Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by film and culture critics Jackson Weaver, Rachel Ho and Joyita Sengupta to discuss the horror films ‘Weapons’ and ‘Together’ along with buzzing homegrown movie,‘Shook.’

Theatre critics Glenn Sumi and Joshua Chong talk about the story lighting up Broadway this week -- the casting of Andrew Barth Feldman, a white actor, in the musical Maybe Happy Ending, a Seoul-set comedy about robots finding love at the end of their batteries. Plus, Reanna Cruz talks about Chappell Roan's new single, and about her commitment to speaking out - from everything to the ills of social media to supporting other artists

Recently, the Nelk Boys, a Canadian YouTube duo known for their prank videos, released an interview with Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Hasan PIker, Justin Ling and Alyssa Mercante react to the interview and what it reveals about the current media landscape. 

The Naked Gun is back! Liam Neeson reprises Leslie Neilson’s role in the classic spoof movie and Adam Sandler is back with another Happy Gilmore. Alison Willmore and Adam Nayman join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about the summer of the comedy reboot.

Palestinian-Canadian musician John Kameel Farah, Israeli-American culture writer Lux Alptraum, and Vassar College music professor Justin Patch discuss the recent surge of musicians speaking up about the hunger crisis in Gaza, from major pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish to rap acts like Bob Vylan and Kneecap, and how the repercussions for speaking out have changed since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.

If you’re making a good road trip playlist, you’re thinking about the people in the car, the mood you want to create, the places you’re driving through, and so much more. Niko Stratis and Emilie Hanskamp have logged many long hours on the road – and many more obsessing over the perfect music to drive to. They join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share what it is that makes the road trip soundtrack something sacred. 

Elamin is joined by culture critics Pablo The Don, Bee Quammie and senior CBC Entertainment writer Jackson Weaver to discuss the Sydney Sweeney/American Eagle ad backlash, recent think pieces about celebrity transparency around the cosmetic work they do to their bodies, and the latest album from Tyler The Creator.

Hulk Hogan, one of the most famous American professional wrestlers and a cultural icon of the ‘80s, has died at the age of 71. He is being remembered for the way he raised the profile of the sport and his unforgettable crossover into mainstream culture at large, but also for his history of hateful behaviour. Today on Commotion, wrestling fans Pablo the Don and Damian Abraham join Elamin to unpack Hulk Hogan’s complicated legacy.

NPR writer Eric Deggans, entertainment reporter Teri Hart, and Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko join the Group Chat to talk about whether the new Fantastic Four movie can reverse Marvel’s recent slump; the subversive new romcom ‘Oh Hi!’, and the pop-cultural impact of Hulk Hogan and Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, both of whom died this week. 

Toronto rocker Danko Jones, culture critic Niko Stratis, music journalist Melissa Vincent join guest host Eli Glasner to talk about the legacy of the late Ozzy Osbourne.

Vinson Cunningham and Kate Lindsay join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about Substack, and how the online newsletter platform has positioned itself as the future of media. Plus, Syrus Marcus Ware and Alessandra Nacarrato celebrate the legacy of the late Andrea Gibson, the spoken word poet whose work and politics transcended the world of poetry. 

Culture critics Dylan Green, Rad Simonpillai and Alison Willmore join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to the news that Stephen Colbert's late night talk show is being cancelled. Plus, the group chat weighs in on Ari Aster's Eddington, a dark comedy western about how the pandemic changed the ways we relate to each other, and the gossip-y reasons a couple at a Coldplay concert went viral.

Culture critics Joshua Chong and Jim Provenzano join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about Luigi: The Musical, the satirical prison show inspired by Luigi Mangione that's on a sold out run in San Francisco.

Plus, La Presse reporter Dominic Tardiff talks about why more than half of the albums on this year's Polaris Prize shortlist are by Quebec artists.