Much of Vulture’s most-read stories list (based on the total minutes visitors spent with our articles) will be familiar to those culture consumers who fought through pandemic fatigue to keep up with the biggest releases and narratives of the year. There’s Succession, White Lotus, and I Think You Should Leave; a surprising John Mulaney twist and another Dave Chappelle controversy; accountability finally coming for Scott Rudin and sort-of-but-not-really for The Bachelor franchise. Then there are the rest of the entries in the top 20, which hearteningly speak to a return of sorts to normalcy: Readers were eager to once again dive down nostalgic rabbit holes, to debate the merits of entertainers and entertainment, and to meet colorful — very literally, in one instance — new characters.

This list is just a small sample of the work New York puts out each day in print, across its six digital sites — Vulture, Intelligencer, the Cut,  Grub Street, the Strategist, and Curbed — and in its growing portfolio of newsletters. For more of our coverage, be sure to sign up for Vulture’s daily newsletter and to subscribe to our network.

Succession Plans

20. The Roys Summer in Italy

By Hunter Harris

On location with the cast of Succession, the most interestingly terrible billionaires on TV. Read the story ➼

⚰️

19. How Coffin Flop’s Coffins Got Flopped

By Anne Victoria Clark

The story behind one of I Think You Should Leave’s funniest moments from season two. Read the story ➼

In Conversation

18. In Conversation: Dave Grohl

By Craig Jenkins

He’s the most prolific rock star of the last 30 years. Somehow, we’re still getting to know him. Read the story ➼

Books

17. Blurbed to Death

By Lila Shapiro

How one of publishing’s most hyped books became its biggest horror story — and still ended up a best seller. Read the story ➼

Profile

16. Confessions of a 32-Year-Old Drama Queen

By Rebecca Jennings

No one is keeping up with Trisha Paytas, YouTube’s most frighteningly entertaining star. Read the story ➼

Books

15. The Spine Collector

By Reeves Wiedeman

For years, a mysterious figure has been stealing books before their release. Read the story ➼

TV Review

14. Them Is Pure Degradation Porn

By Angelica Jade Bastién

The Little Marvin–created, Lena Waithe–produced series reveals the empty promise of representation in Hollywood. Read the story ➼

Comedy Review

13. Dave Chappelle’s Endless Feedback Loop

By Craig Jenkins

The Closer proves the comedian is right about one thing: It’s time for a break. Read the story ➼

The Art of Ending Things

12. No, They Weren’t Dead the Whole Time

By Jen Chaney

An oral history of Lost’s daring, divisive finale. Read the story ➼

Stand-Up

11. Who Should John Mulaney Be Now?

By Jesse David Fox

A recap of John Mulaney’s first post-rehab stand-up comedy show. Read the story ➼

Ooh It's Them!

10. The 32 Greatest Character Actors Working Today

By Vulture Staff

We asked critics and Hollywood creators: Which supporting players make everything better? Read the story ➼

The Art of Ending Things

9. The 101 Greatest Endings in Movies History

By Vulture Staff

Good finales offer catharsis. The best deny us closure altogether. Here’s our ranking. Read the story ➼

A Long Talk

8. Mike White Accepts the Criticism

By Kathryn VanArendonk

The White Lotus creator understands if you feel conflicted about that ending. So does he. Read the story ➼

Vulture Lists

7. The 50 Greatest Western Movies Ever Made

By Keith Phipps

A hard look at one of cinema’s oldest genres. Read the story ➼

Celebrity

6. The End of Kimye’s Wild Ride

By Allison P. Davis

She thought he was an artistic genius. He wanted to “dip her ass in gold.” And now it’s over. Read the story ➼

Let There Be Kronk

5. ‘We’ll Never Make That Kind of Movie Again’

By Bilge Ebiri

An oral history of The Emperor’s New Groove. Read the story ➼

Crime

4. How Sara Gruen Lost Her Life

By Abbott Kahler

The Water for Elephants author’s six-year fight to free an incarcerated man left her absolutely broke and critically ill. Read the story ➼

The Industry

3. Scott Rudin, As Told by His Assistants

By Vulture Staff

A portrait of a toxic workplace. Read the story ➼

Gotcha! Gotcha Again!

2. Okay, Let’s Talk About Behind Her Eyes’ Double Twist Ending

By Jen Chaney

That final reveal gives some of what comes before greater context, but that doesn’t mean it’s good context. Read the story ➼

First Person

1. Rachel Lindsay Has No Roses Left to Burn

By Rachel Lindsay

I thought I could change The Bachelor franchise from within. Until I realized I was their token. Read the story ➼

Vulture’s 20 Most-Read Stories in 2021