Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Users of AI chatbots like ChatGPT are turning them into friends and romantic partners, some are even falling in love. Kashmir Hill, technology reporter for the New York Times, chats with Elamin about how the new version of ChatGPT has left some users with a broken heart. And Globe and Mail TV critic J. Kelly Nestruck makes the case that the Canadian public broadcaster shouldn’t be remaking the original French language shows it creates in Quebec, instead make the originals easily available with subtitles.

Elamin is joined by culture critics El Jones and Riley Yesno to discuss the popularity of the YouTube debate series ‘Surrounded,’ and what it says about the way entertainment media platforms are mining hot button politicized topics and journalistic sensibilities to drive engagement. 

TikTok Canada is shutting down – after a national security review flagged the threat of espionage by the Chinese government. Canadians will still be able to access TikTok .. but Canadian artists like the Beaches and bbno$ say they’re about to lose a vital resource. Tell Tale Harbour has made a big splash at this year's Charlottetown Festival. Based on the film The Grand Seduction, the new Canadian musical is the number-one selling show in the Confederation Centre's history. Now, it's wrapping up its run on P.E.I. and heading to Toronto. Ahead of its arrival, Elamin talks with two theatre insiders about what makes this musical such a fun and exciting new addition to Canadian theatre. 

Author Jael Richardson and sports journalist Shireen Ahmed join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about the U.S. Open’s newest venture: a reality dating show set at the grand slam tennis tournament. Also, with Mac DeMarco releasing his first proper album in six years, ‘Guitar,’ his old friend Rollie Pemberton, a.k.a. Cadence Weapon, explains how the impish kid he knew in the Edmonton underground scene became one of the most successful indie musicians in North America. 

Korean-culture writer Regina Kim, film critic Rachel Ho, and CBC entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver join the Group Chat to discuss the massive impact of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters as it transitions to the big screen; and whether the new English-dub version of the hugely successful Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 will translate into North American success. 

With the release of ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ the latest collab between Oscar-winners Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by culture critic Jay Smooth and film critic Sarah-Tai Black to discuss the reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic film, and where it stands amongst past Spike-Denzel movies. Also, as Oasis gets set to perform in Toronto, Guardian writer Rich Pelley talks about all the Oasis cover bands from across the globe he got a chance to interview -- including one right here in Canada. 

It's been a year since the viral meme of Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun hit the internet. Now we’ve got a musical about a dancer called 'Spraygun' at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Australian journalist Sean Tarek Goodwin talks about the show.

For 50 years, Jaws has been entertained with its unforgettable score, frightening practical effects and its compelling sense of adventure. Today on Commotion, superfans Norm Wilner and Tomris Laffly join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about how Jaws changed the way we see cinema -- and the ocean -- forever.

It’s been ten years since Carly Rae Jepsen released her iconic album, 'Emotion.' The group chat is here to dive into how this album cemented Carly’s status as a pop artist, an indie artist, a cult favourite and a queer icon. 

With Howard Stern’s SiriusXM satellite radio contract contract set to expire and his future uncertain, culture writer Niko Stratis, former radio morning man Matt Hart and comedian and podcaster Ashley Ray discuss Stern’s notorious legacy, his transformation from shock jock to congenial, conscientious host, and whether his voice is still necessary in 2025’s overcrowded media landscape.

After 3 seasons, the Sex and the City revival series And Just Like That has come to an end. Are we ready to say goodbye to the inimitable Carrie Bradshaw and her adventures in New York City? Today on Commotion, culture writers Amil Niazi, Anne T. Donahue and Chris Murphy join guest host Ali Hassan to unpack the end of the iconic franchise, and to talk about Taylor Swift’s newly-announced album, The Life of a Showgirl.

Commotion guest host Ali Hassan is joined by panelists Kathryn VanArendonk and Ashley Ray to discuss the new season of South Park and comedian/podcaster Marc Maron in the era of Trump and polarizing politics. Plus, Carole V. Bell talks about Canadian Maria Reva’s debut novel Endling, which is on the Booker Prize 2025 longlist.

Days after she turned 18, Canadian-American former child star and influencer Lil Tay said she's launched an OnlyFans account. Internet culture reporter Kat Tenbarge talks with guest host Ali Hassan about the reaction online, and how Lil Tay seems to have built her career on viral stunts. Plus, Ojibway playwright Drew Hayden Taylor discusses an increasingly common conundrum in the world of Indigenous theatre: when a production of an Indigenous story is cancelled because there are no older Indigenous actors available to play the roles.

Commotion guest host Ali Hassan is joined by film/tv critics Rad Simonpillai and Alison Herman to discuss the new tv show 'Alien: Earth' and what the series might add to the iconic sci-fi horror franchise. Journalist Max Read discusses the sudden resurgence of interest in Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros’ 2009 folk-pop hit “Home,” which was recently named The Worst Song Ever in a viral social-media thread, and which serves as a barometer of how what once seemed quaint in the Obama era now feels cringe in the current moment. 

Beauty influencers are now incorporating true crime into their makeup routines. Social media influencers like Bailey Sarian post weekly videos of themselves sharing details of a famous crime case while applying a full face. Amil Niazi and Riley Yesno discuss the trend and what it says about the way people consume true crime. Plus, with the release of the animated series ‘Eyes of Wakanda’ on Disney Plus - Commotion guest host Ali Hassan is joined by culture critic El Jones to discuss this latest installment in the Black Panther superhero franchise, and how it tackles geo-political themes like artifact theft and reclamation.  

Every music critic seems to agree: 2025 has no true song of summer. Last August, Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominated the charts. This year…Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominates the charts. What’s going on? Why is there no new summer song to unite us in collective listening, and will there ever be again?Elamin recently joined Switched on Pop’s Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding to discuss the dearth of seasonal bops, and suggest some possible contenders for sleeper summer hits, from the soundtrack of the anime film KPop Demon Hunters to the latest from the Haim sisters. Despite the moribund status of the Hot 100, there is no shortage of great music to be found in the dog days of summer if you’re willing to listen closely.Switched on Pop is a podcast from Vulture all about the making and meaning of popular music. Musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding pull back the curtain on how pop hits work magic on our ears and our culture. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.And for more, check out Commotion’s recent deep dive episode on Justin Bieber’s new album featuring Switched On Pop producer – and frequent Commotion panelist – Reanna Cruz.

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.’

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. 

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

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.

Hannah Sung and Samantha Lui review the new documentary BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, which chronicles the rise of the 7-member K-pop band as powered by its loyal global fan base. Plus, Sean Feucht is an American Christian-rock performer whose current Canadian tour has been subject to protests and revoked event permits to his MAGA affiliations and far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ views. But music journalist Carl Wilson explains why even those who find Feucht objectionable shouldn’t be celebrating the cancellation of his shows. .

Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau had dinner in Montreal this week … and it looked a lot like a date. Of course the footage goes viral, and people can’t stop talking about it. Lainey Lui and Justin Ling join Elamin to talk about why these two love the limelight, and what our reaction reveals about the moment we’re living in. Plus, Aisling Murphy, theatre reporter for the Globe and Mail, joins Elamin to talk about the new Canadian fringe plays that she thinks could be making their way to bigger stages in the near future. 

Culture critic El Jones and film and TV producer Floyd Kane join Elamin to talk about the new series Washington Black. Also, with the recent cancellation of ‘The Masterplan Show: Generation Next’ - Canada’s longest running hip-hop slot on community radio - Elamin is also joined by veteran culture critic Dalton Higgins to discuss the importance of the program's 30+ year legacy, and what the cancellation could signal about the future of hip-hop on Canada’s community radio airwaves.

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. 

The executive director of the Giller Prize says that Canada’s most prestigious literary award will be forced to close if they don’t get millions of dollars from the federal government. This comes after the Gillers cut ties with its former lead sponsor because of its connection to an Israeli arms manufacturer. Marsha Lederman joins Commotion guest host Eli Glasner to talk about why it’s such a predictable outcome, and what’s at stake for CanLit. Plus, when CBS announced that 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' would be ending in 2026, the news was not taken lying down by late night TV hosts — the least of all Jon Stewart. Culture writer Devin Gordon talks to Eli about the fallout from the cancellation, and why it took Colbert getting axed to bring out late night’s fiery side again. 

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.

Today on Commotion, culture writers Sarah Hunter Simanson and Megan Angelo join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the Amazon Prime Video series that has turned viewers of all generations into fans: 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Plus, in recent weeks, the existential threat of climate change has had tangible impacts on the live-music industry—the 2025 edition of Bonnaroo was shut down due to inclement weather, and veteran rocker Steve Miller just cancelled his summer tour due to concerns over extreme heat and storms. Variety reporter Jem Aswad discusses how the industry is adapting to this new normal. 

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.

Four years after releasing his 2021 blockbuster Justified, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber surprised fans by dropping his new album, Swag, this past weekend mere hours after announcing it. Music journalists Emilie Hanskamp, Natalie Harmsen, and Reanna Cruz explain how the album’s off-the-cuff, experimental sound reflects the recent upheavals in the singer’s life, including new fatherhood, a highly publicized split from manager Scooter Braun, alterations with paparazzi, and his increased openness about his mental health.  

With the release of the latest Superman reboot - Elamin is joined by Siddhant Adlakha and Sonya Ballantyne to discuss how the film holds up against past Superman films, the conservative backlash, and what the movie says about the future of the DC franchise under director James Gunn. And are we at Peak Labubu? Do you know what that means? Internet Culture Journalist Alyssa Mercante joins us to explain its brave new world of status, demonic accusations, and how something so ubiquitous can be so hard to get.

The morning after the season finale of Love Island USA, we get into why it’s bringing people together like nothing else on TV. Etalk senior correspondent Lainey Lui, comedian Marlon Palmer and CBC producer Amelia Eqbal join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to recap an event that’s become the Superbowl of live reality TV.

Clipse, the cult-favourite rap duo, are back with their first album in 16 years. Plus, both Drake and Kanye West are onstage this weekend — for very different reasons. Culture critics Pablo The Don, Huda Hassan, Matt Amha weigh in on all these stories with host Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

Just like 'Girls', Lena Dunham draws on her real life for the new romantic comedy 'Too Much,' this time set in London, U.K. Kathryn Van Arendonk and Hanna Flint join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about this transatlantic comedy, and whether it fixes some of what was wrong with 'Girls.' Plus, Prada recently apologized after its runway models wore sandals that looked like traditional Indian Kolhapuri sandals without acknowledging the footwear’s origins. Joyita Sengupta talks with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about how Prada’s “sandal scandal” reflects a long history of South Asian fashion being appropriated by the west.

With the release of ‘40 Acres,’ the highly-anticipated feature film debut of Canadian director R.T. Thorne, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by culture critic El Jones and film critic Jesse Wente to discuss the film, its Black-Indigenous themes, and what it could mean for indie Canadian filmmaking moving forward.Plus, songs from the animated Netflix movie 'KPop Demon Hunters' are taking over the music charts. Michelle Cho chats with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about why the film has been such a big hit, not just with K-pop fans.

TV critic Saloni Gajjar and culture critic Nicole Froio join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about why this year’s raft of "eat the rich" television is falling short of our expectations from the genre that brought us 'Succession,' 'The White Lotus' and 'Squid Game.'Plus, Maura Johnston discusses the new album from Kesha, 'Period,' and how it reflects her newfound freedom as an artist. This comes after a decade-long legal battle against her former producer and label head, Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual and emotional abuse. 

Ten years ago, 'Hamilton' the musical premiered on Broadway — and altered the course of musical theatre history forever. The revolutionary hit show about the founding of America has been wildly successful and lauded around the world, making stars out of many in its original cast. But the show has always had its critics too. Guest host Rad Simonpillai reflects on its legacy with culture critics Jackson Weaver, James McMaster and Karen Fricker.

Film critics Rachel Ho, Alison Wilmore, and Jackson Weaver join guest host Rad Simonpillai to discuss Sorry, Baby, the latest instalment in the Jurassic World franchise, and the politically themed Idris Alba and John Cena action comedy Heads of State.

With the verdict in on the Sean "Diddy" Combs case, Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by Refinery29 reporter Taryn Finley and NYC culture critic Jay Smooth to react to the news, to the discourse around the case, and what it all might mean for Diddy’s pop legacy moving forward. And Sarah-Tai Black talks about Canadian icon and transgender elder Beverly Glenn-Copeland, who is releasing the pilot of his children’s show, Caring Cabin.

Anna Wintour changed fashion during her almost 40 years at the helm of Vogue Magazine. But she also changed our relationship with celebrity. Anna Wintour’s biographer Amy Odell and fashion writer Danya Issawi join guest host Rad Simonpillai to debate her legacy, what’s next for the magazine, and why this is so much more than a fashion story.

With the public backlash to superstar producer Timbaland’s public support for AI-integrated music, guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by music journalist Dylan Green and critic Michelle Santosuosso to discuss the backlash and how it might inform the discourse between artists, their audiences, and the music industry, moving forward. And the Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz joins Rad Simonpillai to talk about whether F1 delivers on its promise of adrenaline-fuelled action.

What is considered to be a Canadian literary classic? Has that changed? Has it remained the same? Authors Jael Richardson and David A. Robertson, and bookseller and publisher Martha Sharpe chat with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about updating the Can Lit canon.

Culture critics Michelle Cho and Nicholas Quah join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about the final season of Squid Game, and whether its satire of capitalism is as potent the third time around. And the new Pixar movie Elio got good reviews when it opened a few weeks ago but it’s bombing at the box office. Teri Hart explains why the problem with Elio is the problem with all original kids movies: kids just don’t want original stuff on the big screen.You may also like: Why Squid Game: The Challenge is must-watch TV

Culture writer Niko Stratis, podcaster Vish Khanna, and music journalist Carl Wilson join the Group Chat to discuss the mammoth new seven-disc Bruce Springsteen box set ‘Tracks II: The Lost Albums’, the new intensely personal comeback album from New Zealand pop queen Lorde, and the musical legacy of Quebecois rock legend Serge Fiori, who passed away recently at age 73.

Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by real life line cook and tv junkie Grace Onasanya and tv/film critic Rachel Ho to talk about the latest season of ‘The Bear.’ Plus, Mel Woods joins Elamin to talk about their new Xtra podcast, Get Queer, which explores how queer folks turned reality TV into a global phenomenon.