny, mythical ethos that gave it a stranglehold over the childhoods of American children decades ago. (Or, on the flipside, made “Disneyfication” a quick and dirty pejorative for crass commercialization and emotional sanitization.) People just don’t build that kind of all-consuming attachment to a corporation these days. (With the possible exception of Pixar, which would be exception-that-proves-the-rule territory.) “Pirates of the Caribbean” was huge worldwide, but how many people saw it because of their devotion to Disney?

Truth is, a guy like George Reiger, who showed up covered from head to toe tattooed in Disney characters, is a bit of a relic. The loyalty that brings people to attend late-night screenings of 1959’s “The Shaggy Dog,” featuring “Disney Legend” Tommy Kirk in attendance is nowadays only backwards looking. Will similar crowds show up in 50 years to pay tribute to Tim Allen’s turn in the remake? I think not.

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Final Countdown

The Best Of The Last

Portlandia Goes Out With A Bang

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The end is near. In mere days Portlandia wraps up its final season, and oh what a season it’s been. Lucky for you, you can watch the entire season right now right here and on the IFC app, including this free episode courtesy of Subaru.

But now, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the new classics Fred and Carrie have so thoughtfully bestowed upon us. (We’ll be looking back through tear-blurred eyes, but you do you.)

Couples Dinner

It’s not that being single sucks, it’s that you suck if you’re single.

Cancel it!

A sketch for anyone who has cancelled more appointments than they’ve kept. Which is everyone.

Forgotten America

This one’s a “Serial” killer…everything both right and wrong about true crime podcasts.

Wedding Planners

The only bad wedding is a boring wedding.

Disaster Hut

It’s only the end of the world if your doomsday kit doesn’t include rosé.

Catch up on Portlandia’s final episodes on demand and at IFC.com

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Rev Up

Your Portlandia Personality Test

The New Portlandia Webseries Is Going Your Way

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Carrie and Fred understand that although we have so much in common, we’re each so beautifully unique and different. To help us navigate those differences, Portlandia has found an easy and honest way to embrace our special selves in the form of a progressive new traffic system: a specific lane for every kind of driver. It’s all in honor of the show’s 8th and final season, and it’s all presented by Subaru.

Ready to find out who you really are? Match your personality to a lane and hop on the expressway to self-understanding.

Lane 10: Trucks Piled With Junk

Your junk is falling out of your trunk. Shake a tail light, people — this lane is for you.

Lane 33: Twins

You’re like a Gemini, but waaaay more pedestrian. Maybe you and a friend just wear the same outfits a lot. Who cares, it’s just twinning enough to make you feel special.

Lane 27: Broken Windows

Bad luck follows you around and everyone knows it. Your proverbial seat is always damp from proverbial rain. Is this the universe telling you to swallow your pride? Yes.

Lane 69: Filthy Cars

You’re all about convenience. Getting your car washed while you drive is a no-brainer.

Lane 43: Newly Divorced Singles

It’s been a while since you’ve driven alone, and you don’t know the rules of the road anymore. What’s too fast? What’s too slow? Are you sending the right signals? Don’t worry, the breakdown lane is nearby if you need it.

Still can’t find a lane to match your personality? Check out all the videos here. And see the final season of Portlandia this spring on IFC.

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Give Back

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide

Hits from the '80s are on repeat all Christmas Eve and Day on IFC.

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GIFs via Giphy, Photos via The Everett Collection

It’s the final countdown to Christmas and thanks to IFC’s movie marathon all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can revel in classic ’80s films AND find inspiration for your last-minute gifts. Here are our recommendations, if you need a head start:

Musical Instrument

Great analog entertainment substitute when you refuse to give your kid the Nintendo Switch they’ve been drooling over.

Breakfast In Bed

Any significant other or child would appreciate these Uncle Buck-approved flapjacks. Just make sure you’re not stuck on clean up duty.

Cocktail Supplies

You’ll need them to get through the holidays.

Dance Lessons

So you can learn to shake-shake-shake (unless you know ghosts willing to lend a hand).

Comfy Clothes

With all the holiday meals, there may be some…embigenning.



Get even more great inspiration all Christmas Eve and Day on IFC, and remember…

Always On Slightly Off