Are readers really interested in irrelevant details?

[MrCurious]

Articles in top-quality media, e.g. NYT, NYer, etc, often include details that are totally irrelevant to the story, such as what a subject or interviewee looks like, what beverage said interviewee was drinking when approached, etc.  And I've found that writers who do that almost always overlook details that would add understanding to a story, such as the individual's education, formative events in background, etc.

 

Does anyone know if there is any actual data showing that readers appreciate these irrelevant details?  Everyone I know finds that practice annoying.