Alert Icon

Double Right Chevrons
Devouring Culture

Hot Topics:

memories

I Sat Front Row at Maria Bamford’s Comedy-Special Experiment

 2012’s The Special Special Special! remains a source of inspiration for comedians. Here’s what it was like to be there on the couch next to her. By Wayne Federman
summer preview

Summer TV Used to Mean Something, Damn It

 Once upon a time, television programming mirrored the rhythms of life. Now it’s become the calendar version of the endless scroll. By Kathryn VanArendonk
'and it's all true...'

Where Does the Abortion Thriller Go From Here?

 Movies like Happening turn the terrible consequences of restricted access into the stuff of dramatic tension. Are they trying to do the impossible? By Alison Willmore
appreciations

The Standard-Setting Beauty of Live in Crenshaw

 Lil Rel Howery’s 2019 stand-up special shows that when a special looks distinctive, the comedy feels that way too. By Kathryn VanArendonk

Today’s Specials

Is stand-up in its arthouse era?

  1. Everything to Consider When Making a Comedy Special Special By Kathryn VanArendonk
  2. The 100 Greatest Stools in Stand-Up Special History By Rebecca Alter
  3. Meet the Technical Artists Behind Comedy’s Most Impressive Specials By Hershal Pandya

The Feed
  1. theater review
    Fat Ham Aims to Put the Ha in Hamlet Too too solid.
  2. tributes
    Lorraine Bracco, Martin Scorsese, and Others Remember Ray Liotta Liotta died at the age of 67.
  4. nihilism
    Does the Johnny Depp Trial Have a Point? Experts weigh in on the great nihilistic trial of 2022.
  5. refresher course
    What Stranger Things Are We Afraid of, Again? As we brace for a fourth round of chaos in Hawkins, let’s review the villains, both otherworldly and human, we’ve met along the way.
  6. obits
    Andy Fletcher, Depeche Mode’s Keyboard Savant, Dead at 60 The band confirmed his “untimely” passing.
  7. extra credit
    Maggie Rogers’s Coachella Set Doubled as a Grad-School Project The singer-songwriter recently earned a master’s in religion and public life from Harvard.
  9. stan culture
    Amber Heard Addresses Johnny Depp Stans and Social Media in New Testimony She told the jury that Depp promised her “global humiliation.”
  10. 2022 summer preview
    A Guide to This Summer’s Indies (Based on Genres Familiar and Not) Is “ethically dubious podcaster” a genre? Maybe it should be!
  11. encounter
    Édouard Louis Wants You to Go Protest After Seeing His One-Man Show The French writer is frustrated with Americans.
  12. don't get your pooh on shein
    Public-Domain Winnie the Pooh Stars in New Slasher Film It’s a rather murder-y day.
  13. summer preview
    36 Albums We Can’t Wait to Hear This Summer From Lizzo to Maggie Rogers.
  14. summer preview
    44 TV Shows We Can’t Wait to See This Summer It’s blockbuster season in TV Land.
  15. obits
    Ray Liotta, Crime-Drama Boss, Dead at 67 The Goodfellas star reportedly died in his sleep.
  16. crime
    Kevin Spacey Charged With 4 Sexual Assault Counts in U.K. The charges came down while he was in a New York courtroom for a separate sex-abuse case.
More News More News More News

Most Popular

  1. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Recap: The Dark Crystal
  2. Does the Johnny Depp Trial Have a Point?
  3. This Is Us Series-Finale Recap: A Regular Saturday
  4. Under the Banner of Heaven Recap: Heavenly Father Resides in Them
  5. Amber Heard Addresses Johnny Depp Stans and Social Media in New Testimony
  1. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Recap: The Dark Crystal
  2. Everything That Happened on This Is Us in Chronological Order
  3. This Is Us Series-Finale Recap: A Regular Saturday
  4. Does the Johnny Depp Trial Have a Point?
  5. Under the Banner of Heaven Recap: Heavenly Father Resides in Them

Interview

TV Recaps
More Recaps

Vulture Lists
More Vulture Lists

Features

Streamliner
See More

Reviews

TV

Movies

Comedy

Music

Books

Arts

Podcasts

Greatest Hits