Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

"Brain rot" is the Oxford word of the year. Maybe you know a bit of what that feels like in this world where social media plays a gigantic role in our lives. Culture writers Rebecca Jenkins, Jackson Weaver & Mel Woods share some personal experiences of brain rot and what it says about this moment that we're in.

Writers Guild of Canada president Bruce Smith and guild member Anthony Q. Farrell join Elamin to discuss a recent experiment where the WGC fed famous lines from Canadian movies and TV shows into ChatGPT to see if the AI could improve upon them, and while the results were predictably awkward and humorous, they highlight the threats that professional screenwriters face as AI continues to encroach on the entertainment industry. Plus, Alison Herman discusses the latest installment in the Dune franchise: HBO’s ‘Dune: Prophecy.’

The world of book publishing is about to get disrupted in a big way. There’s a startup that wants to use AI to edit, proofread, design and distribute 8-thousand books next year. Guest host Radheyan Simonpillai chats with book industry insiders Jen Sookfong Lee and Nathan Maharaj about how AI is shaping the future of book publishing. Plus, the movie Titanic gets the musical treatment and recasts Céline Dion as the story’s main star. Thomas Leblanc reviews ‘Titanique’ opening in Toronto this week.

The Moana sequel is in theatres with a whole lot to live up to. How does it measure up to the original? And also, what’s with all the celebrity look alike contests popping up around the world? Elamin chats with culture critics Amil Niazi, Jason P. Frank and Riley Yesno.

With the release of ADVANCE: Canada's Black Music Business Collective’s new report on the state of the industry for Black artists and music professionals in Canada, Elamin is joined by ADVANCE’s Executive Director Keziah Myers and artist and culture critic Ian Kamau to discuss the report and some of its findings. Plus, Elamin is joined by film & television critic Leila Latif to talk about Silo season 2, and why the series has such loyal fans and what it says about the moment we're in now.

With Kendrick Lamar’s surprise release of a brand new album, and Drake launching a legal petition accusing Universal Music Group and Spotify of inflating the popularity of Kendrick’s Drake diss track ‘Not Like Us,’ Elamin is joined by culture critics David Dennis Jr., Pablo The Don, and Matt Amha to review Kendrick’s new album and unpack this latest chapter in his feud with Drake.

Culture critics Cristina Escobar, Sarah-Tai Black and Reanna Cruz review the polarizing Netflix crime musical Emilia Pérez, which tells the story of a transgender cartel boss in Mexico.

This month marks the 40th anniversary of 'Do They Know It’s Christmas?' the all-star UK benefit single for Ethiopia famine relief that became a defining moment in the intersection between celebrity and charity. However, despite raising millions of dollars for Ethiopia, the song has come to be seen by many as perpetuating negative stereotypes of Africa. Culture writer Nels Abbey and music journalist Maura Johnston reflect on the song’s legacy—as well as a whole new controversy surrounding the new 40th-anniversary version of the song. Plus, Nick Newman, managing editor for The Film Stage, attended the screening of 'Rust' and joins Elamin to talk about the experience of watching a movie that’s become so intertwined with tragedy.

Movie studios are eagerly waiting to see if 'Glicked' fever sweeps the box office this weekend. Critics Hoai-Tran Bui, Rad Simonpillai and Jackson Weaver join Elamin to talk about Gladiator II and Wicked.

After taking a highly publicized break from touring for mental-health reasons in 2022, Canadian pop phenom Shawn Mendes is back with his first album in four years, 'Shawn'. Music journalists Rosie Long Decter, Natalie Harmsen, and Suzy Exposito discuss his roller coaster journey from viral teen sensation to mature adult artist, and whether his pivot toward a folkier sound bodes well for his return to the limelight.

Sarah-Tai Black and Roxana Hadadi review the new Canadian film 'My Old Ass', a tight time travelling coming-of-age dramedy with a surprising punch. Plus, with People magazine naming John Krasinski,‘Sexiest Man Alive’, Elamin is joined by culture critic and Vulture writer Nicholas Quah to discuss the online backlash to the announcement and whether these types of declarations from pop publications are still relevant.

The Giller Prize was handed out yesterday, and Anne Michaels took home the prize for her novel, ‘Held.’ Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Toronto outside the gala to protest the Giller Foundation and its lead sponsor, Scotiabank. Past winner Ian Williams joins Elamin to reflect on the divisions and discontent in Canadian Literature, and why conversation is key to a way forward. 

Elamin is joined by Morgan Campbell from CBC Sports to react to the results of the highly anticipated fight between boxer and social media personality Jake Paul and former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. And culture writers Séamas O'Reilly and Louise Bruton talk about the new show Say Nothing, which tackles The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the little known history of the women of the IRA.

The numbers are astronomical - the scale, totally unprecedented. There has NEVER been a tour like Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. The morning after her first Canadian date – Elamin and the Commotion group chat take stock of how Taylor changes a city

After last night’s finale of ‘The Golden Bachelorette,’ TV reporter Shivani Gonzalez and culture critic Amil Niazi reflect on the scandal-plagued first season of the latest Bachelor Nation spinoff with Elamin, and discuss whether reality TV shows are doing enough to keep their contestants safe. And internet writer CT Jones reports from the front lines of X, formerly known as Twitter, which has lost followers since the American election.

Elamin is joined by music and culture critics Pablo The Don, Reanna Cruz and Andrea Williams to discuss this year’s Grammy nominations and the new doc ‘Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words'

Heretic is a part of a new slate of films where organized religion is the setting for a thriller. Entertainment reporter Teri Hart and podcaster Ashley Ray join guest host Rad Simonpillai to weigh in whether it works. And Sarah-Tai Black talks about the quietly comedic portrayal of small towns, grief and found family in Somebody Somewhere.

Film critics Rad Simonpillai, Jackson Weaver and Hanna Flint join Elamin to talk about Steve McQueen’s new World War II film Blitz, and how our remembrance of war is shaped by cinema.

As Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone returns with new episodes, culture critics Johnnie Jae, Karolina Waclawiak and Brooks Barnes discuss how it reflects American politics and why it speaks to viewers on different sides of the political spectrum.

Culture critic/podcaster Pablo the Don and rapper Rollie Pemberton – a.k.a. Cadence Weapon – weigh in on the new album from Tyler the Creator, Chromakopia, and his ongoing transformation from rap’s resident enfant terrible to one of its most esteemed auteurs. Plus, entertainment reporter Teri Hart talks about the new show 'My Dead Mom,' and how it explores grief through comedy.

Elamin is joined by Pablo The Don, Scaachi Koul and Radheyan Simonpillai to look back at the role social media culture and celebrity endorsements played in the U.S. election, and does it need to change..

Quincy Jones is widely understood as one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- music producer of all time. He died this week at 91. Jones built a vast and legendary musical legacy, producing hits from Aretha Franklin to Ella Fitzgerald to Ray Charles to Michael Jackson. He also helped create beloved television shows like MadTV and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. We spend time celebrating the late, great Quincy Jones.

Culture critics Teri Hart, Amil Niazi and Anne T. Donahue discuss this week’s big headlines from the world of film and television, including Robert Zemeckis’ Here, which reunites his Forrest Gump dream team of Tom Hanks and Robin Wright; and Hallmark launching a new reality show to cast its next Christmas movie star amid accusations of ageism leveled at the network.

Part two in our series on the future of the CBC. We’ve heard the case for defunding the public broadcaster, today we make space for why it matters. Max Fawcett, Nana Aba Duncan and Jonathan Torrens argue that it’s a vital asset that should be nurtured and publicly funded, now more than ever.

After the comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made offensive jokes about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally, artists reacted in anger and it became a rallying cry. Elamin chats with Hershal Pandya, comedy reporter for Vulture, and Raquel Reichard, deputy director of Refinery 29 Somos about comedy’s role in this year’s US election. Plus, Waubgeshig Rice joins Elamin to talk about contributing to the book Zeegajimo, a horror anthology with stories by all Indigenous writers and edited by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm and Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler.

As calls for the CBC to be defunded get louder, and as a new President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada gets set to take over in the new year, Elamin sits down with three critics of the CBC - Harrison Lowman, managing editor of The Hub, writer Rupa Subramanya of The Free Press, and freelance writer Sabrina Maddeaux. It's the first in a two-part series on the future of the public broadcaster. On November 1st, you'll hear the other side: why CBC matters and why it should be protected.

With Vince Carter becoming the first Toronto Raptor to have his jersey retired, Elamin is joined by sports reporter Kayla Grey and culture critic Dalton Higgins to assess the impact Vince Carter has had on Toronto and pop culture writ large. Plus, Elamin is joined by culture critic David Dennis Jr. to discuss David’s piece covering the recent fan backlash to the WWE’s lack of Black wrestlers at its Bad Blood event earlier this month.

Presidential candidate Kamala Harris pulled off the biggest celebrity endorsement of the election when Beyonce showed up in her hometown of Houston to support the Vice President’s rally on Friday. Culture writer Culture writer CT Jones joins Elamin to talk about how Beyoncé’s appearance went and why campaigns rely heavily on celebrity endorsements. Plus, TV critic Aramide Tinubu and culture writer Bee Quammie weigh on whether the new documentary 'Martha' is another celebrity puff piece disguised as a doc, or whether it’s able to dig deeper beyond Martha’s carefully curated public image.

Commotion regulars Teri Hart, Ashley Ray & Syrus Marcus Ware give us their takes on the new Catholic thriller ‘Conclave’ and Hasan Minhaj’s new Netflix special.

Horror fans Amil Niazi, Mel Woods and Matt Hart join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about what’s scaring them this week, from the box-office topping 'Smile 2' to Quebec indie film 'Red Rooms,' and more.

Andrew Garfield is promoting his new film 'We Live In Time,' but he seems to be doing something different. Maybe even – unintentional? Whether it’s going on a Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenburg, or talking with Elmo about missing his mom, he’s showing up in a way that seems deeply sincere, deeply vulnerable. Or maybe it’s all a brilliant act. We’ll get in to it with culture critics Niko Stratis and Kathleen Newman-Bremang.

Ever since it premiered at Cannes last May, Anora has been the talk of the film world. With the film receiving a wide release this week, critics Kristy Puchko and Peter Knegt explain why this gritty comedy about a New York sex worker and her wealthy Russian suitor has generated such an intense degree of Oscar buzz. Plus, film critic Rachel Ho talks about Fan Bingbing's return to cinema, and why she thinks her latest film 'Green Night,' a film set in South Korea, is proof that Fan Bingbing will never work in China again.

Guest host Ali Hassan is joined by culture critics Barry Hertz and Vinson Cunningham to discuss the rise of Conservative media company The Daily Wire, and what their approach might say about the role politics plays in the type of entertainment we consume. Plus, Han Kang’s recent win of the Nobel Prize in literature has put the spotlight on Korean fiction. Her work has also fueled a debate about literary translations. Ali Hassan speaks with Michelle Cho, an East Asian Studies professor at the University of Toronto, about why there’s a controversy around the English translations of Han Kang’s books, and whether they are faithful to the original text.

Elamin is joined by culture critics Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Syrus Marcus Ware and Joan Summers to reflect on the life of One Direction star Liam Payne, who died at 31. Plus, reactions to Norwegian reporter Kjersti Flaa sharing her past interviews with celebrities like Anne Hathaway and Blake Lively.

A year since Israel invaded Gaza, Palestinian artists, writers, filmmakers and poets are working hard to ensure their culture remains strong, despite so much destruction. Elamin chats with author Saeed Teebi and composer and pianist John Kameel Farah about how the war has affected their art.

A recent Dragons' Den episode where guest judge Simu Liu raised the issue of cultural appropriation with the owners of a new bubble tea-styled product has generated a lot of online backlash. Elamin chats with the Toronto Star's food reporter Karon Liu about what this moment can teach us. Plus, the Korean reality show Culinary Class Wars has upended the formula for food competition TV. Elamin chats with Michelle Cho and Roxana Hadidi about why other cooking shows should be taking notes.

The Fred Perry polo was popular in UK subcultures for decades, but, in recent years, it's become known as the de facto uniform of an extreme right-wing organization. Fred Perry's denounced its association with the Proud Boys, meanwhile a new wave of artists are reinstating the polo as a symbol of inclusivity. Elamin talks to Rollie Pemberton and Jon McCann about the evolution of the Fred Perry brand. Plus, film critic Rad Simonpillai talks about the new HBO series The Franchise, a satire about the making of a big budget superhero movie.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of K-os’ acclaimed album ‘Joyful Rebellion,’ Elamin is joined by music critics Dalton Higgins and Susana Ferreira to reflect on its impact then and now.

Elamin is joined by film critics Rachel Ho, Radheyan Simonpillai and comedian Cassie Cao to discuss the new Apple TV+ series Disclaimer, the Netflix comedy special Ali Wong: Single Lady and the latest controversy around the upcoming Western film Rust.

Culture writer Joan Summers talks about Vice President Kamala Harris’s appearance on 'Call Her Daddy' with Alex Cooper, and what we lose and what we gain when politicians give their time to entertainment podcasts over conventional news outlets. Plus, Elamin chats with Elamin chats with TV critics Saloni Gajjar and Sophie Gilbert about the 'Slow Horses' finale, and why it's one of the best shows on TV right now.

With the recent release of The Tragically Hip docuseries ‘No Dress Rehearsal’ and a new, band-authorized coffee table book, ‘This Is Our Life,’ out this month, music journalists Michael Barclay, Vish Khanna, and Lisa Christiansen discuss how the legendary Canadian rock band is preserving their legacy, and how these new releases are changing the way we think about the Hip.

'Dunya' is the debut album from acclaimed Toronto musician Mustafa.You'll hear why his laser focus on his Regent Park community has made him one of the most important artists of his generation.

As we reflect on what happened on October 7, we ask Jewish creators how art can be of service, making sense and giving shape to a very dark day, and how their lives have changed. Elamin speaks with writer Emily Tamkin and artist Dina Goldstein. Plus, Elamin chats with Israeli filmmaker Yariv Mozer about his new Paramount+ documentary, ‘We Will Dance Again.’

The film 'Saturday Night' looks back on the origins of the long-standing sketch comedy show, created by Lorne Michaels, just as it starts its 50th season. Critics Eric Deggans, Adam Nayman and Cassie Cao discuss SNL’s legacy, and where it stands in today’s political climate.

Elamin is joined by podcasters Damian Abraham and Pablo The Don to talk about the new docuseries on Netflix, ‘Mr McMahon,’ and how it tackles the legacy of World Wrestling Entertainment and the controversy surrounding its former chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Plus, Elamin chats with Sonya Ballantyne, the co-director of the documentary ‘The Death Tour.' It's a wrestling tour that is legendary for giving wrestling stars like Chris Jericho their start, but also highlights the intense love remote Indigenous communities have for wrestling.

With the release of Ellen DeGeneres’ first Netflix comedy special since the controversial end of her talk show, Elamin is joined by comedian Ashley Ray and culture critic Niko Stratis to discuss the special and other questions around her legacy. Plus, the trailer for Doctor Odyssey starring Joshua Jackson set a record for being the most-watched trailer for a new broadcast TV show ever. Now that the first episode is out, Elamin speaks with TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk for her review.

'So Long, Marianne' tells the story of Leonard Cohen’s relationship with Marianne Ilhen on the Greek island of Hydra during the early 60s. The new series on Crave gives shape to a transformative period in the poet’s life, but also illuminates the woman who was so much more than his muse. Filmmaker Brian D Johnson and Commotion regular Teri Hart join Elamin to talk about whether the series holds up even if you’ve never heard of Leonard Cohen. Plus, The Juno Awards have added a new prize for 2025 - South Asian Music Recording of the Year. Jeevan Sangha, whose been covering the rise of Punjabi hip hop in Canada, discusses what this new award means to the music community.

On this special episode of Commotion airing on the National Day For Truth and Reconciliation, musician Marek Tyler, writer Waubgeshig Rice, and visual artist Susan Blight discuss how the concept of Indigenous Futurism inspires artists across all disciplines, and how its forward-thinking philosophies reimagine narratives and promote Indigenous self-determination.

Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has made what might be his most divisive film yet. ‘Megalopolis’ is a sprawling science fiction epic that took Coppola 40 years to finish. Elamin chats with critics Rachel Ho, Kathryn VanArendonk and Jackson Weaver about what makes this film so polarizing. Also, they talk about the return of George Clooney and Brad Pitt in 'Wolfs.'

Commotion guest host Ali Hassan is joined by culture critics Kathleen Newman-Bremang and David Dennis Jr., to react to the latest news around the Sean 'Diddy' Combs case, and the response from within the hip-hop community. Plus, Montreal illustrator and avid The Wild Robot enthusiast Arizona O’Neill checks in to discuss whether the DreamWorks’ adaptation of the popular children’s book lives up to expectations.