Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Despite Apple spending more than $20 billion on tv and movies, its streaming service gets fewer views in a month than Netflix gets in a day. Vulture TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk looks at why people aren’t tuning in to Apple TV+. And culture critic Laura Sirikul talks about the first K-pop concert that will air live on primetime TV this weekend in the U.S. and Canada.

After Joe Biden dropped out of the race, he gave Kamala Harris his endorsement. But the internet is very familiar with Kamala as a subject of some of the biggest memes in recent memory. Today on the podcast Kamala and the meme campaign. Plus, Mark Strong aka “Strizzzy” and Adrian Bernard aka “Switch B.” chat with Elamin about what it means for breaking to be making its debut as an Olympic sport.

Elamin is joined by film critic Rad Simonpillai and culture critic Anne T. Donahue to discuss ‘Twisters’, the standalone sequel to the original film ‘Twister’ and how this blockbuster follow up fares at a time when real climate change continues to be a hot button topic. Plus, culture critic Amil Niazi talks about Halle Butler’s latest book “Banal Nightmare,” which is getting a lot of buzz for its depiction of millennial midlife.

Writers Drew Magary, Marina Fang, and Jason P. Frank join the group chat to discuss how the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and the naming of author J.D. Vance as vice-presidential running mate have reverberated through the world of pop culture this week.

It’s hard to come up with a song that’s been more critically panned than Katy Perry’s latest track 'Women’s World'. And it was supposed to be her big comeback. Elamin is joined by music journalist Reanna Cruz. They are in Los Angeles. And Stereogum's Abby Jones joins the Group Chat for her first time from New York. Plus, author Jen Sookfong Lee unpacks The New York Times’ Best 100 Books of the 21st Century, and tells us who she thinks got left out.

As dozens of authors pull out of contention for the Scotiabank Giller prize – to protest the lead sponsor’s investment in an Israeli arms manufacturer, we ask what the path forward is for this country’s most prestigious literary prize. Former Giller Prize winner and author Omar El Akkad joins Elamin to weigh in.

Hip-hop artists D-Sisive and Ian Kamau, along with music critic Maura Johnston, join Elamin to discuss the pop and rap legacy of Eminem, and the controversial cultural debates the Detroit emcee has sparked over the decades.

What’s the role of late night - and political satirists - at a time like this in American politics? Hershal Pandya and Ashley Ray join guest host Rad Simonpillai. Plus, Abercrombie & Fitch ruled the mall in the 1990s and 2000s, and the clothing retailer was famous for selling an idealized preppy vision of youth. But after falling out of fashion, a complete rebrand has made the fashion retailer more successful than ever. Chantal Fernandez, a features writer at The Cut, explains how Abercrombie pulled off this makeover.

Film critic Rachel Ho, entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver and media personality Matt Hart join the group chat to talk about the mega-hyped new horror flick Longlegs and whether it is indeed the scariest movie of the year; the disastrous box office performance of Kevin Costner’s historical saga Horizon and what it means for the rest of this would-be franchise; and the controversy surrounding the recently released trailer for Gladiator II.

Kendrick Lamar's music video for his Drake diss track Not Like Us has been out for a week and is already one of the most liked YouTube videos this year. Critics call it a victory lap for Kendrick and a moment for L.A. unity. Toronto's Mastermind and Matt Amha talk about why this video hits differently north of the border. Plus, some big Hollywood players are saying publicly they want President Joe Biden to drop out of the U.S. presidential race. Wendy Lee, a reporter at the LA Times, talks with Elamin about how much influence Hollywood could have on Biden’s campaign.

Andrea Robin Skinner, Alice Munro's youngest daughter, bravely revealed she'd been abused by her stepfather as a child and her late famous mother chose to forgive him. Michelle Dean, Michelle Cyca and Zoe Whittall join Elamin to talk about how Andrea's devastating story changes how they read the Nobel laureate's intimate stories about the inner lives of women and girls in rural Canada.

Culture critics Rad Simonpillai, Teri Hart and Sam Adams talk about how Despicable Me 4 became the biggest animated franchise in film history and weigh in on director Yorgos Lanthimos and actor Emma Stone's latest film Kinds of Kindness.

OnlyFans has become a popular marketplace for sex work, and recently artists have joined the platform to sell their own explicit content. Andrea Werhun and Reanna Cruz join Elamin to talk about what this trend tells us about how viable it is to be an artist today, and what it means for sex workers. Plus, the son of the richest man in Asia is getting married this weekend. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding will be one of the biggest spectacles of the year. Aparita Bhandari talks with Elamin about why all eyes are on Mumbai this weekend.

Music experts Suzy Exposito, Rosie Long Decter, and Carl Wilson join the Commotion Group Chat to deliver their Mid-Year Music Report, highlighting which artists have held our attention in a highly competitive year for blockbuster pop releases, and which single deserves to be crowned 2024’s Song of the Summer.

Since the Oscars slap, Will Smith's been on a redemption tour. This summer he stars in a new Bad Boys movie and performed a new song at the BET Awards. Entertainment writer Jackson Weaver and radio personality Marlon Palmer talk to Elamin about how the movie star's comeback is going. Plus, culture critic Laura Kipnis discusses the upcoming AI reading companion Rebind that allows readers to ask an AI version of herself, as well as Margaret Atwood, Roxane Gay and Lena Denham, questions about the books they’re reading.

The new film Fancy Dance, starring Lily Gladstone and directed by Erica Tremblay, is set on a reservation in Oklahoma – not far from where Killers of the Flower Moon was set. Angela Sterritt and Marek Tyler talk about how the two films are in conversation with each other – and why they agree, it’s Lily Gladstone’s most important role to date.

Architect and journalist Naomi Pollock discusses the ethics of subjecting rare, artistically unique homes to radical renovations – as Kanye West recently did to a Malibu beach house designed by legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Plus, Elamin chats with CBC Entertainment writer Jackson Weaver about “The Last Timbit” and whether a show about Tim Hortons, created by Tim Hortons, is worth biting into.

When Carley Fortune released her latest novel 'This Summer Will be Different,' it shot to the top of The New York Times Best Seller list. It's a romance novel, set on Prince Edward Island. Elamin is joined by culture writer Kathleen Newman-Bremang, author Farah Heron, and Book Influencer Alicia Foshay to talk about why romance novels are having a moment right now, and how Carley Fortune's books are making Canada sexier.

Rad Simonpillai, Jackson Weaver and Hanna Flint join Elamin to talk about the week's big arts and pop culture stories, starting with The Bear's highly anticipated return for a third season, and how the new movie The Bikeriders explores the rise of the Outlaws motorcycle gang.

With the release of the doc ‘Slave Play. Not a Film. A Play’ - Elamin is joined by culture critic Kathleen Newman-Bremang and award-winning playwright Amanda Parris to discuss the controversial stage production that inspired it, and its creator Jeremoy O Harris’ provocative approach to mining U.S. slavery, interracial relationships and anti-Blackness. Plus, cultural commentator Thomas Leblanc reviews “I Am: Celine Dion”, which is out now on Amazon Prime.

Music critic Ann Powers journeys through the life of Joni Mitchell in her unauthorized biography 'Traveling'.

Writers Niko Stratis and Clare Martin discuss Jamie Loftus’ new podcast on viral internet phenomena, Sixteenth Minute (of Fame), and what it says about how we behave online. Plus, have you noticed people seem to be giving up on headphones? Blaring music on portable speakers, watching the game or scrolling through reels on their phone -- for everyone around them to hear. Erik Piepenburg wrote about it for the New York Times .. he joins Elamin to talk about why we seem to be OK sharing so much out loud.

Culture critics Reanna Cruz and Scaachi Koul unpack why popstars are following in Charli XCX's Brat footsteps. Plus, with reports of some alt-right communities co-opting popular dance songs to push their agendas via social media and streaming platforms - digital culture writer Kieran Press-Reynolds joins Elamin to discuss this trend and what it might mean for dance music artists and that industry writ large.

Today we have a special bonus episode for you from our sibling show Unreserved, a fearless space for Indigenous voices. Host Rosanna Deerchild is ready to Indigenize your summer with a tastemaker’s guide to the best books, movies, podcasts and more. More episodes of Unreserved are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/ATYuMWIP

Donald Sutherland, Canadian actor and icon, has died at the age of 88. Entertainment reporter Teri Hart joins guest host Amil Niazi for a look back on his legacy. Plus, culture critics Angela Sterritt, Falen Johnson and Marek Tyler review the new cheerleading film Backspot starring Mohawk actor Devery Jacobs and celebrate the latest recipients of the Indspire Awards.

Age gaps involving older women and younger men are having a moment in Hollywood. Guest host Amil Niazi is joined by Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Sadaf Ahsan to talk about the trend. Plus, culture critic Syrus Marcus Ware discusses Netflix’s new Black Barbie documentary.

The free, ad-supported streaming platform Tubi is currently posting higher viewership numbers than more prestigious subscription services like Paramount+ and Disney+. Culture writers Kaiya Shunyata and Anne T. Donahue join guest host Amil Niazi to explain what’s behind the platform's surprising success – and it’s not just about because it’s free. Plus, the A24 film 'Tuesday," starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, tells the story of a mother whose teenage daughter has a terminal illness. Writer Sophie Kohn talks about how the movie addresses death and grief.

With next week’s release of ‘I Am: Celine Dion,' guest host Amil Niazi is joined by Thomas Leblanc, Véronique LeVasseur and Carl Wilson for a brief look back on the singer’s pop career and reaction to her public struggle with Stiff Person’s Syndrome - a condition that has raised questions around Céline Dion's ability to perform again.

Theatre critic Aisling Murphy talks about the success of the Stratford Festival, its latest summer season and highlights upcoming shows across Canada. Plus, Jay Connor tells the story of Wu-Tang Clan's controversial album 'Once Upon a Time in Shaolin', the most expensive piece of music that, until recently, few people in the world had ever listened to.

Film critic Rachel Ho, entertainment reporter Teri Hart, and media personality Matt Hart join the Commotion Group Chat to discuss Pixar’s long-awaited sequel to the animated pop-psych masterpiece 'Inside Out', Glen Powell’s star turn in Richard Linklater’s action-comedy 'Hit Man', and Seth Meyers's late-night talk-show band getting laid off.

Film and TV critic Leila Latif joins guest host Amil Niazi to talk about the remake of “Presumed Innocent,” a legal thriller that starred Harrison Ford back in the 90s and now stars Jake Gyllenhaal, and why everything seems to be getting a reboot these days. Plus, Laura Sirikul reviews the latest entry in the Star Wars canon: The Acolyte, starring Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-Jae.

Guest host Amil Niazi is joined by film/tv critic Rad Simonpillai, culture critic Aparita Bhandari and writer/journalist Angela Sterritt to discuss the new Disney+ series 'Under The Bridge', about the horrific real life murder of 14 year-old Reena Virk in 1997, and whether the true crime format did justice to one of Canada's most harrowing teen murder cases.

Commotion regulars Niko Stratis and Rollie Pemberton join guest host Amil Niazi to talk about the new documentary, “How Music Got Free.” It explores the massive disruption of digital pirating and how it almost ruined the record business, but also kickstarted a digital music revolution. Plus, Ewan Simpson (intellectual property lawyer and chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association) discusses the Steely & Clevie copyright infringement lawsuit filed against numerous reggaeton artists - and the implications it could have for the future of reggaeton.

Sarah Berman and Ashley Ray join Commotion guest host Amil Niazi to talk about the new Netflix series "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult” - and why is music by women, especially racialized and trans artists, still severely underplayed on commercial Canadian radio? Jada Watson, who authored a recent report on the issue, and Desiree Dorion, a Cree country artist, weigh in on where we go from here.

Elamin is joined by Ben Ozakawa, Kevin Bourne and Teri Hart with their takes on a new Alec Baldwin reality show, whether CRTC's new policy that forces streamers like Netflix to boost their Canadian content will actually work, and reaction to Drake's feature on the song 'Wah Gwan Delilah?'

Elamin is joined by Globe and Mail reporter Josh O’Kane to talk about the Calgary Philharmonic’s decision to remove two of its musicians after an investigation looking into ‘deeply troubling comments posted online’. Then, he speaks with Canadian violinist Lara St.John about how to make music schools and orchestras safer for girls and women.

What do we do with 'Tires'? The controversial comedian Shane Gillis leans in to his persona in his new hit series set in a fictional auto repair shop. But is he making fun of his character? Or just being himself? Elamin is joined by entertainment writers Jackson Weaver and Angie Han to talk about whether something can be considered satire if the audience doesn’t get the joke. Plus .culture critic Amanda Hess explores why Kafka, a century after his death, has become so popular on TikTok.

Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado is gearing up for a major comeback in 2024: her music is being rediscovered by younger generations on TikTok, she recently entered YouTube’s billion-stream club and she’s set to release her first new album in seven years. Music journalists Suzy Exposito and Rosie Long Decter explain why Nelly’s music is connecting with new audiences now, and whether her new music can compete in today’s pop landscape. Plus, Elamin is joined by David Dennis Jr. to discuss the new Apple TV+ series The Big Cigar, which centres on Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton as he leverages the Hollywood machine in his attempt to flee the U.S. to Cuba.

Cassie Cao and Kevin Fallon dive into season 3 of Hacks and why its approach to cancel culture in comedy has critics calling it its strongest season yet. Plus Teri Hart gives us a recap of this year's CSA's gala.

Jen Sookfong Lee and Sarah-Tai Black join Elamin to discuss Babes, Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau’s new pregnancy comedy. Plus, they talk about South Park’s TV special, The End of Obesity and share some weekend recommendations.

In recent weeks, big-name acts like The Black Keys, Jennifer Lopez, and Bad Bunny have either cancelled shows or reorganized their tours reportedly due to low ticket sales. Are these merely isolated setbacks, or do they point to a more troubling future for the big-ticket concert industry in the streaming age? Music journalists Jem Aswad and Maura Johnston will explain the challenges even popular acts are facing in the current climate. Plus, film critic David Ehrlich joins Elamin to discuss the buzz surrounding the film 'Universal Language' at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The summer blockbuster was back last year with Barbie and Oppenheimer killing it at the box office. This year is a very different story. Culture critics Bilge Ebiri and Kristy Puchko imagine a future where theatres are full, if only studios started taking a few risks.

Elamin is joined by culture critics Jay Connor and Tayo Bero to talk about how following a bidding war, rapper 50 Cent clinches a deal with Netflix to distribute his upcoming documentary chronicling the career of beleaguered rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Plus, Regina Kim talks about how Netflix and other streaming services disrupted the Korean television industry.

Elamin is joined by culture critic Jackson Weaver and comedian Cassie Cao to react to the season finale of ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show’ and what Jerrod’s approach to mining his own personal trauma for this series could say about the shifting line between comedy, reality shows and their audiences. Plus, we get into the controversy around recent portraits of King Charles and the Princess of Wales with the artist Erin Finley, who says the reaction says a lot about the divided times we live in.

Elamin is joined by culture writers Niko Stratis, Suzy Exposito, and Dalton Higgins to talk about Apple Music’s controversial 100 Best Albums list

Commotion regulars Marlon Palmer and Syrus Marcus Ware join Elamin to talk about a new docuseries called 'Black Twitter: A People's History,' and how a community transformed pop culture and became a force for change on Twitter (now X). Plus, psychotherapist Jhanelle Peters talks about a new trend, TikTok Therapy.

Elamin is joined by Aisling Murphy and Reanna Cruz to review 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' - the latest album from Billie Eilish. Plus, Scarlett Johansson said no to Open AI when they asked if they could license her voice to be its new virtual assistant. But despite her refusal, the latest ChatGPT voice sounds a lot like hers. Open AI has pulled it – for now. But they say that any resemblance to the real Scarlett is coincidental. So - how similar is too similar? Elamin is joined by L.A. Times Editor and Commotion regular Alyssa Bereznak.

Elamin is joined by film critics Rad Simonpillai and Hoai-Tran Bui to talk about some of the highlights at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Elamin is joined by Rob Bowman, Ericka Blount and TJ Armour to discuss the historic legacy of Stax Records with the release of the new documentary "Stax: Soulsville U.S.A."

Culture critics Leila Latif, Louise Bruton and Jael Richardson weigh in on the first half of Bridgerton season 3, and the Amy Winehouse biopic 'Back to Black.'