Journalist Lane Brown investigated the popular film review site Rotten Tomatoes — and found out just how skewed the rankings really are. He joins film critic Rad Simonpillai and host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss what's going on with the business of film criticism more broadly. Plus, Drew Barrymore has announced her daytime talk show is back in production amid the Hollywood writers' strike. Entertainment reporter Teri Hart unpacks this choice, and the fallout so far.

When Louis C.K. was accused of sexual misconduct by a group of women, he did something different: he admitted it, said sorry. Then, he turned his experience into one of the most successful comedy tours in recent history. Two filmmakers join Elamin to talk about how the saga illuminates so-called cancel culture. Plus, Alison Herman explains why the new live action version of the popular manga series One Piece has been more successful than past attempts.

Vancouver author Alex Kazemi joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss his audacious debut novel, New Millennium Boyz — a no-holds-barred account of late '90s adolescence that posits the crass youth culture of the Y2K era as a harbinger of the toxic masculinity and online hostility that permeate our lives today. Plus, with the final season of Netflix’s UK crime series Top Boy out now, culture critic Ian Steaman talks about the show’s legacy and why it resonated so much with fans on this side of the pond.

USA Today is hiring two new reporters — one focused on Taylor Swift, and one dedicated to Beyoncé. These job postings raise all sorts of questions about the state of pop culture journalism today. For this week's wrap panel, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with culture critics Eli Glasner, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Mastermind about this and other big stories of the week.

Filmmaker Thom Zimny discusses his new documentary, Sly, which takes an intimate look at the life of Sylvester Stallone and celebrates the cinematic auteur lurking behind his muscle-bound action-hero image.

When it comes to music, who decides what’s good? From boomers to kids on TikTok, the goal posts are constantly shifting. Culture writers Kelefa Sanneh and Niko Stratis wade into the debate around Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner, who is facing backlash for profiling seven white male rock musicians in his new book The Masters — at the exclusion of everyone else.

Vulture pop culture and film critic Nate Jones joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the new comedy Dumb Money, inspired by the 2021 GameStop stock controversy, and what it says about Hollywood's thirst for quick turnarounds ripped from the headlines. Plus, Toronto music historian Daniel Tate explains how rare video footage he procured of Drake’s dad, Dennis Graham, became part of the rollout plan for the rapper’s new album, For All the Dogs.

We’ve all heard the line “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but millions of us are nonetheless swayed by a good blurb on the cover. Authors Jen Sookfong Lee and Anakana Schofield join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to delve into the power of blurbs — and how they’re more about personal connections than a book’s real merit. Plus, the season finale of the superhero series Moving, based on the popular webtoon by Kang Full, dropped this week on Disney+. Regina Kim talks about why so many webtoons are being adapted for TV.

In this special episode of Commotion, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with Montreal’s Debby Friday about last night's Polaris Music Prize gala, where the singer won the top prize for her debut album, Good Luck. She talks about what it felt like to win an award based on artistic merit alone, why she is so passionate about producing her own music, and what it means to her to represent Montreal on the Polaris stage.

Facing allegations that include rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, British comedian Russell Brand claims the mainstream media is working against him. Reporters Kat Tenbarge and Alyssa Bereznak unpack the story and explain why Brand’s YouTube subscribers are primed to distrust the media. Plus, journalist Deirdre Kelly talks about her new book Fashioning The Beatles, and why their sense of style was as important to their success as their music.

Hasan Minhaj is in the news this week after The New Yorker published an exposé revealing that some of the personal stories the comedian told in his stand-up weren't true. It's raising the question: how much are comedians allowed to stretch the truth? Comedians Cassie Cao, John Cullen and Brandon Ash-Mohammed join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to get into this as well as the recent praise the series Sex Education is receiving.

HYBE and JYP, two of Korea’s biggest music labels, are launching new girl groups on reality shows. But instead of casting just East and Southeast Asian performers, they’re open to artists of any background. What does it mean to create a girl group in the style of K-pop? Michelle Cho and Crystal S. Anderson tell host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about how the experiment is playing out on YouTube. Plus Alison O’Daniel, a visual artist and filmmaker on the deaf spectrum, talks about why she thinks we should all get used to the idea of seeing text on screen, all the time.

The Kansas City Chiefs football game on Sunday was dramatically overshadowed by the presence of Taylor Swift, who cheered from a private viewing suite after being publicly courted by star tight end Travis Kelce for months. Culture writers Tyler Foggatt and Mel Woods join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the publicity politics at play. Plus, Mel Woods talks about the return of anthology series American Horror Story and the effectiveness of stunt casting.

The Writers Guild of America is poised to end its five-month strike after reaching a tentative deal with the studios. Writers Kathryn Borel and Jackie Penn join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share why they have their hopes up. Plus, with news that the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony has ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy, Orchestra Canada's Executive Director Katherine Carleton shares her reaction to the news and what it might say about the future of Canada’s live orchestra industry.

ET Canada, Corus Entertainment's flagship TV entertainment program, was cancelled this week after 18 years on the air. What does it mean for entertainment journalism in Canada to lose a show like this? Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud gets into that, plus what's new with The Golden Bachelor, with culture writers Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Amil Niazi and author Jael Richardson.

The most iconic super models of the late '80s and early '90s are reuniting on the cover of this month’s Vogue magazine, and for a new Apple TV+ documentary series. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks about their staying power — and how they changed the game — with models and culture critics Hanna Ellis and Bee Quammie. Plus, on the eve of their induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame, ‘80s rock trailblazers Lee Aaron and Carole Pope talk about the different paths they took as women disrupting the Canadian music industry.

Are NFTs dead? Tech reporter and friend of Commotion Alyssa Bereznak recaps the NFT goldrush of the 2020s as a whirlwind of money and celebrity endorsements that ultimately crashed. Plus, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud speaks with Cassa Pancho, the founder of the groundbreaking company Ballet Black, about how she’s shaking up the world of ballet.

As part of Commotion’s celebration of hip-hop at 50, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud explores the emergence of Indigenous rap as a crucial outlet for social commentary across Canada with Vancouver rapper JB the First Lady, Toronto-based producer David Strickland, and Winnipeg MC Sly Skeeta.

Culture critic Ian Steaman joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to the latest arrest in the murder of Tupac Shakur, and why after 26 years this unsolved case continues to resonate within today's zeitgeist. Plus, screenwriter and showrunner Anthony Q. Farrell and culture critic Kathryn VanArendonk talk about what the Hollywood writers' strike actually changed, and what we can expect in the future.

For this week's wrap panel, culture critics Mastermind, Sarah-Tai Black and Marlon Palmer join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to Drake's new album, For All The Dogs, and the latest messy and explosive season of Love Is Blind on Netflix.

Late night shows were the first casualty of the writers' strike and, after being dark for 5 months, they’re the first to be back on air — but did anyone really miss them? Entertainment reporters Teri Hart and Eric Deggans discuss how the writers' strike changed late night TV, and what might lie ahead. Plus, music journalist Steven Hyden shares a first-person account of U2’s grand-opening show at Sphere, the new $2 billion video-dome venue in Las Vegas that sets a lofty new standard for live entertainment.

From Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, we have a cultural fascination with power couples. But what makes for a good power couple, and how transactional is love when you get to a certain level of celebrity? For this special edition of Commotion, culture writers and show regulars Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Rad Simonpillai and Niko Stratis join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to weigh in on all of this — in front of a live audience, onstage at Toronto's Buddies in Bad Times theatre.

As concert ticket prices continue to skyrocket and the richest pop stars keep getting richer, small neighborhood music venues — the places where future stars are born — have been shuttering from coast to coast. Today on Commotion, Toronto music promoter Jonathan Bunce, Pop Montreal founder Dan Seligman and Vancouver musician/playwright Leah Abramson join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to diagnose the root causes of the problem and identify potential solutions for revitalizing local music scenes.

Although critics are slamming the new Exorcist movie, it's still number one at the box office. Horror fans Jen Sookfong Lee and Matt Hart make the case for the original Exorcist, and weigh in on why we love to be scared at the movies. Plus, Sikh hip-hop academic Sara Grewal discusses the political fallout from an IG post made by Punjabi-Canadian hip-hop artist Shubh and how that, along with ongoing tensions between Canada's and India’s respective governments, is shaping how Punjabi-Canadian artists navigate the global music economy.

The CRTC announced that streaming services like Spotify and Netflix will need to register their information with the CRTC as it implements the Online Streaming Act passed in April. Podcast critic Nicholas Quah, policy expert Vass Bednar and podcast host Mattea Roach discuss how the podcasting industry, both in Canada and abroad, has reacted to the news. Plus, author Cory Doctorow explains why he goes out of his way to sell the audiobook versions of his books without Amazon.

For this week's wrap panel, culture critics Rad Simonpillai, Anne T. Donahue and Dalton Higgins weigh in on Netflix’s David Beckham docuseries, and the way Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film is ushering in a concert movie renaissance.

Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie earned the biggest North American opening for a Canadian movie in over a decade. Barry Hertz and Syrus Marcus Ware, parents and culture critics, talk with guest host Amil Niazi about Paw Patrol’s dominance and the social criticisms it’s drawn. Plus, theatre director Marc Gourdeau explains why companies are fighting to change a law in Quebec that bans actors from smoking on stage.

The biggest pop star on the planet became the world’s biggest movie star this weekend with the opening of the highly-anticipated concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. Swifties Amelia Eqbal and Eva Zhu join guest host Amil Niazi to talk about whether it lives up to the hype. Plus, Elamin Abdelmahmoud speaks with veteran music journalist and filmmaker Nelson George about a brand new CBC doc he executive produced, called Black Life: Untold Stories.

They’re the hosts that brought you the Webby award-winning Let’s Make A Sci-Fi – one of The New Yorker’s Best Podcasts of 2022. They brought the heart and humour with the follow up season, Let’s Make a Rom-Com. This time they’re going to make you laugh while they try to make you scream. Over 10 episodes, Maddy, Mark, and Ryan will learn what it takes to make truly frightening horror. They’ll meet the creators who make horror such an enduring genre. They’ll meet the people who love to be scared and they’ll take a stab at their own short, shocking film. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/wgRYoCLp

As Commotion continues its coverage of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, guest host Amil Niazi looks at India’s rap history with HipHop-N-More website founder and Mass Appeal India exec Navjosh Singh.

Brooklyn’s KAWS has become the toast of the global street art scene and collectible toy market. Toronto Star contributer Sue Carter and Heistdro of Toronto designer toy boutique Collective explain why some critics in the art world aren’t happy about him receiving his own exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Plus, LA Times critic Suzy Exposito talks about Bad Bunny’s surprise album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, and what his massive success means for Latin music and culture.

Jada Pinkett Smith has always been known for sharing intimate details of her personal life, but with the publication of her memoir Worthy, readers are realizing there's a whole lot she's kept secret until now. Culture critics and friends of Commotion Kyle Buchanan, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Bee Quammie talk with guest host Amil Niazi about how Pinkett Smith is taking charge of the conversation. Plus, they share their thoughts on Drake’s son Adonis Graham's first single and A24's first movie musical, Dicks: The Musical.

Sufjan Stevens is a songwriter of big feelings, and his tenth studio album, Javelin, proves he’s still at the top of his game. Culture critics Craig Jenkins and Mel Woods talk with host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about how the album, dedicated to Stevens' late partner Evans Richardson IV, is a study in grief, love and honouring the big relationships in your life. Plus, CBC Sports senior contributor Shireen Ahmed discusses the hottest rivalry in the NBA, between star reporters Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania.

"Milli Vanilli" is a new documentary that unpacks the lip sync scandal behind one of the biggest acts of the '80s. The doc's executive producer Hanif Abdurraqib joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the legacy of the scandal, and what the media and fans might've missed when it first broke. Plus, Pitchfork contributing editor Philip Sherburne explains why people are concerned for the state of music-sharing website Bandcamp after a recent sale to music-licensing service Songtradr.

Martin Scorsese's highly-anticipated film about a series of murders in the Osage Nation during the 1920s has finally arrived in theatres. Author Angela Sterritt and culture critics Johnnie Jae and Jesse Wente join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to Killers of The Flower Moon and what it might suggest about who gets to tell Indigenous stories in 2023.

It’s been almost three weeks of war in the Middle East — and three weeks of posts by celebrities letting us know where they stand on the issue. Today on Commotion, tech reporters Alyssa Bereznak and Mike Isaac, along with friend of the show Rad Simonpillai, join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss how celebrities influence our feelings about war, and why that matters.

Britney Spears’ musical legacy in pop is so big that it’s hard to define — and yet, that legacy is often overshadowed by the way she was exploited in the press for years. Now, Spears is addressing it all in her new memoir, The Woman in Me. Writers Lisa Whittington-Hill and Alessa Dominguez join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss revelations from the book, and how her story has been framed by the men in her life.

According to an investigation by CBC's The Fifth Estate, musician and icon Buffy Sainte-Marie may not be who she claims to be. Anishinaabekwe musician ShoShona Kish and Cree writer Michelle Good join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share their reactions and reflections following the latest reports about the trailblazer's ancestry.

Known around the world for his sardonic wit as Friends' Chandler Bing, the late Matthew Perry is also being remembered as an advocate for those dealing with substance abuse issues. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with writer and editor Kevin Fallon to commemorate the Canadian-American actor. Plus, Commotion’s resident horror expert Matt Hart explains how the creepy indie videogame Five Nights at Freddy's became a massively successful franchise.

Against all odds, today the world receives a new single from The Beatles. To celebrate, Commotion’s resident Fab Fourologists Paul Myers and Maura Johnston join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share their reactions to the song, Now and Then, and unpack the fascinating, decades-long story behind its creation.

On the eve of Snow’s Informer and Bran Van 3000’s Drinking In L.A. being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, music critics Dalton Higgins and Stuart Berman look back on the impact these two acts and their music had on pop culture then and now. Plus, author and publisher Michael Hingston chats with host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the legendary cartoonist Bill Watterson’s mysterious reclusion, and what the Calvin and Hobbes creator's new picture book, The Mysteries, might say about his return.

How much does the truth really matter when it comes to comedy? Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks to former The Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. and comedian Ali Hassan about Hasan Minhaj’s efforts to justify his approach to comedy following a profile in The New Yorker detailing instances where he stretched the truth in his stand-up routines.

Last week, HBO’s CEO apologized for creating fake social media accounts to clap back at TV critics who wrote negative reviews about the platform's shows. Vulture critic and friend of Commotion Kathryn VanArendonk talks about what it was like to see her tweets discussed by HBO bosses. Plus, radio host Nantali Indongo explains how Québec's Félix Awards are a testament to the strength of the province's music scene.

It can be easy to forget that Lauryn Hill only put out one solo album. And that's because of its unbelievable impact on hip-hop and people's lives. Today on the podcast, A. harmony helps break down what was going on behind the scenes of the album production and why it continues to be so relevant to this day. Plus, how one art historian is questioning, what is the story of art without men?

Former MuchMusic personality Craig F. Halket and journalists Liisa Ladouceur and Dalton Higgins join guest host Amil Niazi to share their takes on what Sean Menard’s documentary, 299 Queen Street West, gets right about the Nation’s Music Station — and what’s been left out of the narrative. Plus, culture writer Niko Stratis reacts to the news that Urban Outfitters will be selling refurbished and retrofitted iPods.

The Hollywood actors' union says their strike is over. Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk joins guest host Amil Niazi from L.A. to walk us through the drama that unfolded before the tentative agreement was reached. Plus, Sofia Coppola takes on Priscilla Presley’s story in her new film, shedding a different light on the Elvis fans knew as a beloved performer. Culture writers Alison Willmore and Jackson Weaver share their thoughts on the film's reception and how it fits into Coppola's cannon.

Culture critics A. Harmony, Ashley Ray and Eli Glasner join guest host Amil Niazi to react to The Marvels, the latest installment in the MCU, the second season of Issa Rae’s series Rap Sh!t, and why Missy Elliott becoming the first female rapper inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was a bittersweet moment for some hip-hop fans.

As part of our series celebrating hip-hop at 50, CBC broadcaster and emcee Nantali Indongo joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explore hip-hop's musical history in La Belle Province, and the role language played in the rise of some of its most noteworthy rap acts.

The “bimbo” archetype has been showing up a lot lately, whether it's on TikTok or in movies like Barbie and Mean Girls: The Musical — but for reasons you might not expect. Host Elamin Abdemahmoud chats with culture writers Rayne Fisher-Quann, Rebecca Jennings and Andrea Werhun about why people are self-identifying as bimbos, and whether you can really reclaim an identity intended to disempower you.

A new term, "funflation," has been coined to describe how spending on entertainment is way up despite the fact that many people are struggling to make ends meet. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud makes sense of it with Mark Harrison, founder of the MH3 Collective and Black Talent Initiative who’s been crunching the numbers, and Amelia Eqbal, a self-proclaimed poster girl for funflation who’s seen 11 concerts in the past year.

A new HBO documentary, David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, explores the special bond between actor Daniel Radcliffe and his Harry Potter stunt double David Holmes, who was paralyzed in an on-set accident. Veteran stunt coordinator Kirk Caouette and actor/podcaster Carolina Bartczak share their thoughts on how the field of stunt work is changing for the better, and worse. Plus, journalist Josh O’Kane explains why one of Canada’s most respected arts organizations, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, is in turmoil.

For this week's wrap panel, culture writers Jackson Weaver, Chris Murphy and Anne T. Donahue join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to weigh in on how the new season of The Crown handles Princess Diana’s death, whether Nathan Fielder’s new series The Curse is the most uncomfortable television show of the year, and if the new animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off delivers for fans of the Toronto-based cult classic.

With news of musician Cassie’s launching a suit against music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs that included allegations of rape, abuse and trafficking — and then privately settling a day later — Kathleen Newman-Bremang and David Dennis Jr. share their reaction and early analysis to the case. Plus, Wile E. Coyote voice actor Eric Bauza tells us about how social media outrage over Warner Brother’s decision to shelve the film Coyote vs. Acme just might help save it.

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, there has been an unmistakable upheaval in the art world. Writers Maris Kreizman, Josh Gondelman and Jen Sookfong Lee are grappling with the consequences of speaking up. They join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud and arts reporter Josh O’Kane to share their thoughts on the cancelled exhibits, protests, and the people who’ve lost jobs and opportunities for sharing their points of view — and what's at stake within our cultural institutions.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of OutKast's Grammy-winning album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and the 25th anniversary of their acclaimed album Aquemini. Plus, member of the duo André 3000 just released his first solo album, New Blue Sun. With lots to celebrate, OutKast and Southern hip-hop academic Regina Bradley and veteran music journalist David Dennis Jr. join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share their reactions to the old and new tunes.

Taylor Swift’s first Eras Tour show in Rio de Janeiro was met with an intense heat wave. A 23-year-old woman named Ana Clara Benevides Machado died during the show, and the tragedy has fans grappling with accountability. Culture journalists Nicole Froio and Niko Stratis unpack how fans are feeling about their safety at shows, and how unprepared we are to meet the far-reaching impacts of climate change. Plus, Crocs have been around for more than two decades, and they’re more popular than ever. Culture writer Scaachi Koul talks about why ugly fashion is having a moment.

Film critics Sarah-Tai Black, Rad Simonpillai and Hanna Flint join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to chat about how Hollywood is holding up post-strike, Ridley Scott’s unique press tour for his new film Napoleon, and what happened when TikTok’s favourite comedian Matt Rife put out a Netflix special.

A new documentary about Buffy Sainte-Marie’s life just won an International Emmy, after a CBC report raised questions about her Indigenous identity. Freelance journalist Michelle Cyca joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about what this win means, and how we move forward with Buffy's legacy as an artist. Plus, for our ongoing celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, Elamin sits down with veteran music journalist and filmmaker Nelson George to look back at the rise of the culture and hip-hop journalism.

Karl Tremblay was a national hero in Quebec, and the province is still mourning after the lead singer of Les Cowboys Fringants died earlier this month. Fan and culture journalist Dominic Tardiff helps us remember him. Plus, the new competition show Squid Game: The Challenge is getting a lot of heat for glossing over the anti-capitalist message of the original, dark drama it’s inspired from. But despite that, many critics say this adaptation is surprisingly compelling. Alison Herman and Nicholas Quah break down what makes this show a must-watch.

The latest Disney animated film, Wish, was supposed to be a holiday blockbuster, but a lukewarm opening weekend and harsh reviews suggest it won’t be the next Frozen-level phenomenon. This comes on the heels of other recent box-office disappointments like The Marvels and the latest Indiana Jones film, that have put a damper on the company as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. With Disney hosting its annual town hall meeting for investors this week, we speak to film critics Bilge Ebiri and Kristy Puchko about what’s gone wrong at the House of the Mouse, and how it can correct course.

‘Tis the season for Spotify Wrapped, when the music streaming service delivers a personalized and highly shareable breakdown of users' annual listening habits. Richie Assaly and Chris Murphy explain how Spotify Wrapped became a social media phenomenon, and how it helps generate a lot of goodwill for a company often seen as the Scrooge of the music industry. Plus, more than 50 artists have signed an open letter about how Canadian cultural institutions are failing to Indigenize and decolonize their ways of operating. Aylan Couchie tells Elamin why she organized the letter.

For this week's wrap panel, culture critics Niko Stratis, Rollie Pemberton and A. Harmony join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé and how much the famously private superstar pulls back the curtain on her record-breaking world tour, Dolly Parton’s debut rock album, and whether Noah Kahan is bringing back “stomp and holler” music.

Former April Wine singer Myles Goodwyn died this weekend at the age of 75. Craig Northey, one of the founding members of the band Odds, helps us remember Goodwyn's impact and how April Wine's music became an essential part of Canadiana. Elamin also remembers Toronto filmmaker Charles Officer, a giant in Canadian film and television who passed away this weekend after a long illness. Plus, writers Keith Phipps and Anne T. Donahue, as well as former Nicolas Cage stand-in Marco Kyris, stop by Commotion to look at Nicolas Cage's legacy in 2023 following the release of his latest film, Dream Scenario.

More than 200 years after the Elgin — or Parthenon — marbles were torn from one of Greece's most sacred landmarks and shipped to the U.K., the Greek government continues to fight for their return. Now, the marbles are at the centre of a diplomatic row between the two countries. Elamin talks to Marc Fennell, the host of Stuff The British Stole, about the latest on this historic case study and the questions it raises about how museums are decolonizing — and what’s getting in the way.

Hosted by Marc Fennell, Stuff the British Stole peels back the true histories behind objects acquired by the British Empire that sit in museums and galleries across the world, and meets the people that want them back! The first two seasons of the podcast are available now on CBC Listen. You can also stream the television series now on CBC Gem. Here, Fennell tells the true story of Matoaka - a young Powhatan girl who you probably know as Pocahontas. This is the mystery of a child, a hidden history and a stolen story.

If there is one show that could serve as a time capsule for the early aughts, it's The O.C. The series launched indie music careers, and turned comic book nerds into heartthrobs. 20 years after its premiere, creator Josh Schwartz and executive producer Stephanie Savage join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to reflect on the ups and downs of making the hit show.

Director Emerald Fennell’s latest film, Saltburn, is proving to be even more polarizing than her controversial 2020 debut, Promising Young Woman. Guardian film critic Adrian Horton explains why this tale of class mobility, queer lust and murder has divided audiences between those who think it’s a stylish, sexy, satiricial thriller, and those who think it’s just empty provocation with nothing interesting to say about privilege. Plus, Guy Fieri recently signed a 3-year deal with the Food Network worth $100 million USD, making him the highest paid celebrity TV chef. Culture critic Niko Stratis digs into what makes Guy Fieri worth so many dollars.

For this week's wrap panel, culture critics Rad Simonpillai, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Sarah-Tai Black join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to weigh in on Vulture’s controversial critique of Beyoncé, Time Magazine's Person of the Year cover story with Taylor Swift, and what the online reaction to them says about the state of celebrity criticism today. They also discuss Todd Haynes’ psychological dramedy May December, and Netflix’s dubious efforts at marketing it.

The 60th annual Venice Biennale opens this weekend, but one exhibit will be closed to the public. Ruth Patir, the artist representing Israel, is refusing to open her exhibit until “a cease-fire and hostage release agreement is reached.” Elamin speaks with Kate Brown, senior editor at Artnet News about how Ruth's protest is making waves in the art world. Plus, Elamin is joined by The Verge’s tech writer Emma Roth and music journalist Marc Masters to talk about the resurgent popularity of physical media including vinyl, CDs, DVDs and cassette tapes.

Love Actually has become a rom-com that fans watch over and over again, especially around the holidays. The film turns 20 this year — and so does Elf, the whimsical holiday comedy starring Will Ferrell. Film critics Hanna Flint and Rad Simonpillai dig into these beloved Christmas movies and how well they have or haven’t aged.

Why would any sports team pay $700 million for a single player? Well, when that athlete is Shohei Ohtani, it seems almost reasonable. It turns out the answer has a lot to do with who’s watching — and who’s paying to advertise. Sports writer Morgan Campbell gets into it. Plus, with the latest installment in the Godzilla franchise becoming the highest grossing Japanese film ever released in the U.S., Godzilla superfan and expert William Tsutsui and Asian culture critic Michelle Cho join Elamin to look at the long history of one of the most popular movie monsters of all time.

As part of Commotion’s year-in-review, Elamin sits down with rapper Rollie Pemberton (a.k.a. Cadence Weapon) and veteran indie rock musician/activist Damon Krukowski to talk about all the different ways that life for an independent musician became more difficult in 2023. Plus, CBC entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver explains why The Boy and the Heron is shaping up to be the most successful North American release in Japanese animation icon Hayao Miyazaki's storied career, and where it fits into his oeuvre.

For this Friday's wrap panel, Jael Richardson, Syrus Marcus Ware and Sarah-Tai Black join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the bizarre drama on book review platform Goodreads that led to a debut writer’s book deal getting cancelled, plus Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali’s poignant Netflix thriller Leave the World Behind.

Danny Woodburn is an actor with dwarfism who has spent his long career fighting for roles that aren't stereotypes. While he’s seen progress, he’s frustrated that Hollywood still casts regular sized actors to play little people — like Hugh Grant playing an Oompa Loompa in the new movie, Wonka. He tells host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about Hollywood's complicated casting history.

Kanye West is gearing up to drop a new album, but his reputation has fallen dramatically in recent years as he’s embraced MAGA politics, conspiracy theories and anti-semitic rhetoric. Yet, he remains an object of fascination for the media. Music journalists Dalton Higgins and Leor Galil unpack the Kanye conundrum. Plus, The Gilded Age is a period drama set against a pivotal time in American History – where rapid economic growth was common but any display of new wealth was often shunned. As the second season comes to a close, we discuss why some viewers are divided by the show, and what it gets right – and wrong – about that time period.

From the runway to the retail rack, what can we learn about ourselves from what we wore this past year? Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud looks back at the good, the bad and the ugly of 2023's trends with fashion writers Gianluca Russo, Olivia Petter and Bee Quammie.

Earlier this month, we lost Canadian filmmaker, producer and writer Charles Officer, whose award-winning work spanned features, documentary and television. Filmmakers Amanda Parris, Wendy 'Motion' Brathwaite and Randall ‘R.T.’ Thorne join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to look back on his life and legacy of centering Black voices and characters.

Why does everything feel so….mid? Our pop culture, from the music we listen to, to what we watch or share online, has all become a bit bland. At a time when everyone is releasing their best-of-the-year lists, Elamin chats with culture critics Niko Stratis, Kyle Chayka and Bilge Ebiri about this “mid” feeling dogging pop culture — and why that might be exactly where industry execs want us.

For this edition of Commotion's Friday Group Chat, movie critics Radheyan Simonpillai and Teri Hart join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to look back at the year in film. The panelists share their favourites from the year, the biggest disappointments, the most underrated films and the most annoying trends.

Wicked, the lauded musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz, celebrated its 20th anniversary on Broadway this year. To commemorate the occasion, Wicked experts Stacy Wolf, Quincy Brown and Kevin Bianchi join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about what makes this now-classic show so timeless, and how it changed the landscape of musical theatre for good.

Up next in Commotion's celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary is hip-hop’s growing influence in South Korea. Haekyung Um, a music professor at the University of Liverpool, takes us on a tour of rap history in the region with a special playlist featuring Suga, Yoon Mirae, Verbal Jint and more. Plus, journalist Deirdre Kelly talks about her book Fashioning The Beatles, and why The Fab Four’s sense of style was important to their success and influence as their music.

Today on Commotion, we pay tribute to some of the big musical icons we lost in 2023 — Gordon Lightfoot, Tina Turner, Sinéad O'Connor and Robbie Robertson — by revisiting the conversations we had this year with the people who knew them, and devout fans who had their lives changed by their music.

In the world of arts and pop culture, who are the winners and losers of 2023? Culture thinkers Niko Stratis, Amil Niazi and Matt Hart join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud for a special edition of Commotion, recorded in front of a live audience in Toronto's Glenn Gould Studio as part of the CBC's annual food drive, Sounds of the Season.

TV in 2023 had some clear highs, like The White Lotus and Succession, but the season took a turn when Hollywood's writers and actors went on strike. With the labour dispute now behind us, what does 2024 have in store for viewers? Culture critics Kathryn VanArendonk, Chris Murphy and Mel Woods join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to kick off the new year with a look at what's coming to the small screen.

Culture critics and friends of the show Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Sarah-Tai Black and Rad Simonpillai join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the biggest films that came out over the holidays, The Color Purple and Ferrari, and look ahead to the films they're excited to watch in 2024.

Kliph Nesteroff joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud for a chat about his new book, Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars. The Canadian comic and comedy historian shares what the past can tell us about current tensions around free speech and cancel culture.

With a new year comes new books! Writers Jen Sookfong Lee, Makda Mulatu and Tajja Isen join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the titles they're looking forward to reading this year. They also discuss the technologies and trends shaping what gets published, and why so many books never make it to the readers who might love them.

The Golden Globes are this Sunday, which means awards season is finally here! After a year of blockbuster films and Hollywood strikes, Elamin chats with comedians/podcasters Ashley Ray and Trevor Campbell, and film critic Kristy Puchko about who they think deserves a golden statue. Plus, the Friday Group Chat gives us their takes on Dan Levy’s directorial debut, Good Grief, following his mega-hit series Schitt’s Creek.

Entertainment reporter Teri Hart checks in with a morning-after recap of the highlights and surprises from the 81st Golden Globe Awards, the first to be held since the dissolution of its scandal-plagued organizing body the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Plus, music journalist Maura Johnston and Vulture’s Switched On Pop podcast producer Reanna Cruz tell us about the big albums and dominant trends we can expect from the world of pop music in 2024.

Argylle, a highly-anticipated spy thriller novel by debut author Elly Conway, is out today — and fans speculate that Taylor Swift might actually be behind it. Elamin chats with author Heather Marshall and professor Elly McCausland about the role fandoms play in publicity. Plus, theatre critic Aisling Murphy explains the controversy surrounding a cancelled staging of the award-winning play The Runner, about violence in the middle east, in B.C.

Did Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer steal jokes? Katt Williams seems to think so. Comedian and podcast host Ashley Ray joins Elamin for a special episode of Commotion, where the pair dive into the explosive comments Williams made during a recent interview on the Club Shay Shay podcast.

Almost a decade after his presidency, Barack Obama is still a cultural force. Jennifer Zhan and Eric Deggans get into Obama’s lasting cultural relevance — and why artists may not want to be on his year-end lists. Plus, are Canadians being left off of best-of lists? Music journalist and author Michael Barclay offers some theories as to why Canadian music may have fallen off on the international stage.

Commotion is proud to announce the most highly anticipated reading list of the year. Elamin will reveal the five Canadian celebrities and the five books they'll be championing, and give each panelist a thirty second preview of what's to come.

The new Mean Girls movie musical comes out today. Culture critics Sarah-Tai Black, Niko Stratis & Cassie Cao join Elamin to review the latest adaptation of the classic teen movie. Plus, they unpack the backlash to the controversial New York Times op-ed that speculates on Taylor Swift’s sexuality.

The fourth season of True Detective premiered on Sunday, and critics are raving about it. TV critics Kathryn VanArendonk and Jackson Weaver talk about leading performances by Jodie Foster and newcomer Kali Reis and the storytelling prowess of showrunner Issa Lopez. Plus, South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun died by apparent suicide late last year, following a highly publicized investigation into alleged drug use. Korean pop culture expert Michelle Cho explains why South Korea’s top artists are calling for an examination of the police and the media’s treatment of his case.

Jonathan Glazer’s new film The Zone of Interest has received rave reviews and awards-season attention for its unconventional approach to retelling the Holocaust from the perspective of a rich Nazi family that lives next to Auschwitz. Radheyan Simonpillai will explain what makes The Zone of Interest so compelling, while fellow critic Katarina Docalovich will explain why she was put off by the film. Plus, Former Montreal Canadien Terry Ryan never stopped playing hockey – even AFTER he started acting in the hit comedy Shorsey. But he never expected to be called up to a pro game in a sold-out arena in his hometown of St John’s — on his 47th birthday.

The Paramount+ series The Curse turns a funhouse mirror on white liberal guilt, gentrification, the art world, reality television and other aspects of modern life. Culture critics Falen Johnson and Amil Niazi weigh in on The Curse’s absurd finale. Plus, Jeopardy contestants were recently stumped by a pop culture clue, even when shown a photo of the person they had to guess, which was the late rapper Mac Miller. Elamin chats with 23-time Jeopardy champion Mattea Roach about how hard it is to keep up with pop culture these days!

CruiseTok — the daily stream of TikTok videos made by passengers on Royal Caribbean’s unprecedented nine-month cruise around the world — is the current hottest reality TV show. Culture writers Becky Hughes and Anne T. Donahue explain why you just can’t swipe away. Plus, You might know the actor Sophie Nélisse for playing the young Shauna in Yellowjackets. Now she’s the voice of another harrowing story: a podcast about the Ashley Madison hack. Where people who used the site to cheat on their partners were exposed — with devastating results. Elamin sits down with her to talk about her new project.

Comedian Marlon Palmer and culture critics A. Harmony and David Dennis Jr. join Elamin to dig into the week’s big stories: the ‘Drake hip-hop’ debate, Ava DuVernay’s latest film Origin and the trailer for the new J-Lo movie that's gotten everyone confused.

January 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of Apple’s famous 1984 themed — a nod to George Orwells famed dystopian novel — Macintosh ad, which aired during the Super Bowl. The event officially kicked off the home-computing craze in North America. But that was just one breakthrough moment in a year that's become one of the most pivotal in modern history. Music journalist Michaelangelo Matos and media studies professor Siva Vaidhyanathan explain how the major evolutions in technology, pop culture and politics we saw in 1984 created the world we live in today.

Commotion remembers the great Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison — who passed away on Saturday at age 97 — with a group chat featuring his friend and colleague Rick Mercer, filmmaker Clement Virgo and Globe and Mail film critic Barry Hertz

Elamin sits down with former Pitchfork editor Jillian Mapes, music critic Niko Stratis and musician — and former Pitchfork writer — Cadence Weapon to react to the recent Pitchfork layoffs and announced merging with GQ. We'll also look back on the publication's rise and legacy up to this moment.

With the finale of Reacher Season 2, the arrival of Masters of the Air, and the return of The Terminal List, it seems like Dad TV is more popular than ever. TV critic Eric Deggans and culture commentator Matt Hart get into what defines the comfort genre, who exactly is watching, and why Dad TV seems to be hitting its peak now. Plus, after nearly two decades, rock band Tokyo Police Club is calling it a day.

Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Rad Simonpillai and Rachel Ho talk to Elamin about the Oscar nominations and who got snubbed. Plus, the group chat reviews Lulu Wang and Nicole Kidman’s ambitious new Amazon Prime series Expats.

The new Netflix documentary ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ takes us behind the scenes of the making of “We Are the World,” the 1985 benefit single that brought pop legends together to raise money for famine relief in Africa. Music journalist Maura Johnston and arts writer/broadcaster Garvia Bailey share their thoughts on the film, and the complicated relationship between celebrity and charity. Plus, Jacqueline Novak’s new Netflix special, ‘Get On Your Knees,’ is a 90-minute monologue focused entirely on one subject: oral sex. The New Yorker’s Carrie Battan explains how Novak became the talk of the comedy world, and why her seemingly risqué show is actually quite profound.

Elamin is joined by Comedian Marlon Palmer and culture critics Jackson Weaver and Stacy Lee Kong to discuss the latest moves from Netflix, the new dramedy Late Bloomer starring former YouTuber Jus Reign, and why online creators making the jump to traditional TV is more complicated than we think.

Last week, AI-generated explicit images of Taylor Swift’s likeness were shared on X, previously known as Twitter, without her consent. These photos racked up millions of views before being taken down. Reporters Sam Cole and Melissa Heikkilä — who have been tracking the rise of deepfakes for years — talk about why this story has hit a nerve with Hollywood and Washington. Plus, Writer, host and executive producer Amanda Parris joins Elamin to talk about her new CBC series For The Culture and what she learned in her deep dive into the topics and tensions Black people across the diaspora are talking about.

1980s rock band The Smiths used to represent a generation of misunderstood and anguished liberal teens. But ever since lead singer Morrissey has become an icon for the far-right, now they’re on Donald Trump’s rally playlist. Journalist and Smiths’ fan Luke O’Neil breaks down the conservative embrace of the band. Plus, Sofia Vergara plays real life Colombian cartel boss Griselda Blanco in a new Narcos spin-off. We’ll check in with Colombian pop culture writer Manuel Bettancourt about Griselda and the stereotype of a Colombian woman.

For this week’s Friday Wrap, culture writers Sarah-Tai Black, Niko Stratis and Justin Curto join host Elamin to discuss Universal Music Group’s decision to pull their music from TikTok, the diss track drops between Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj and how Elmo became Twitter’s main character this week.

Music journalists Reanna Cruz and Maria Sherman give us a morning-after report on the big winners, the surprises, the snubs and performance highlights from the 66th Grammy Awards.

Novelist Sarah J. Maas sits atop the ever-popular romantasy genre — a mix of fantasy and romance — that's dominating social media. With her new book House of Flame and Shadow, Heather O'Neill, Kathryn VanArendonk and Makda Mulatu discuss why Maas attracts such a large fanbase. They also talk about the CEO of Penguin Random House's recent comments in the New York Times about potentially using AI to sell more books. Plus, the inherently hierarchical structure of festival posters – between the artists in large font and the ones at the bottom in tiny lettering – serves as a lens to analyze the current state of the music industry. With all the big summer festivals getting announced, Stereogum writer Tom Breihan explains what the posters from this year’s big summer festivals can tell us.

To recognize the 30th anniversary of the inclusion of Indigenous categories to the Juno Awards, Elamin is joined by Alan Greyeyes, Tristan Grant and Susan Blight for a brief look at the legacy of the Indigenous categories at the Junos and the contentious history around who gets to claim Indigeneity as musicians. Plus, New York fashion week kicks off Friday and the front rows of Haute Couture shows are filled mostly with Gen Z influencers — which has some fashion insiders feeling less than impressed. Fashion journalist Gianluca Russo gets in to the drama.

Do you and your best friends have to like the same movies, music and shows? What happens if you don’t? Comedians Mae Martin and Sabrina Jalees are best friends and their new show Benefits with Friends is out through Audible Originals — where they tackle topics so many friends never touch. Plus, there’s a whole new kind of throw down coming to a TV near you. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with ceramic sculptor Susannah Montague about The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down, a new reality competition series centered around the art of working with clay.

The Commotion Group Chat weighs in on this week’s big pop-culture stories. The Taylor Swift effect on this weekend’s Super Bowl and the post-Grammys celebration of Tracy Chapman among fans new and old.

It is the day after the Super Bowl! Pop star Usher headlined the halftime show and Taylor Swift was in the stadium cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs, continuing her streak of giving the NFL a big bump this season. Elamin is joined by Kathleen Newman-Bremang and David Dennis Jr. for a post Super Bowl reaction, their assessment of where the NFL’s image sits in the pop realm right now and how they're feeling after Beyoncé's surprise country album announcement.

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is almost halfway through its first season. CBC reporter Karissa Donkin and TikToker goalie Sianna Gerelus celebrate this historic moment for hockey and talk about where it's headed. Plus, The Daily Show has finally found its new host — sort of. Writer Devin Gordon tells Elamin about why it’s such a surprise to see Jon Stewart back in the host chair, and why he thinks his nostalgic return is a step in the wrong direction.

After years of handwringing that the genre might be dead, the romantic comedy appears to be making a big comeback. Two romcom experts join host Elamin to talk about what makes the perfect romcom, why the genre has experienced so much turbulence over the last few years, and what the future may have in store for happily ever afters on the big screen. Plus, CBC Entertainment News reporter Jackson Weaver checks in to share his thoughts on Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Donald Glover’s TV reboot of Brangelina’s 2005 spy-themed rom-com.

The highly anticipated Bob Marley biopic One Love was released yesterday. Elamin is joined by Marlon Palmer, Danae Peart and Dalton Higgins to review the film and discuss what it says about the legacy of the late Marley.

During the Super Bowl on Sunday, Beyoncé seized the media spotlight by releasing two new country style songs to announce her upcoming album, Act II. She’s just one of several major pop stars plotting a country crossover at the moment, so on this edition of the Commotion Friday Group Chat, we’re going to dig our boots into this phenomenon and discuss what it says about the current socio-political landscape in North America.

As True Detective Season 4 is drawing to a close, Elamin is joined by film/tv critic Sarah-Tai Black to discuss the season’s Indigenous themes and where it stands against past seasons of the acclaimed franchise. Plus, it’s still hard to believe your eyes when you see what Sora — the latest AI advancement that turns text into video — can do. Sinead Bovell explains Sora’s potential — and pitfalls — and what she wants to see put in place before it’s released to the public.

For years, the quintessential heartthrob has been missing from the roster of beautiful young celebrities in Hollywood. But now he’s back! We’ll get in to why he's reappeared and why it matters, with Manuel Betancourt, Lainey Lui and Jen Sookfong Lee.

Mexican-American music icon Selena was murdered in 1995. Now, a docuseries sheds new light on the beloved star, It also includes an interview with her convicted killer from prison. Culture writers Suzy Exposito and Alessa Dominguez unpack what the series adds to Selena’s legacy and whether the series goes too far. Plus, you'll hear from a gallery curator about selfie mishaps, but also the upside of capturing yourself with the art you like.

Amil Niazi, Syrus Marcus Ware and Michelle Cho join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share their first impressions of Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, and Netflix’s new live action adaptation of the beloved fantasy series Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Controversial comedian Shane Gillis hosted SNL on Saturday. Critic Kathryn VanArendonk and comedian Cassie Cao react to Gillis’ hosting debut and the backlash both he and Saturday Night Live have received because of his past racist and homophobic comments. Plus, after wrapping up its 11-season run in 2021, The Walking Dead saga is back from the dead with the premiere of new spinoff series, The Ones Who Live. Walking Dead aficionados Matt Hart and Kaiya Shunyata tell us what we can expect from this new incarnation of the show — and whether it was really necessary.

Science fiction epic Dune: Part Two opens in theatres this week. Film critics Rad Simonpillai and Rachel Ho have both seen it and say it’s Denis Villeneuve’s best film yet. They’ll tell us why the movie is a must see and what it has to do with another series that’s out this week: Shogun, set in 17th century Japan.

How does a crowdfunded indie sci-fi film make it into Netflix's top 10? Ask Canadian cousins and actors Stephen and Robbie Amell. They join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the success of their film, Code 8 and how the fan-funded feature led to their new Netflix film, Code 8: Part II. Plus, your first impression of the past year in film might be that women dominated the box office because of Barbie. But a new study shows that the number of Hollywood films led by women is lower than it’s been in a decade. Teri Hart is on Commotion to weighs in.

Live Nation recently announced record-breaking earnings of 22.7 billion for 2023, a 36% increase over the previous year. The concert promotion conglomerate is infiltrating all aspects of the live-music experience, from ticketing to merchandising to venue ownership. Guardian reporter Adrian Horton and Toronto club-owner Shaun Bowring discuss the impact that Live Nation’s dominance is having on the music industry, on consumers, and if their dramatic growth is sustainable. Plus, where’s the Princess of Wales? The internet has a million theories. The speculation – AND the silence – says a lot about the media’s relationship with certain royals and our expectation of celebrities. Elamin gets some perspective from reporter Ellie Hall.

Culture critics Lainey Lui, Jackson Weaver and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd join Elamin to unpack the confusion and reaction to J-Lo’s latest multi-format project and weigh in on the tensions between influencers and entertainment journalists.

On top of giving interviews and hosting reading events, many authors are often pressured by their publishers to write personal essays about topics related to their book for various media outlets, as a means of selling themselves to a wider audience. Writers Tajja Isen and Vivek Shraya explain why book publishers, media sites, and readers alike have become enamored with the personal-essay format and why many authors aren’t pleased about the additional work being required of them. Plus, culture writer Aparita Bhandari joins Elamin to talk about the new film Laapataa Ladies. She explains how this film makes a story set in rural India feel universal and why it's exciting to finally get a second film from Indian director and producer Kiran Rao.

Film and culture critics Bilge Ebiri, Rad Simonpillai and Niko Stratis join Elamin to discuss biopics and what it means when they are seen as more fact than fiction, and families and estates are involved in making them.

On Tuesday, the comedy world was rocked by the news that Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival was canceling its 2024 edition after financial hardships. Montreal Gazette writer T’Cha Dunlevy checks in with a local perspective on the impact JFL’s absence will have on the city, and whether the festival can bounce back. Plus, on the Netflix reality show Love is Blind, men and women get engaged before ever seeing each other in person. The show has earned Emmy nominations and more than a billion viewers – but has it proved its point? Amil Niazi and Kathryn VanArendonk join host Elamin to unpack the results of this so-called love experiment, six seasons in.

Ahead of the Oscars this weekend, writers Hunter Harris, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Omar El Akkad join Elamin to talk about the greatest acceptance speeches of all time and why more people aren’t taking advantage of the platform to amplify the causes they care about.

The Commotion Friday Group Chat convenes to talk about this week’s big blockbuster pop release — Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine — and why some fans have turned on her. Joining Elamin this week are music journalist Maura Johnston, and culture writers Niko Stratis and Anne T. Donahue. Plus, The Future by Catherine Leroux, translated by Susan Ouriou and championed by Heather O’Neill has won Canada Reads 2024. Heather and Catherine join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to recap the week of debates and bask in the warm glow of victory.

There is zero Oscars buzz about one of the best performances of the year, and that's because it's not by a human. Messi — a seven year old Border Collie — plays Snoop in Anatomy of a Fall. We’ll talk with a dog trainer about what went in to his incredible performance and why no matter how good AI gets, it will never be able to replace real animals on screen.

Following two Hollywood strikes and an exciting year for film, the 96th Academy Awards have finally arrived. Entertainment journalists Eli Glasner, Rachel Ho and Johnnie Jae join host Elamin to unpack the highs and lows of this year’s Oscars.

Just for Laughs, the world's biggest comedy festival, is cancelled this year due to financial problems. Ali Hassan and Cassie Cao read the tea leaves and imagine a future for standup comedians like themselves without the festival. Plus, a new series about Wendy Williams – the iconic former talk show host – documents her slide into dementia. But it’s unclear whether she consented to the way she’d be portrayed. Tayo Bero calls it a voyeuristic mess and says Hollywood should know better. She’ll share her concerns with Elamin.

Reesa Teesa recently blew up on TikTok with her fifty part "Who TF did I Marry?" series detailing her previous toxic marriage. CT Jones and Amanda Hess join Elamin to discuss what Teesa’s viral moment says about the platform’s growing popularity amongst 40+ audiences. Plus, TV critic Hanna Flint shares her thoughts on HBO’s new political satire, The Regime. Kate Winslet stars as an authoritarian leader in an unnamed central European country. But is the show strong enough to hold HBO’s coveted Sunday slot?

News agencies are refusing to run the most recent photo of Kate Middleton and her kids because they could see it had been doctored. Charlie Warzel says nothing showcases the choose-your-own reality information dystopia we’re living in better than this photo blunder. Plus, Grey's Anatomy's 20th season debuts this week without its titular character (sort of). Entertainment journalists Sarah Hunter Simanson and Emily Longeretta join Elamin to talk about how this show became such an iconic staple of network TV, how it navigated so much change over the last 20 years and where it's landed now.

The Commotion Friday Group Chat convenes to talk about this week’s biggest pop culture stories, including the queer erotic thriller Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart; the mass band boycott of SXSW due to the event’s sponsorship ties to the U.S. military and defense industry; and pop star Justin Timberlake’s latest comeback attempt, Everything I Thought It Was. Joining Elamin for this week’s chat is culture writer Niko Stratis, Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko and music journalist Suzy Exposito.

FIlm and culture critics Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Sarah-Tai Black and Jackson Weaver join Elamin to discuss the new film The American Society of Magical Negroes and whether the disappointing box office performance and lack of Oscar nominations for Ava Duvernay’s latest film Origin has anything to do with reported tensions between Duvernay and Neon, the film’s distributor.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the situation in Haiti a “humanitarian and security catastrophe.” With gang violence on the rise, the country’s music industry has begun to feel the impacts in a big way. Miami Herald reporter Jacqueline Charles explains how local musicians are getting caught in the middle of this conflict.

PlayME is transforming the way we experience theatre by turning contemporary plays into bingeable audio dramas. In this episode, First Métis Man of Odesa (Part 1), a real-life love story that spans continents, a pandemic and an invasion. Matt, a Canadian Metis playwright, falls for Mariya, a Ukrainian actor, during a theatre workshop in Kyiv. They kindle a year-long romance through emails before meeting in Toronto, igniting a whirlwind love affair. But as they face the challenges of a long-distance relationship, doubts creep in for both. Just before the pandemic hits, they receive life-altering news, testing the strength of their bond and the viability of their future together. First Metis Man of Odesa is by Matthew MacKenzie and Mariya Khomutova. More episodes of PlayME are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/5qK8Yesw

Sydney Sweeney has been everywhere since her breakout performance in Euphoria. Recently, she's starred in the hit rom-com Anyone But You, the terrible superhero movie Madame Web, and now she plays a nun in the horror film Immaculate. But lately, the discourse around Sydney Sweeney hasn’t been about her acting roles. But rather, it’s been about how she breaks the unwritten rules of celebrity when it comes to politics and class. Plus, film and tv critic Rachel Ho joins Elamin to talk about why the animated show Invincible is succeeding as a live action superhero show when so many blockbusters are struggling to captivate audiences.

Some say the early 2000’s was a golden age for children’s television. But in the new docuseries Quiet on Set, audiences learn that behind the scenes at Nickelodeon, it was anything but. Culture writer Scaachi Koul and former child actor Michael Seater join host Elamin to discuss the revelations from the docuseries and what it’s really like to make children’s TV.

With no Canadian contenders on this year’s Griffin Poetry Prize longlist, poet and academic Paul Vermeersch joins Elamin to react to the news and unpack how recent changes to the prize’s criteria might impact the future visibility of Canadian poets on the international stage.

The Commotion Friday Group Chat convenes to talk about this week’s biggest pop-culture stories, including Netflix’s epic new series 3 Body Problem, brought to you by the creators of Game of Thrones; the new stand-up special from comedy’s man of the moment, Ramy Youssef; and Sydney Sweeney's highly polarizing “nunsploitation flick” Immaculate. Joining Elamin are film critic Radheyan Simonpillai, comedy writer Cassie Cao and culture reporter Leila Latif.

Elamin is joined by artists and culture critics Cadence Weapon, Tristan Grant and Haligonian music journalist Morgan Mullen to react to the 2024 Juno Awards. They'll also unpack Maestro Fresh Wes' induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

With the release of the new doc Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told, Elamin is joined by veteran Atlanta hip-hop journalists Sonia Murray and David Dennis Jr., for a brief look at the history of one of Atlanta’s most iconic 90s Black street parties. Plus, one of the non-european countries participating in the Eurovision Song Contest this year is Israel, which has sparked debate on its place in the competition, espeically amidst the war in Gaza. Journalist and Eurovision expert Karen Fricker talks about the contest's goal of staying apolitical, and the songs submitted by Israel for the competition: October Rain and Hurricane.

Canadian arts organisations have relied heavily on big companies to be their title sponsors: the Toronto International Film Festival had Bell, Luminato had L'Oréal, and the CONTACT Photography Festival had Scotiabank. But now, more and more of these corporate sponsors are pulling out — and no one is stepping up to fill the gap. Darcy Killeen, the CEO of CONTACT, tells host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about what it was like to lose their lead sponsor, and arts reporter Josh O’Kane explains what’s at stake for the arts in this country amidst a shifting funding landscape.

For the last couple of years, journalist Fortesa Latifi has been reporting on the stories of the grown up children of parenting influencers. Her latest documentary and article from Cosmopolitan offers a startling look behind the camera — and how some sharenters are addressing the criticism or making the decision to stop using their children in content creation. Plus, CBC producer Lise Hosein pays tribute to the late American sculptor Richard Serra — who died this past Tuesday at the age of 85 — by giving her first-person account of visiting one of his more obscure site-specific works, Shift, located on a private farm north of Toronto.

Halifax is renowned for its vibrant cultural scene, but it’s getting harder to make a living — and artists are having to move farther afield just to stay afloat. Musicians Maggie Andrew and Adam Baldwin, comedian Aba Amuquandoh and filmmaker Tara Thorne join Elamin at the Commotion table in Halifax to talk about what the capital of Nova Scotia has to offer artists today, and what’s at stake when artists can’t make ends meet there.

Not only is the series The Chosen and the film Cabrini hits at the box office, Martin Scorcese is making a movie about Jesus. What's more, Mel Gibson is working on a ‘Passion of the Christ’ sequel. So, what happens when you mine the Bible for entertainment? The group chat weighs in on this moment of Christianity and pop culture.

With the release of Beyoncé's latest album and first country project, "Cowboy Carter," music journalists Andrea Williams and David Dennis Jr. as well as comedian Ashley Ray join host Elamin to discuss the release — and what it might say about the future of Black country music.

When Jonathan Glazer accepted his Oscar for "The Zone of Interest," he used that moment to take a stance on what's happening in Gaza. That speech prompted hundreds of Jewish creatives in Hollywood to sign an open letter, criticizing his speech. Elamin speaks with three Jewish creators — writer Emily Tamkin, musician Josh Dolgin (a.k.a. Socalled), and comedian Jess Salomon — about how they’re navigating their work amid deep divisions within the Jewish community.

This week marks the 30th anniversary of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s death by suicide. Since that moment, Kurt's legacy has evolved in fascinating ways. Nirvana biographer Michael Azerrad and music journalist Suzy Exposito discuss how Cobain continues to shape music and pop culture today. Plus, La Presse journalist Dominic Tardif tells you about the day he spent with Quebec theatre giant Robert Lepage talking about his passion for wrestling, and his new exhibit.

For this week's group chat, Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with Sarah-Tai Black, Rad Simonpillai and Jackson Weaver to talk about Dev Patel's new action movie Monkey Man, which he wrote, directed and stars in, and comedian Jerrod Carmichael’s surreal, intimate new reality show.

Elamin is joined by wrestling fans Damian Abraham (of the band F*cked Up) and culture critic Pablo,The Don to discuss highlights of WrestleMania 40, and also the state of the franchise, given its new deal with Netflix and the controversy surrounding its former CEO Vince McMahon.

Elamin is joined by culture writer Niko Stratis and Delia Cai to talk about Delia's pop up blog, Hate Read (which invites critics to write anonymous reviews of art they hate). Plus, Small Press Distribution suddenly closes up shop, leaving hundreds of independent publishers in the lurch. Jane Friedman unpacks what happened and how the world of small press is struggling in the aftermath.

It's been just over 6 months since Hamas attacked Israeli civilians, which led to the war in Gaza. Elamin speaks with Mosab Abu Toha - a Palestinian poet whose home in Gaza was destroyed - to talk about how he and other artists are able to keep creating in the face of destruction. Mosab Abu Toha recently wrote an essay for The New Yorker about his harrowing journey out of Gaza.

After a disastrous interview with the BBC in 2019 about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew stepped away from royal duties and public life. The story behind how that interview came to be is the focus of “Scoop” on Netflix. Elamin speaks with UK film critic Hanna Flint and royal watcher Ellie Hall about the enduring desire to see the Royals portrayed on-screen. Plus, Elamin is joined by technology reporter Cade Metz to talk about The New York Times investigation into the length big companies like Google, Meta and Open AI are going to in order to develop the smartest artificial intelligence models.

For this week's group chat, Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with culture critics Niko Stratis, Rad Simonpillai, and Pablo,The Don. They respond to news of O.J. Simpson's death. Plus, they review the shows, "Fallout" and "Ripley" and talk about the backlash J.Cole is receiving after apologizing for a diss track he wrote about Kendrick Lamar.

Elamin is joined by Commotion regular Matt Hart and comedian Ali Hassan to talk about how the chaotic, unapologetically crude, and competitive stand-up showcase "Kill Tony" became one of the most popular comedy podcasts in North America. Plus, Josie Riesman explains why Vera Drew’s "The People’s Joker" is the most compelling take on one of the most iconic villains in cinema.

In the wake of O.J. Simpson's death last week, writers David Dennis Jr., Jael Richardson, and Eric Harvey reflect on how O.J.'s murder trial in 1995 pushed conversations about race, privilege, domestic violence, and narcissism into the national spotlight, and how the unprecedented media hysteria over the trial set the table for the TMZ-driven, true-crime, reality-TV-obsessed world that we're living in now.

Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Omar El Akkad unpack Alex Garland’s new film "Civil War."

Culture critics Tyler Foggatt, Cassie Cao and Adam Sternbergh join guest host Ali Hassan with their thoughts on the latest album from Taylor Swift and the new series Conan O’Brien Must Go.

Guest host Ali Hassan speaks with theatre critic Aisling Murphy to talk about her recent article in The Toronto Star where she outlines how some theatre companies have been duped by AI-generated reviews, and what that says about the role of criticism today. Plus, Viet Thanh Nguyen wrote his novel The Sympathizer as a response to movies about the Vietnam War like Apocalypse Now, which sidelined Vietnamese voices. Ali also talks to Inverse entertainment editor Hoai-Tran Bui about how the dark comedy thriller translates to TV.

It's been ten years since the first episode of the hit podcast Serial came out, and we've been riding this wave of true crime entertainment ever since. Sarah Weinman and Karen K. Ho join Elamin to talk about how the genre has grown over the last decade, and where it still falls short. Plus, David Dennis Jr. reacts to Drake’s latest Kendrick diss track entitled ‘Taylor Made Freestyle,’ and talks about how the use of AI in this song and throughout this particular rap feud is raising new concerns about its use in pop music.

As the epic series "Shōgun" airs its final episode on Disney+ this week, TV critics Inkoo Kang and Kaiya Shunyata talk about what sets this adaptation of James Clavell’s novel apart from others before it, and how its emphasis on Japanese dialogue over English enriches our understanding of the story. Plus, Elamin is joined by Slate’s Dan Kois to discuss the backlash to ‘Scrabble Together,’ a more inclusive alternative to the iconic board game that is reportedly inspired by Gen-Z's demands for non-competitive board game options.

A new documentary tells the extraordinary story of Jackie Shane, a trailblazing transgender singer from the south, who had a flash of fame in Toronto in the early 1960s. But just as she was about to become a star, she vanished. Rodney Diverlus and Ravyn Ariah Wngz talk about Jackie Shane's legacy, and why she still matters so much today.

The controversial reality TV show known as ‘Kid Nation’, which borrowed its premise from Lord of the Flies, was cancelled shortly after its 2007 debut. Producers took 40 kids into a makeshift desert town to fend for themselves and create their own society. Was the series an opportunity to discover what kids are capable of? Or simply a ploy for ratings? With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV. Welcome to Split Screen, an examination of the utterly captivating, sometimes unsettling world of entertainment and pop culture. From reality TV gone awry, to the cult of celebrity, each season of Split Screen takes listeners on an evocative journey inside the world of showbiz. Ex-contestants, producers, and cultural critics uncover complicated truths behind TV’s carefully curated facades, and question what our entertainment reveals about us. Split Screen: sometimes reality is twisted. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/pOex8i6P

Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Jackson Weaver, and Hanna Flint respond to news that Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction was overturned by a New York appeals court and what that says about the #MeToo movement today. They also discuss the moment Zendaya is having with her brand new film Challengers.

Stand-up comedians Ashley Ray and James Mullinger talk about the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer, which is based on star Richard Gadd's real experiences of being stalked early in his career. Plus, Samira Mohyeddin shares the powerful story of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was recently sentenced to death by the Iranian regime.

Elamin sits down with Burton Cummings, the former frontman of The Guess Who, to talk about the legal action he's taking against his old band. It's aimed at preventing the current version of The Guess Who from performing the classic songs that Burton wrote while they're out on the road. Burton Cummings explains why he's taking these unprecended measures. Plus, last week the Writers Guild of Canada voted in favour of striking should its current negotiations for a new labour deal with Canadian film studios and distributors hit a stalemate. Elamin speaks with screenwriter Anthony Q. Farrell to find out what’s at stake in these negotiations.

Commotion regulars Dalton Higgins and David Dennis Jr. join Elamin with reaction to Kendrick Lamar’s latest diss response to Drake - ‘Euphoria’ - and the criticisms the track lobs at Drake and his credibility. Plus, Jerry Seinfeld turned 70 this week, and he's blaming wokeness for the death of comedy and bemoaning the end of the movie business, just as he releases a new film. Comedian Ali Hassan talks about why curmudgeonly Jerry is having a moment, and why he might be wrong.

For Commotion's inaugural mailbag episode, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with fellow Swifties Emma Godmere and Amelia Eqbal to answer questions from listeners about everything we've learned after listening to The Tortured Poets Department on repeat for a week, and what the album says about this moment in time for the current biggest artist in the world.

This week on the group chat, how much does Dua Lipa reveal about herself on her new album, Radical Optimism? And in the movie The Idea of You, one of the characters is rumoured to be based on Harry Styles. But will this film satisfy audiences hungry for romance? Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with Suzy Exposito, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Jennifer Wilson.

Elamin is joined by music critics Niko Stratis and Maura Johnston to talk about the new docu-series "Thank you, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story," and whether it does justice to the band's legacy. Plus, Elamin speaks with culture writer Ana Diaz of Polygon about the so-called Tik Tok “ban” and what it means for the future of the hugely popular app.

Elamin is joined by film critics Barry Hertz and Teri Hart to talk about the new Ryan Gosling/Emily Blunt film ‘The Fall Guy.’ Plus, artist and poet Ian Kamau discusses the legacy of his late father Roger McTair, one of Canada’s first Black filmmakers.

The annual Met Gala isn’t just about who’s wearing what, it’s when fashion truly becomes art. This year’s theme is “the garden of time.” The morning after, Elamin talks with Danya Issawi and Gianlucca Russo about who won the red carpet. Plus, reality shows about luxury real estate have been streaming powerhouses for years, and Toronto’s finally entering the conversation with Luxe Listings Toronto. The CBC’s Jackson Weaver talks about the version of Toronto the show is selling, the cast of realtors, and what it’s like to watch this show during a housing crisis.

When Lily Allen opened up about being a mom recently, her comments went viral. She said that in terms of pop stardom, having kids ruined her career. Guest host Amil Niazi is joined by musician Amy Millan and psychotherapist Tamsin Embleton to talk about the realities of juggling a career as an artist and being a mom.

Elamin is joined by rap culture critics Clarkisha Kent and Charles Holmes to unpack the latest developments in the Kendrick Lamar and Drake rap feud, and the way gender and misogyny have intersected with this feud and across rap music history. Plus, Elamin speaks with Kathryn VanArendonk about John Mulaney's Netflix show, Everybody's in L.A., and how live events like this just might be the future of streaming.

The Commotion Friday Group chat convenes to talk about this week’s top stories in the world of arts and entertainment. This week, Elamin is joined by pop culture experts Leila Latif, Vikram Murthi, and Paul Myers to talk about the latest twist in the ‘Baby Reindeer’ saga; the new high-energy reboot of Doctor Who starring Ncuti Gatwa, and the angry reaction to Apple’s latest iPad ad.

Eurovision was the most political it’s ever been this year because of the war between Israel and Hamas. Elamin speaks with Commotion Eurovision correspondent Karen Fricker about what happened. Then, it was a devastating blow to country music when legendary singer Randy Travis lost his voice to a stroke in 2013. With the assistance of artificial intelligence, he’s released his first new song in more than a decade called Where That Came From. Elamin speaks with music writer Steacy Easton about the new song, and how it's being received.

With the news that Canada has won the bid to have its first WNBA team, Elamin is joined by sports journalist Shireen Ahmed (who broke the story) and sports fan and culture critic Andrea Williams to react to the news and the moment the WNBA has been having this year. Plus, Elamin is joined by Rolling Stone journalist EJ Dickson to talk about vertical-video apps, which are attracting millions of viewers with their schlocky soap-era-style shows delivered in short 90-second episodes. However, the medium’s rising popularity has also brought greater scrutiny to its non-unionized work practices, its algorithm-driven content generation, and non-diverse casting.

Alice Munro, Canadian master of the short story and Nobel winner, has died at 92 years of age. Her longtime publisher Douglas Gibson, and writers Heather O’Neill and Madeleine Thien join Elamin to talk about her life and legacy.

Oprah Winfrey is back and she wants to talk about losing weight. Again. She’s hosted a series of specials on the topic, stepping up to acknowledge the role she's played in creating a toxic diet culture. But she's also thinner, thanks to weight loss drugs she admits to taking. Elamin is joined by writers Scaachi Koul and Gianluca Russo to talk about this massive rebrand for the weight-loss industry. Plus, comic book superfan Frankey Smith will be on Commotion to talk about X-Men ‘97 and why this revival of the beloved 90s cartoon is being called the best X-Men adaptation to date.

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.'

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."

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 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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Elamin is joined by culture critics Ian Kamau, Sarah-Tai Black, and David Dennis Jr. to react to the latest and reportedly final album from Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover), and also talk about the longstanding criticisms surrounding him.

Culture critics Rachel Ho, Radheyan Simonpillai, and Teri Hart join Elamin to discuss Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s blockbuster match-up in Deadpool & Wolverine, and whether the film can revive the MCU’s flagging fortunes. And with the Summer Games in Paris kicking off this week, they’ll also discuss the myriad ways in which the games are trying to keep audiences watching.

'All Fours' by Miranda July follows an artist in her mid-40s as she navigates the breakdown of her marriage, and how perimenopause changes her relationship with her body. Culture critics Heather O’Neill and Jennifer Wilson talk to Elamin about why this novel is resonating so widely with readers. Plus, it’s been more than a decade since video game giant EA Sports put out a game for college football, and the hype surrounding its latest game in the series has been intense. Gamer Camille Salazar Hadaway joins Elamin to discuss the buzz behind the hard-hitting and surreal EA College Football 25.

Olympic FOMO is your daily Olympics recap, in 20 minutes or less. Besties Mark and Jem go behind-the-scenes bringing you the wins, losses, and hot goss from the Athlete's Village. They’ve got next-level access to Paris 2024 so you never have FOMO (fear of missing Olympics) again.More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/93XjKZot

There’s a very messy and public fight between Hybe and the CEO of its subsidiary label ADOR, Min Hee-jin, who produces the popular K-pop group NewJeans. Michelle Cho and Jennifer Zhan look at what this feud says about the high stakes of the K-pop economy and the future of NewJeans. Plus, Afrobeats superstar Rema continues to reinvent himself with his new album 'HEIS'. Music journalist Matt Amha talks about why this album is significant not only for the artist, but also for upholding African heritage and Rema's musical legacy.

How are you watching the Summer Games in Paris? You’ve got streaming platforms offering more live coverage than ever, and Olympians are creating their own content on TikTok. Culture writers Mel Woods and Morgan Campbell join Elamin to look at how we’re watching - and how it’s changing the Games.

Music journalists Suzy Exposito and Reanna Cruz unpack the unlikely success of Cigarettes After Sex, the enigmatic and extremely chilled Texan indie-pop band who are selling out arenas this summer and racking up Spotify streams that rival the world’s biggest pop stars. Plus, sports journalist Adam Skolnick talks about the Olympics paradox: why is surfing—one of the most exciting daredevil sports on the planet—so boring to watch on television?

Elamin is joined by CBC sports journalist Shireen Ahmed, culture critic Mel Woods and the CBC's senior entertainment reporter Eli Glasner to talk about some of this week's big stories in arts and culture, including Robert Downey Jr return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom, and the women's soccer quarter final at the Olympic Games in Paris.

With this year being the 25th anniversary of the release of The Matrix, Elamin is joined by film critics Bilge Ebiri and Rad Simonpillai to look at its impact on film then, and pop culture now.

Guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by culture critics Sean T Collins and Alison Herman to respond to the season finale of HBO’s ‘House of The Dragon’ and discuss whether this prequel to ‘Game of Thrones’ has what it takes to stand on its own. Plus, film critic Rachel Ho explains why director Sean Wang’s debut feature, ‘Didi,’ is a coming-of-age film like no other.

Music journalist Maura Johnston joins guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about 'Dirty Pop,' a Netflix documentary that explores Lou Pearlman's life, the mastermind and con man behind boy bands like N'Sync and Backstreet Boys. Plus, Stephen Yan from ‘Wok with Yan’ is making his first public appearance in 30 years. The Toronto Star's food reporter Karon Liu talks about growing up watching Stephen Yan, one of Canada's first celebrity chefs.

Celebrities are lining up to show their support for Kamala Harris, but will those endorsements translate into votes? Brea Baker joins Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about the celebrity glow emanating from Kamala’s campaign – and whether there could be a downside on election day . Also, film critic Sarah-Tai Black & CBC Entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver review the prison drama ‘Sing Sing,’ based on the real-life rehabilitation theatre program at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility.

Culture critics Dalton Higgins and Danae Peart and DJ and MC Walshy Fire join guest host Rad Simonpillai for a conversation about one of dancehall music's greatest names - Vybz Kartel. The group chat discusses his recent release from prison, his music and cultural influence.

The Summer Olympics in Paris had something for everyone – even if you couldn’t care less about sports, the memes were golden and the celebrities were out in full force. The group chat wraps up the Olympics in Paris.

Sadaf Ahsan and CT Jones join Elamin to discuss the box office hit It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Plus, culture writer Kathryn Van Arendonk talks about the hype surrounding the third season of HBO’s Industry, a fast-paced show about young professionals in the finance business.

A new biopic explores the rise and fall of Miss Cleo, the controversial queen of the psychic hotline era. Podcaster and comedian Ashley Ray joins Elamin to talk about whether the backlash against her was appropriate -- and Miss Cleo's place in popular culture. Also, Dublin-based culture critic Louise Bruton talks about the political and cultural influence of hip-hop trio Kneecap, who rap primarily in Irish, and the new film that retells their origin story. .

Canadian union actors are angered after watching U.S. actor John Krasinski appear in a new Rogers ad. The frustration stems from a two year labour dispute between some actors and Canadian ad agencies. Actor and screenwriter Fiona Highet joins Elamin to explain why the Krasinski commercial is so controversial. Plus, culture critic David Dennis Jr. discusses the critical reactions to ‘Divorce in the Black’, the latest movie from Tyler Perry -- and the long standing criticisms that have surrounded his films.

Music writers Niko Stratis, Rosie Long Decter, and Rollie Pemberton join the Friday Group Chat to talk about Post Malone’s new country album, Ice Spice running full-length commercials at her concerts, and the fallout from the foiled plot to attack the Taylor Swift show in Vienna, as her Eras tour continues.

Culture critic Fran Hoepfner talks about Anna Marie Tendler’s new memoir Men Have Called Her Crazy, from the raw and vulnerable scenes from her hospitalization to the absence of her ex-husband John Mulaney from the book. Plus, film critic Rad Simonpillai talks to Elamin about whether Alien: Romulus lives up to the mantle of the iconic franchise.

Film critic Teri Hart and author Devin Gordon join Elamin to unpack the legacy of talk show icon Phil Donahue, who died this week at the age of 88. Plus, Slovakia’s right-wing government recently ousted the directors of its national art gallery and theater in a move that critics are calling a politically motivated purge. Musician and Eastern European historian Gregor Kwiatkowski explains why far-right governments in the region are clamping down on cultural institutions.

Chappell Roan is the latest celebrity to call out fans for crossing the line, for getting too personal in the comments section and invading her privacy in public, stuff that many people believe is just the price of fame. Culture critics Niko Stratis and Tyler Foggatt along with musician Eliza McLamb weigh in – on what is normal fan behaviour, and what - if anything - artists can do about it.

Writers Tajja Isen and Jael Richardson join guest host Ali Hassan to talk about how book cover designs can be fraught for racialized authors. Plus, the huge success of 'Tiger King' put the director of the series, Eric Goode, in the spotlight as an animal rights activist. So in order to get the access he wanted with his interview subjects for his next project “Chimp Crazy,” he hired someone else to pretend to be the director. Sam Adams, writer and senior editor at Slate, discusses the ethical issues the new HBO docuseries raises.

Culture writers Liisa Ladouceur, Kristy Puchko and Jackson Weaver join the Group Chat to discuss the reboot of the cult-classic gothic thriller ‘The Crow’ and the lingering legacy of the original 1994 version; how music became a big part of the messaging at this week’s Democratic National Convention; and whether Sabrina Carpenter’s new album can keep her Hot Espresso Summer going into the fall.

It's not just a stereotype, there's hard data out there that shows men don't read a lot of fiction. Elamin chats with Nathan Maharaj, director of content marketing at Rakuten Kobo and Pavan Sodhan, who reviews every non-fiction book he reads, about why men aren’t picking up novels. Plus, New York Times theatre critic Houman Barekat talks about two plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival based on Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski trial last year, and how the courtroom drama comes to life on stage.

Almost 15 years to the day since Oasis broke up, Noel and Liam Gallagher have announced a reunion. Culture critics Rich Pelley, Maura Johnston, and Oasis cover band member Alex Spears join Elamin to talk about whether the brothers can put their differences aside and pull off a reunion that most fans believe could never happen.

Culture critics Bee Quammie and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd track the rise and fall of Bennifer 2.0, and what our cultural fascination with their relationship tells us about our hopes for love. Plus, music journalist Christoph Dallach discusses his new book Neu Klang, which documents the surprising political history and cultural influence that arose from the ‘70s German subgenre, Krautrock.

Paralympic athlete John Loeppky will join Elamin to talk about the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 and his one big hope for the games: That the athletes who are competing don’t get described as inspiring. Plus, Niko Stratis and Alison Herman discuss Netflix’s new true crime docu-series Worst Ex Ever.

Elamin is joined by film critics Rachel Ho, Radheyan Simonpillai and Adam Nayman to discuss the new biopic Reagan, the return of ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ and the Winnipeg-set comedy ‘Universal Language’ being named as the Canadian entry for Best International Feature at next year’s Oscars.

There’s a lot of TV coming out over the next few months, more than 100 shows! Elamin chats with TV critics Saloni Gajjar, Emily Longeretta and Kathryn VanArendonk about what to watch for this fall.

Film critic Rachel Ho and Korean media professor Michelle Cho discuss the Apple TV+ series Pachinko, which follows the hopes and dreams of a Korean family in the grips of Japan's occupation. Plus, Elamin's joined by Matt Hart to talk about the legendary face off between Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi on a live hot dog eating contest on Netflix.

Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Mel Woods talk about the surprise fall hit The English Teacher, a comedy starring Brian Jordan Alvarez as a high school teacher navigating wokeness and teenage malaise in a modern day classroom. Plus, writer Rachel Handler talks about the cinematic trend of hot moms on the big screen in 2024.

ELLE Canada recently published an article celebrating 8 influential Canadian women. However after getting some backlash, they made changes to the piece online, and those changes are not sitting well with a lot of people. Elamin chats with Niko Stratis, Michelle Cyca, and Matt Amha about the controversy.

Commotion regulars Teri Hart and Radheyan Simonpillai tell you how Tim Burton’s new Beetlejuice sequel measures up to the iconic 1988 original, and they’ll also give you a preview of the biggest, buzziest movies premiering this week at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Elamin is joined by film critics Radheyan Simonpillai and Teri Hart to talk about opening weekend at TIFF, and two films getting a ton of buzz - 'Anora' and 'Paying For It'.

APTN celebrates its 25th anniversary as a national broadcaster with the launch of APTN Languages, a channel dedicated to programming in 18 different Indigenous languages. APTN co-founder Jim Compton, musician Marek Tyler and culture critic Riley Yesno join Elamin to talk about the legacy of APTN and how its new channel can contribute to revitalizing languages.

Film critics Radheyan Simonpillai and Teri Hart join Elamin to talk about the Toronto International Film Festival - the captivating performances in the musical film Emilia Pérez, starring Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Zoe Saldaña. Plus, Rad talks about 'The Bibi Files,' a documentary that uses leaked police interrogation footage of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and how it made its debut at the festival.

Elamin is joined by film critic Sarah-Tai Black and culture critic David Dennis Jr. to review the new Netflix cop thriller film ‘Rebel Ridge’ and how well it lands its mining of the historic tensions between law enforcement and Black communities. Plus, Elamin speaks with Canadian film producer Daniel Bekerman about ‘The Apprentice,’ a dramatized depiction of Donald Trump’s rise in the 1970s and ‘80s. The film premiered last spring at Cannes, but has faced a number of roadblocks to securing North American distribution.

Donald Trump has long been known as the presidential candidate that TV created - but now Kamala Harris might be beating him at his own game. The morning after the debate, The New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham and Tyler Foggatt join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about how the political showdown made for great television, and Taylor Swift's surprise endorsement.

Film critics Radheyan Simonpillai and Teri Hart join Elamin to talk about their favourite moments at TIFF, and how body horror shows up in films like Nightbitch, The Substance, and David Cronenberg's The Shrouds.

In the wake of news that the Juno Awards would be dropping the reggae and children’s music categories among others, music journalist Dalton Higgins and Taes Leavitt of Juno Award-winning children’s music group Splash N Boots discuss how the loss of these awards will impact their communities, and what their elimination says about the future of these genres. Plus, TV critic Roxana Hadadi talks about Netflix’s latest hit, The Perfect Couple, a murder mystery and comedy starring Nicole Kidman, set in a wealthy enclave of Nantucket.

Film critics Radheyan Simonpillai and Teri Hart join Elamin to talk about standing ovations, Nicole Kidman's performance in the erotic thriller 'Babygirl,' and where Canadian films belong at the festival.

It's the final episode of TIFF in 12, and we're wading into a controversy at the festival -- we're talking about the festival's decision to pause screenings of 'Russians at War' due to 'significant threats' to festival operations and public safety. Elamin is joined by film critics Radheyan Simonpillai and Teri Hart to talk about the film, and the fallout from TIFF's decision.

Elamin is joined by culture critics Pablo The Don, Reanna Cruz and artist Cadence Weapon to talk about Beyoncé’s nomination snub at this year’s Country Music Association Awards, the backlash to the announcement of Kendrick Lamar as the headliner for the Super Bowl Halftime show, and the controversy behind Linkin Park’s new lead singer Emily Armstrong.

'Shogun' and 'The Bear' were both big winners last night at the Emmys. Meanwhile, at the end of the Toronto International Film Festival, 'The Life of Chuck' was the surprising winner for the People's Choice Award. Today on the show, you're going to hear all the highlights of the Emmy Awards and everything you need to know, now that TIFF is over.

Music journalists Suzy Exposito and Maura Johnston discuss last weekend’s dramatic onstage fight between members of legendary L.A. alternative rock band Jane’s Addiction and the subsequent cancellation of their remaining North American tour dates. Plus, with news of Australian breaker Raygun’s new ranking as the top female breaker in the world, Elamin is joined by pioneering B-boy Crazy Legs to talk about the Raygun controversy and the larger cultural issues it seems to have exacerbated.

Film and TV critics Roxana Hadadi and Rad Simonpillai join guest host Ali Hassan to talk about The Penguin, and whether it lives up to the hype. The miniseries is yet another Batman spin-off, but it looks more like a sequel to The Sopranos than anything in the bat-verse. Plus, music critic A.Harmony talks about LL Cool J’s latest album, The Force.

‘Paid In Full’ is a new CBC/BBC docuseries that looks at the ways Black artists have been exploited by the music industry over the decades. Elamin is joined by music critic MK Asante and musician Cadence Weapon to discuss the new doc and what it says about the state of the industry today. Plus, at this year's VMAs many stars channelled iconic looks made famous by celebrities like Britney Spears and Madonna. Elamin speaks with Joan Summers from Paper Magazine about why we’re seeing so much deja vu on the red carpet.

Culture critics Amil Niazi, Mel Woods and Sarah-Tai Black discuss Demi Moore’s powerful performance in the body horror film 'The Substance,' and talk about the cursed roll out of Katy Perry’s album '143'.

Mr Beast is currently filming the largest reality show in history, with at least 2 thousand contestants competing for 5 million dollars. Now the production is the subject of a class-action lawsuit, with contestants alleging unsafe work conditions. Elamin Abdelmahmoud speaks with Steven Asarch, a reporter who has spoken with dozens of contestants and crew members. Plus, Elamin is joined by writer and book critic Maris Kreizman to talk about how more than half of the books longlisted for The Giller Prize and the National Book Awards for Fiction this year are published by one publisher, Penguin Random House.

Reporter Justin Ling and writer Amil Niazi join Elamin to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's appearance on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' and whether the PM's appearance could move the dial on his popularity, and up his pop-cultural currency. Plus, TV critic Rafaela Bassili talks about 'My Brilliant Friend' on Crave, and what makes the TV adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s lauded novels so successful.

Culture critics Niko Stratis and Mel Woods talk about the Netflix documentary Will & Harper. The film follows actor Will Ferrell and former SNL head writer Harper Steele on a road trip across the U.S. as Harper navigates her new reality living out as a trans woman. Plus, Elamin chats with journalist and book critic Michelle Cyca about why Sally Rooney is the 'it' author of the moment, now that her latest book 'Intermezzo' is out.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.’

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A recent Dragon’s 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Farhad Delaram’s film Achilles is having its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. He sits down with Elamin to talk about the cost of making art in Iran. Plus, Coralie LaPerrière is a comedian in Quebec who regularly calls out the province’s "boys club" comedy culture. She talks about the range of reactions to her calls for more diversity in lineups, and what systemic changes she hopes to see in Quebec’s comedy scene.

For this week's wrap panel, Kathryn VanArendonk breaks down Rolling Stone Magazine's investigation into the culture behind The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, plus Niko Stratis and Falen Johnson share their reactions to Olivia Rodrigo’s new album GUTS, and explain why some are calling the latest episode of the final season of Reservation Dogs required viewing for all settlers.

Canadian filmmaker Emma Seligman has a big hit on her hands with the teen sex comedy Bottoms. Culture writers Madeline Ducharme and Mel Woods join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share their thoughts on the wonderfully absurd and hilarious movie, and look at how queer coming-of-age is growing up on screen. Plus, Bloomberg reporter Ashley Carman explains how white noise podcasters have cut into Spotify’s annual profits by $38 million dollars.

TV experts Kathryn VanArendonk, Nina Metz and Emily Longeretta look ahead to the fall television season and discuss how the ongoing labour disputes in Hollywood will affect what we’re going to see on our screens. Plus, we remember musicians Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth and Jimmy Buffet, who died over the weekend.

As the opening to TIFF grows closer, film fans are watching how Hollywood actors are navigating the red carpets and cameras at the Venice International Film Festival. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with film critics Elena Lazic, Teri Hart and Rad Simonpillai about how the ongoing actors’ strike is affecting international film festivals, and what they're seeing at the unofficial start of Oscar season.

For this week's wrap panel, culture critics Ashley Ray, Morgan Campbell and comedian Natalie Norman join Elamin to discuss Adam Sandler's new Netflix film, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, this week's viral moment surrounding track star Noah Nyles, and whether Ontario's ban on gambling ads featuring celebrities and athletes is a good thing.

HBO's new docuseries Telemarketers follows a pair of work buddies who find themselves in the middle of a massive scam — and it's one of this year's surprise hit shows. Co-director Sam Lipman-Stern joins Elamin to talk about how he knew this story needed to be shared, and what it was like making this docuseries over the last 20 years.

JD Ryznar and Dave Lyons, co-creators of the mid-2000s comedic web-series Yacht Rock, discuss how the joke genre they coined led to a legitimate smooth-music renaissance in pop culture — and how that’s led to a distorted definition of what yacht rock is all about. Plus, journalist Anne Helen Petersen takes us inside the online phenomenon known as RushTok: the real-time TikTok dispatches of young women vying for a coveted spot in the University of Alabama’s elite sororities.

Madonna turned 65 this year, and she’s set to go on tour this fall. Culture critics Craig Seymour, Maura Johnson and Syrus Marcus Ware join Elamin to look back at Madonna’s reign as the Queen of Pop — including the hits, misses and criticisms — and how her legacy holds up all these years later.

British professor Elly McCausland explains why she’s launching a Taylor Swift-inspired literature course at Belgium’s Ghent University this fall, while hip-hop historian Dalton Higgins details his experience teaching a Drake-themed course at Toronto Metropolitan University, to highlight the value of bringing pop culture into the classroom. Plus, author Jael Richardson tells host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about what she says to anyone who thinks that listening to an audiobook doesn’t count as reading.

The Sex and the City spin-off, And Just Like That..., wraps up its second season this week. For this week's wrap panel, culture critics Amil Niazi, Chris Murphy and Lainey Lui join guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss how Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha's New York City exploits continue to leave an indelible mark on our culture, as well as the resurgence of Suits and the return of NSYNC.

Culture critics Ryan Britt and Hanna Flint join guest host Talia Schlanger to review Ahsoka, the latest standalone series in the Star Wars canon, and whether this live-action take on one of the franchise’s most beloved animated characters does justice to her legacy. Plus, Leela Gilday is a Dene musician who had to evacuate Yellowknife due to wildfires. She talks about music’s power to heal and reflects on her own relationship to the environment through her music.

With the Federal Trade Commission in the U.S. expected to pursue antitrust action against Amazon’s monopolistic bookselling practices, authors Jen Sookfong Lee and Anakana Schofield talk about how the online retail empire has impacted the publishing industry and their own careers. Plus, Canadian translator Yilin Wang’s original translations of Chinese poetry were used by the British Museum in London in an exhibit without her permission or crediting her. She tells guest host Talia Schlanger about what her experience with the British Museum says about how the work of translators is valued.

Fyre Festival produced the saddest-looking sandwiches you ever saw, stranded party-goers in the Bahamas — and landed its organizer in jail. But after serving time for fraud, Billy McFarland is selling tickets to Fyre Festival 2. Alyssa Bereznak explains how we got here. Plus, Suzy Exposito and Shaad D’Souza tell guest host Talia Schlanger about why pop artists are struggling to break through, and how a middle class of stars have demonstrated a new model of career sustainability.

Film critics Sarah-Tai Black and Rad Simonpillai join guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the lineup announcements and their favourite films appearing at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, and how the ongoing strike might affect this year’s festivities. Plus, Vulture culture critic Kathryn VanArendonk talks about HBO's unconventional true crime docuseries Telemarketers, created by two former telemarketers.

For our end-of-week group chat, culture critics Niko Stratis, Richie Assaly and Chandler Levack join guest host Amil Niazi to discuss Bradley Cooper’s controversial prosthetic nose for his role as the Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming biopic Maestro, and two very different viral hits currently breaking the internet: Virginia country singer Oliver Anthony’s conservative-leaning protest song Rich Men North of Richmond, and DJ Crazy Times’ retro dance pop satire, Planet of the Bass.

When the court case between ex-spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was livestreamed, it opened a window into a celebrity marriage gone wrong. Culture writers Kat Tenbarge and Izzy Ampil join guest host Amil Niazi to discuss the new Netflix docuseries retelling the defamation case, and to look back on the internet’s vitriolic attacks on Amber Heard. Plus, comedian and podcast host Jessi Cruickshank talks about The Hills reality stars Heidi & Spencer’s latest chase for fame.

Sports culture critic Morgan Campbell and comedian/podcaster Ashley Ray join guest host Amil Niazi to discuss what the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty and the breaking controversy surrounding the Oscar-winning sports biopic The Blind Side might say about where the appropriate line should be between fact and fiction. Plus, music journalist Michael Tedder discusses his new book Top Eight: How Myspace Changed Music, and what made the site’s convergence of indie music and social media so special.

The new queer-themed romance films Red, White & Royal Blue and Passages respectively received R and NC-17 ratings from the Motion Picture Association. CBC News correspondent Jenna Benchetrit explains why films about queer romance have historically been held to a different, more restrictive standard by ratings boards. Plus, culture critic Stacy Lee Kong and romance author Farah Heron talk about what happened when an NHL hockey team welcomed attention from BookTok for its real life players, and how to thirst responsibly on the internet.

Culture critic Teri Hart joins Commotion guest host Amil Niazi to discuss the controversy surrounding a recent episode of Below Deck Down Under and what it might say about where the line between reality show and real life sits in 2023. Plus, tech writer Chris Stokel-Walker looks at what AI could mean for the future of video creation and the relationships creators have with their audience.

For the latest installment of Commotion’s hip-hop 50 celebrations, veteran music journalist Dalton Higgins, DJ Mel Boogie and Mastermind join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud for a look back at the rise of one of Canada’s oldest and world-renowned hip-hop cities: Toronto.

Robertson's friends and musical collaborators Daniel Lanois and Tom Wilson help us remember the legacy of the rock 'n' roll powerhouse. The Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter is one of the founding architects behind The Band. Plus, we also pay tribute to the late American singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez.

Canadian Swifties are on the hunt for tickets to the Eras World Tour. Taylor Swift announced last week an extension of her tour which includes six dates in Toronto. Plus, rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

At a time when there’s been an increase in cigarettes and vaping, particularly among young people, culture writers Olivia Rose Rushing and Anne T. Donahue dig into why viewers might be seeing a lot more smoking on TV and movies right now from shows like The Idol, Stranger Things and movies like Oppenheimer and Top Gun: Maverick. Plus, these days film critic reviews take a back seat to the power of the social media influencer. Film critic and actor Manuela Lazic talks about what this new dynamic means for moviegoers.

Hip-hop might have begun in NYC, but the culture is undoubtedly a global phenomenon. DJ and music journalist Jesse Bernard joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to take us on a brief journey through the history of UK rap. Plus, New York Times writer Brian Josephs talks about the legacy of mixtape site DatPiff.com, and why archiving the catalogues of sites like DatPiff is important.

Lizzo is the rare celebrity who seemed to use her power for good, but a recent lawsuit from three former dancers is casting doubt on her inclusive, joyful brand. For this week's wrap panel, comedian Ashley Ray joins writers Hanna Flint and Jen Sookfong Lee, along with guest host Amil Niazi, to unpack the story. Plus, the panel review two new films, Shortcomings and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

TikTok has turned some comedians into household names — but others say these viral one-minute videos are killing the art of a long joke. Comedians Andrea Jin and John Cullen tell guest host Amil Niazi about what's gained and what's lost in this era of TikTok comedy. Plus, shark movies have been a rite of summer for decades. The sharks tend to get bigger and bigger, and the plots weirder and weirder. Culture commentator Matt Hart takes on The Meg 2, which opens in theatres this Thursday.

Netflix’s documentary about freediving, The Deepest Breath, has becomes one of the sleeper hits of the summer. Writer Adam Skolnick and climber Brette Harrington look at the growing appeal of extreme-sports documentaries — and the ethical issues they raise. Plus, the animated show Bluey is beloved by kids, grown-ups and TV critics. Vulture's Kathryn VanArendonk looks at what makes Bluey one of the best shows on TV right now.

After being acquitted of sexual assault charges in a London court last week, actor Kevin Spacey has vowed to make a comeback — but will Hollywood let him? Film producer Kate Wilson and culture writer Jason P. Frank talk about what happens when disgraced entertainers are legally exonerated of wrongdoing, but still deemed guilty in the court of public opinion. Plus, The Bear's sophmore season is finally available in Canada. Toronto line cook and TV fan Grace Onasanya explains why it was worth the wait.

Culture writer Paul Myers helps us remember Paul Reubens, the iconic actor best known for his beloved '80s character Pee-wee Herman. Plus, striking Hollywood writers and actors are no closer to a deal with the studios. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, some people are cancelling their streaming subscriptions to put some pressure on the studios. Guest host Amil Niazi speaks with a Canadian who’s done just that, and entertainment journalist Teri Hart about why consumers don’t have a whole lot of leverage.

For this week's wrap panel, comedian Ashley Ray joins culture critics Sarah-Tai Black, Peter Knegt and guest host Amil Niazi to discuss Carly Rae Jepsen's latest album, what the new Netflix series Survival of The Thickest can tell us about body positivity in 2023, and why Doja Cat’s recent treatment of her online fans is actually nothing new.

Irish-Canadian writer Anakana Schofield, culture writer Niko Stratis and music critic Maura Johnston join guest host Amil Niazi to look back at the life and career of outspoken Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, who died yesterday at the age of 56.

The writers' and actors' strikes in Hollywood have sparked renewed conversations in the music industry on whether songwriters and performers could also take similar action to improve their working conditions and royalty rates. Journalist Luke Ottenhof and industry veteran Allison Outhit discuss the structural barriers that make labour organization more difficult for musicians, and where the opportunities for mobilization exist. Plus, Canadian voice actor Kelly Sheridan played Barbie in Mattel’s animated film franchise for over 10 years. She joins Commotion guest host Amil Niazi to reflect on Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie — the first made for adults.

If “ice cream so good” doesn’t mean anything to you, you probably haven’t come across Pinkydoll. Internet culture experts Rebecca Jenkins and Samantha Cole talk about how the Montreal-based TikTok livestreamer became famous overnight — and why that matters. Plus, author Elizabeth Winder tells Commotion guest host Amil Niazi why The Rolling Stones would never have become rock 'n' roll legends without four women behind the scenes who made them who they are.

Journalists Andrea Williams and Emily Nussbaum join Commotion guest host Amil Niazi to discuss the polarizing reactions to Jason Aldean’s latest single, Try That In A Small Town. Plus, if streaming changed the Hollywood business model, how much will AI disrupt it? Futurist Sinead Bovell unpacks why actors want to have made it a key part of their labour negotiations.

The Commotion Friday Group Chat convenes to celebrate the cinematic event of the summer — Barbenheimer Day! Panelists Chandler Levack, Kristy Puchko and Jason P. Frank give their reviews of Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, and discuss how a fun comedic tribute to a beloved doll and a dark biopic about the inventor of the atomic bomb became such strange bedfellows in the world of online memes.

Film critic Nick Allen and journalist Justin Ling explain how Sound of Freedom, a small independent film released by a faith-based studio, became the surprise movie success story of the summer — and how it’s become a lightning rod in the divisive culture wars currently raging across North America. Plus, fashion critic Mosha Lundström Halbert joins Elamin to discuss the life and legacy of singer and fashion icon Jane Birkin, who passed away on Sunday.

Veteran filmmaker Jennifer Holness and film critic Sarah-Tai Black react to the latest reboot of the filmmaking reality series Project Greenlight, and whether new celebrity mentors Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani are able to overcome the diversity challenges the original series faced. Plus, Christian Cooper, host of a new show on National Geographic, joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about bringing birding to new audiences.

The ongoing strikes by actors and writers in Hollywood means work is grinding to a halt here in Canada – with devastating consequences. Canadian actor Carolina Bartczak and Canadian screenwriter Anthony Q. Farrell tell host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the impact, and why some Canadians in film and TV feel their U.S. counterparts are fighting the fight on their behalf.

If you watch TV these days, you may have noticed it feels like everyone is in therapy — from sitcoms like Ted Lasso and Never Have I Ever to reality shows like Bling Empire. And it’s not just TV; movies, podcasts and TikTok influencers have all begun to turn therapy and mental health into entertainment. Culture writers Delia Cai and Ishani Nath talk about how it impacts us, for better and for worse.

Hollywood actors are now on strike, Hollywood writers have been on strike since May, the studios and streamers are perhaps more powerful than they’ve ever been — and there are a lot of questions about where the industry goes from here. In this special edition of our end-of-week group chat, Vulture writer Kathryn VanArendonk, Vanity Fair writer Chris Murphy and WGA strike captain Kathryn Borel explain just how broken the business of entertainment is, and what we can expect to happen next as the strike unfolds.

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Hollywood’s actors, will either join screenwriters on picket lines or sign a new transformative deal. Teri Hart breaks down the key issues at the bargaining table and how this will affect the WGA strike. Plus, culture critics and Beastie Boys super fans Niko Stratis and Stuart Berman discuss the impact of the Beastie’s fifth studio album, Hello Nasty, in honour of its 25th anniversary.

With summer blockbuster season upon us, culture critics Rad Simonpillai, Cassie Cao and Sarah Hagi sit down with host Elamin Abdelmamoud to share their thoughts on the latest installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise, and why the new film Joy Ride has got critics talking.

Celebrated Quebec filmmaker Xavier Dolan recently declared that he’s done with making movies. Writer/filmmaker Chandler Levack and Montreal Gazette film columnist T’Cha Dunlevy explain why his comments have struck such a deep nerve in the film world. Plus, as #BookTok grows, the owner of the social media platform is getting into the publishing business. Jael Richardson talks about TikTok's reported approach so far, and digs into how #BookTok has upended the publishing industry.

It’s not a secret that things at Twitter are chaotic, but the conversation about its future took an interesting turn last week after Meta launched its Twitter clone, Threads. In the battle for social media dominance, could Threads be the first app to kill Twitter? The Ringer's Alyssa Bereznak and media studies professor Siva Vaidhyanathan discuss what might happen next. Plus, last Thursday, Sterling Larose’s video for the song Damn Right by Snotty Nose Rez Kids won the annual Prism Prize for best Canadian-made music video. The Vancouver-based filmmaker tells host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about his big victory.

For this week's wrap panel, culture writers Tyler Foggatt, Joe Coscarelli and Jen Sookfong Lee talk about the re-release of Taylor Swift's 2010 album Speak Now, the arrival of Threads, Instagram's Twitter rival, and the current contenders for song of the summer.

Taylor Swift has re-released her 2010 album Speak Now, the first record she wrote entirely on her own. Tyler Foggatt, Joe Coscarelli and Jen Sookfong Lee talk about the new version, and how Taylor Swift has managed to get even more popular over the pandemic.

Even if you hate Barbie, you’re living in her world right now. As the anticipation for Greta Gerwig's latest movie reaches new heights, culture critics Niko Stratis, Gabrielle Drolet and Jason P. Frank join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the massive film marketing campaign that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before.

After arriving in a storm of controversy and bad reviews, The Weeknd’s sleazy music-industry satire The Idol concluded its five-episode run this past weekend. Vulture writers Nate Jones and Hunter Harris talk about whether the show managed to redeem itself in the end, and how its rocky reception might affect The Weeknd’s brand going forward. Plus, Rob Gronfors lovingly restored a whole archive of Super 8 concert footage shot by his friend in the 1970s. He tells host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the Speedy Films archive, and what it shows us about bands like Pink Floyd in their prime.

Jennifer Lawrence is back in a comedy called No Hard Feelings, where parents hire her character to sleep with their timid 19-year-old son. Escort-turned-author Andrea Werhun and stripper/sex advice columnist/academic Alex Tigchelaar provide a sex worker’s perspective on what the film says about where we are with sex comedies. Plus, culture critic Ian Steaman shares why Dear Mama, the new Disney+ docuseries on the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, might be the best ‘Pac documentary to date.

In recent years, there have been a bunch of docuseries released that offer viewers an inside look at the world of professional sports — from soccer and golf, to cycling and F1 racing. The aim of these shows is to bring in new fans, but some insiders say when the series are presented like a sporty reality show, it misses the point of sports entirely. Professional athlete Michael Woods and sports journalists Morgan Campbell and Kaitlyn McGrath examine how these series are driving new audiences to watch sports — but at what cost?

For this week's group chat, culture critics Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Sarah-Tai Black and Rad Simonpillai drop by to talk about 1) Beyonce’s hit single Crazy In Love turning 20 this summer, 2) the backlash some influencers have faced for supporting fast fashion giant Shein, and 3) the CBC’s list of the 50 greatest films directed by Canadians.

With Elemental having the worst opening ever for a Pixar film and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse still dominating the box office, Elamin Abdelmahmoud checks in with entertainment critics Corey Atad and Petrana Radulovic about the creative shift happening in animation right now. Plus, jazz fan and media personality Garvia Bailey explains why so many jazz festival line-ups include artists from other genres.

Netflix's Black Mirror has always been hailed for its prophetic critique of modern technology — and this season, it's taking aim at Netflix itself. Culture critics Amil Niazi and Kathryn VanArendonk discuss the meta-AI episode that has everyone talking. Plus, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child had a record-breaking run in Toronto — but if it weren’t for the pandemic, could it have lasted longer than 13 months? Theatre critic Glenn Sumi talks about the costs of producing such a magical show, and the theatre industry's ongoing struggle to recover from COVID-19.

Samantha Irby has built a devoted fan base with her hilarious essay collections that range from commentary on her favourite Dave Matthews songs to stories about the uncanny experience of trying to cast an actor to play her in a TV show. She tells Elamin Abdelmahmoud about some of her pop culture obsessions, writing for the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That, and more from her latest bestselling book Quietly Hostile.

After barely surviving the pandemic, music venue operators are now faced with a new existential threat: a significant decrease in drinking among younger Gen Z concert-goers. And that’s starting to impact venues’ most important revenue source – bar sales. Pitchfork writer Cat Zhang explains why this is happening among her cohort, while Toronto venue manager Shawn Creamer (formerly of The Dakota Tavern, now with 888Yonge) shares how venues are adapting to this generational shift.

It’s been 20 years since the first podcast was shared with the world. Today on Commotion, podcast producer Kattie Laur and podcast critic Nicholas Quah explains how the medium has changed our culture, and what the future of podcasting sounds like.

For this week's wrap panel, culture critic Amil Niazi, comedian James Mullinger and music critic Lindsay Zoladz discuss: 1) Wes Anderson’s new meta-narrative film Asteroid City, 2) Kelly Clarkson’s long-anticipated divorce album Chemistry, and 3) Taylor Swift leaving Canada off the Eras Tour schedule.

Culture critic Dalton Higgins and event producer Ian Andre Espinet discuss the rise of hip-hop nostalgia concerts and what they might say about the way we value older rap demos today. Plus, with news of a missing submersible in the Atlantic Ocean dominating social media, New York Times tech reporter Mike Isaac explains how this grim story so quickly inspired a deluge of jokes and memes — and what that says about us.

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, multidisciplinary artist Santee Smith, Inuk artist Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, musician Raven Kanatakta and Cree author and playwright Tomson Highway stop by Commotion to help us celebrate the power of Indigenous art and artists to create the change they want to see in the world.

Culture writers Sarah-Tai Black and Ian Steaman stop by Commotion to talk about the new horror-comedy film The Blackening, and the ways it pays homage to the horror genre while challenging historic tropes around Black characters. Plus, Alyssa Bereznak of The Ringer explains why Reddit’s most dedicated users are staging a revolt on the site, and what it means for the future of how we use the internet.

Chris Payne, author of the new emo oral history Where Are Your Boys Tonight?, explains how this underground punk subgenre reshaped the sound of pop music in the 21st century. Plus, we bid farewell to Writers & Company host Eleanor Wachtel ahead of her retirement at the end of this season after 33 years with the celebrated national program.

Culture critics Niko Stratis, Rad Simonpillai and Cassie Cao join our weekly wrap panel to talk about: 1) The Flash and the controversies surrounding star Ezra Miller, 2) what the sale of the Golden Globes could mean for the future of the embattled awards show, 3) whether cliffhangers in big screen franchises actually work, and 4) Harry and Meghan's split from Spotify.

Elliot Page’s memoir, Pageboy, offers an intimate look at his journey from coming out first as queer to later as trans, and the challenges he faced not only growing up in Nova Scotia but also as a famous actor in Hollywood. Culture writer Mel Woods joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to review the memoir. Plus, as the war continues in Sudan, certain museums have been caught in the crossfire. New York Times correspondent Abdi Latif Dahir explains what is lost when art is destroyed, and the ongoing efforts to help artists who have been displaced to keep creating.

Elizabeth Gilbert, the best-selling author of Eat Pray Love, is delaying publication of her latest novel after facing a backlash from some Ukrainians who said it's the wrong time to put the novel — which is set in Russia — into the world. Authors Jen Sookfong Lee and Laisha Rosnau unpack Gilbert's response, and the ethical dilemmas facing fiction writers today. Plus, music critic Maura Johnston helps us mark the 40th anniversary of The Police’s hit single, Every Breath You Take.

With more and more younger viewers turning on the subtitles when they watch their favourite shows, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud dives into the latest viewing habit shaking up television with culture writer Devin Gordon and Korean pop culture scholar Michelle Cho. Plus, New York Times reporter Robin Pogrebin talks about why art critics are up in arms over Hannah Gadsby’s feminist, comedic take on Pablo Picasso for The Brooklyn Museum’s new exhibit, “It’s Pablo-matic.”

For years it seemed like Joni Mitchell might never perform again — but this weekend, the folk icon headlined her first concert in more than 20 years. Guest host Talia Schlanger speaks with concert attendee Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the show of a lifetime. Plus, as David Byrne gets set to bring his disco musical Here Lies Love to Broadway this month, he’s facing resistance from the local musicians' union. Reporter Chris Willman explains why this isn’t a simple case of a production trying to cut costs.

Culture critics A. Harmony, Jackson Weaver and Stacy Lee Kong join guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss: 1) the new Janelle Monae album and backlash to its first music video, 2) what the layoffs at Spotify might say about the state of podcasting, 3) initial reactions to the announcement of a Law & Order Toronto spinoff, and 4) whether the new Apple virtual reality headsets are a hit or a miss.

With some artists complaining about audiences that are full of people holding up their phones, we have to ask: have people forgotten how to enjoy live music? As we head into the summer concert season, guest host Talia Schlanger gets to the bottom of it with Commotion regulars Amil Niazi and Richie Assaly. Plus, Jury Duty is a docu-style comedy about the inner workings of an American jury trial where everyone is an actor — except for one guy. Director Jake Szymanski talks about what it took to pull this experiment off, and what he learned about human nature along the way.

The 2023 James Beard Awards were handed out Monday night. Grace Onasanya and Ivy Knight discuss how the awards have been mired in controversy over recent years. You'll hear about some big winners — and why some chefs aren't feeling too celebratory. Plus, a new immersive theatre project merges the stage with videogames. Creator Sebastien Heins joins the podcast to talk about No Save Points, the experience of allowing the audience to control his performance, and why he wanted to relinquish control.

This week, the Screen Actors Guild voted to proceed with a strike if a new labour deal with Hollywood studios can’t be reached by the June 30th deadline. Entertainment reporter Teri Hart explains the immediate and long-term impact that an actors' strike would have on what we watch. Plus, the musical KPOP was the first Broadway production about a Korean story, written by Korean artists, with a predominantly Asian cast. It got three Tony nominations, for its score, costumes and choreography, but abruptly closed after only two weeks. Composer Helen Park discusses the show's short-lived but meaningful run on Broadway.

Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Sarah-Tai Black unpack the controversy surrounding the new HBO series The Idol and what it all says about the allure of toxic masculinity in TV storylines. Plus, Resurrection is a new podcast that tells the story of Daryl Allen, an amateur playwright who died of AIDS more than 30 years ago. Dane Stewart is the young playwright who brought his story back to life in this new podcast.

Culture critics Jackson Weaver, Cassie Cao and Niko Stratis join Elamin to review the new animated movie Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse, the Disney+ series American Born Chinese and what the slew of Barbie trailers released over the last two years can tell us about the tone of the upcoming live-action film.

In a recent review of Brandon Taylor’s new novel The Late Americans, the reviewer comments on how much funnier Taylor’s Twitter feed is than his book. Authors Jen Sookfong Lee and Heather Marshall talk about what’s fair game in a book review, and this latest blurring of the lines between art and artist. Plus, Fetty Wap's recent drug trafficking sentence has been extended due to prosecutors' belief that his music glamorizes the drug trade. It raises the age-old question: Should rap lyrics be allowed in the courtroom? Jack Lerner is a professor of law and co-author of Rap on Trial: A Legal Guide for Attorneys, which explains the system's impact on Black art.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, Joe Francis made a fortune selling Girls Gone Wild on VHS tapes and DVD. The franchise has had a monumental impact on the visual culture and sexual culture and the ways we talk about consent and sex and privacy. Throughout his decade of wild success Francis wracked up a long list of convictions and spent several stints in jail. Freelance writer Scaachi Koul tells us about her interview with Francis at his villa in Mexico, which she writes about in the Huffington Post.

Journalist Scaachi Koul takes us behind the scenes of her epic Huffington Post profile on the unapologetic porntrapaneur Joe Francis. Plus, Ainslie Hogarth and Makda Mulatu recommend their favourite reads for the summer.

[This episode contains SPOILERS!] The morning after the Succession season finale, culture critics Hunter Harris, Chris Murphy and Kathryn VanArendonk take stock of one of the greatest shows ever. Did anyone truly succeed? And how did the show help us understand the cost of success?

The late Michel Côté wasn’t a household name in the rest of Canada, but in Quebec, he was as loved as Celine Dion. Culture critics Nantali Indongo and Thomas Leblanc talk about the two stars, and how their paths help us understand Quebec’s unique celebrity culture. Plus, if the Hollywood Writers’ Strike has you missing your weekly hit of sketch comedy — here's a novel recommendation: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld.

The Queen of rock ‘n’ roll, Tina Turner has died at the age of 83. To celebrate her life and music, Jully Black, Michael Williams, Garvia Bailey and Amanda Hess join in conversation about the legacy of the late legend.

In this week’s wrap panel, culture critics A. Harmony, Sarah-Tai Black and Kathleen Newman-Bremang discuss 1) the new Little Mermaid live-action remake 2) the latest season of The Ultimatum, which features an all-queer cast, and 3) the legacy of the late Queen of rock ‘n’ roll Tina Turner.

This week, HBO's Barry, winds down after four nail-biting seasons. Vulture’s Ben Rosenstock and The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han tell us what made the show so unique. Plus, Sparks will release their 26th album this Friday, The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte.

Film critics Radheyan Simonpillai and Kyle Buchanan are live from this year’s Cannes Film Festival to discuss some of the most buzzworthy films and stories. This year’s feature films include Killers of The Flower Moon, the latest from director Martin Scorsese, and Strange Way of Life, starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke.

Caseen Gaines, author of When Broadway Was Black, documents the history of the musical Shuffle Along, the first Broadway hit by an all-Black creative team.

Rob Harvilla’s podcast, 60 Songs That Explain the '90s, was originally supposed to be just that. This week, its third season dropped — bringing the fan-favourite series to a whopping 120 episodes (three times its intended length). The show's creator joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to go deep in to the 90s, and what makes his podcast so addictive.

Prince Harry and Meghan released a statement saying they were "relentlessly" chased by paparazzi after an awards event in New York City. Culture writer Ellie Hall breaks down what we know about the story so far, while economist and author Allison Schrager demystifies the workings of American paparazzi. Plus, music critic Craig Seymour talks about the new documentary, Little Richard: I Am Everything, and the role Black queerness played in the rise of one of the architects of rock 'n' roll.

For this week's wrap panel, culture critics Teri Hart, Amil Niazi and Matt Hart discuss: 1) Martha Stewart's Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover, 2) the release of Fast X and what it means for Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson’s long-simmering beef, and 3) the Canadian premiere of the buzziest reality-TV show of the moment, Jury Duty.

The Hollywood writers' strike is in its third week — and it’s not just productions south of the border that are being affected. Screenwriter Anthony Q. Farrell and makeup artist Joan Chell explain why some Canadians feel their U.S. counterparts are fighting the fight on their behalf. Plus, illustrator Gary Taxali helps us remember influential graphic artist Frank Kozik.

Sarah-Tai Black talks about Master Gardener, the new movie from acclaimed filmmaker Paul Schrader, and how his controversial statements over the course of his career have affected their ability to appreciate Schrader’s artistic body of work. Plus, culture writers Tanya Chen and Jacqueline Kantor talk about the evolution of Peloton and what you get from connecting with your favourite instructor.

Succession and Ted Lasso both started out strong winning awards, building loyal audiences, and earning critical acclaim. But where one keeps soaring, the other is a shadow of its former self. TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk talks about how the two shows offer an important lesson about when it's time to end a good thing. Plus, in honour of the release of Tears of the Kingdom, Sarah Hagi and Niko Stratis talk about how The Legend of Zelda keeps pushing the envelop of open world games.

For this week's wrap panel, culture writers Jael Richardson, Jen Sookfong Lee and Jackson Weaver discuss: 1) Queen Charlotte, the new Bridgerton prequel show dominating the #1 spot on Netflix, 2) the Blackberry movie that hits theaters today, and 3) the mystery book that made the top ten list on Amazon before anyone knew anything about it.

With the recent news of Vice’s potential bankruptcy, Commotion has corralled a cast of former Vice associates to talk about the company’s unlikely transformation from a scrappy Montreal punk zine to a dominant global media empire, and how it found itself in its current financial predicament.

Culture critics Syrus Marcus Ware and Pacinthe Mattar discuss the controversies surrounding the new Netflix series Queen Cleopatra and what it suggests about the influence of race and identity on viewers' interpretations of both our own histories and that of others. Plus, journalist and Eurovision expert Karen Fricker joins us from Liverpool, England to talk about this year's contenders for the song competition.

Culture reporter Ellie Hall shares the highlights from King Charles’s coronation, and considers what the event suggests about the kind of monarch he might be. Plus, director and producer Megumi Inman talks about her new BBC documentary, Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop, which examines the allegations that a high-profile figure in Japan’s music industry sexually abused young boys who joined his agency with dreams of becoming pop stars for decades.

Writers are striking in Hollywood to demand better pay and working conditions. But artificial intelligence can write TV scripts, too — and AI doesn’t need a salary or health benefits. Tech reporter Alyssa Bereznak talks about how AI is complicating the writers' strike. Plus, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince shares his thoughts on soca legend David Rudder’s 70th birthday concert this past Saturday, after the artist recently announced the show would be his last at that scale following a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis.

The Star Wars universe keeps expanding, with a new title out almost every year. But with more misses than hits, people are wondering: has Star Wars lost its way? On this May the Fourth, we talk about how the galaxy's biggest franchise is falling short with fans. Plus, prolific childrens' author Jacqueline Woodson shares her connection with Judy Blume’s work, and why she made it her life's work to make sure young Black kids could find themselves in books.

Rad Simonpillai, Kathryn VanArendonk and Ian Steaman review the final installment in the MCU's Guardians of The Galaxy franchise, and consider what the Hollywood writer’s strike might mean for the future of the late night talk format.

Hollywood writers are picketing today. Entertainment reporter Teri Hart explains what’s at stake with the latest WGA strike. Plus, Michael J. Fox’s story is being told in his own words through a new documentary called STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie. Film director Davis Guggenheim shares stories from behind the scenes and reveals what he’s learned most from Michael.

Q’s Tom Power and Commotion’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud co-host this special tribute in remembrance of Gordon Lightfoot (Rainy Day People, Sundown, If You Could Read my Mind). The acclaimed singer-songwriter died on Monday night at age 84, ending a career that spanned more than five decades, and included honours such as the Order of Canada and an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Tom and Elamin talk to some of his closest friends and listen to his legendary music.

John Mulaney’s new Netflix special, Baby J, is the affable comedian’s first stand-up showcase since undergoing rehab for cocaine and prescription pill addiction in 2020. Culture writers Carrie Battan and Izzy Ampil tell us how he’s changed his act since embarking on the road to redemption. Plus, Vass Bednar gets into the implications of the controversial Bill C-11 regarding online streaming.

For this week’s wrap panel, culture critics Syrus Marcus Ware, Kathryn VanArendonk and Ian Steaman join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the legacy of The Jerry Springer Show after news of the notorious host's passing, the guilty charges laid against rapper Pras, and Ed Sheeran’s latest copyright infringement case.

With a new documentary out as well as the first screen adaptation of her hit novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Judy Blume is seemingly everywhere right now. Culture writers Amil Niazi and Jen Sookfong Lee tell guest host Vivek Shraya how Judy Blume changed their lives as kids, and why they believe she matters now more than ever before. Plus, Eli Glasner joins us from Cinemacon to talk about the world premiere of DC’s The Flash, and the controversy surrounding the film’s star.

You might call this the first so called “normal” summer theatre season in Canada since the start of the pandemic — but on the other hand, it’s anything but. Theatre creators Weyni Mengesha, Sherry J. Yoon and Yvette Nolan talk about the shows they’re working on now, and their newfound sense of purpose. Plus, Buffy Sainte-Marie helps us remember the late artist and activist Harry Belafonte.

Tours take a big mental health toll on musicians and touring crew. Psychotherapist Tamsin Embleton and Radiohead’s Philip Selway talk about the challenges of life on the road, and the new book Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual. Plus, the English band Breezer were tired of waiting for Oasis to get back together — so they made their own record using AI. The Guardian journalist and Oasis superfan Rich Pelley talks about how the result is actually really good.

Tucker Carlson was the most popular host on the most popular news network in the US. David Folkenflik and Mattea Roach explain how Tucker Carlson made the news into entertainment, for better and for worse. Plus, with the Ontario government revealing its plan to tear down the Ontario Science Centre and relocate it to Toronto’s waterfront, Toronto Star columnist Shawn Micallef explains why the OSC is an architectural work of art unlike any in Canada, and should be preserved as such.

What do we do with art that’s made by people who’ve done bad things — or are alleged to have done bad things? Culture writers Yara El-Soueidi and Judith Shulevitz get into the complexities of separating the art from the artist.

Culture critics Sarah-Tai Black, Niko Stratis and A. Harmony consider the fallout of Buzzfeed News shutting down, review Ari Aster’s new film Beau Is Afraid, and dive into Frank Ocean’s controversial Coachella performance last weekend — including his subsequent departure from the festival’s lineup.

On this Canadian Film Day, Elle-Maija Tailfeathers and Michael Greyeyes ask listeners to spend time watching one of the late Jeff Barnaby’s films. They join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to take stock of the impact he had on a new generation of Indigenous filmmakers. Plus, with the recent release of Metallica’s 11th album, 72 Seasons, our resident metalhead Lisa Christiansen tells us how the band has stayed relevant over 40 years into their career.

Once an upstart indie film distributor known for strange arthouse horror movies, A24 is now known for producing Oscar-winning fare like Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All at Once, and buzzy TV shows like BEEF; it’s even spawned an iconic merchandising brand. With the company set to release Beau Is Afraid this week — its most expensive film to date — movie critics Nate Jones and Kristy Puchko explain to us why A24 seems to be doing everything, everywhere, all at once. Plus, freelance culture writer Corey Atad talks about why the film How to Blow up a Pipeline is causing controversy.

YouTube is one of the most addictive sites on the internet, and it's come a long way since its very first post in 2005. Tech journalist Mark Bergen is the author of Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTube’s Chaotic Rise to World Domination. He talks about the rise of YouTube, and how it came to dominate the Internet.

Fashion writer Mosha Lundström Halbert shares her notes from New York Fashion Week as the big event wraps up, and she unpacks Louis Vuitton's big move to hire music mogul Pharrell Williams as their menswear creative director. Plus, a new Quebec-produced doc by Ayana O'Shun called The Myth of The Black Woman looks at the historic portrayal of Black women in popular culture. CBC Montreal host and culture critic Nantali Indongo joins Elamin to talk about the doc and why its focus on the perspectives of Black Quebec and Black French women is noteworthy.

Even before Prince Harry published his life's story, memoirs have been taking up more and more space on the best-seller lists. Today, we're having a conversation about the tricky ethics of memoir writing: what happens when your truth doesn't line up with someone else's memory? Elamin, a memoir author himself, checks in with fellow authors Marsha Lederman and Emma Healey about how they have navigated those questions.

Culture commentators Kathryn VanArendonk, Richard Van Camp and Matt Hart dive into: 1) the heartthrobification of TV's reigning man of the moment Pedro Pascal, 2) the return of Party Down and the fine art of producing a successful reboot, and 3) recommendations of what to read, watch and listen to this weekend

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised that most of the models on the catwalk in Paris, Milan and New York are super skinny — but, it's 2023. What happened to body positivity, and size inclusivity? As Paris Fashion Week draws to a close, we check in with two people who have been covering the shows to talk about why we're seeing so many size zeros — and why that matters. Plus, with news that The People's Court is coming to an end, Elamin talks to culture critic Amil Niazi about its legacy, and the future of the reality court TV genre.

Country superstar Morgan Wallen is dominating the charts right now, less than two years after he was caught on video drunkenly shouting a racial slur. Music writers Andrea Williams and Maura Johnston get into the big question: why hasn't Nashville given up on Morgan Wallen? Plus, Bhangra dancer Gurdeep Pandher shares why Hotline by Dimitri Nasrallah is his pick for Canada Reads.

Music journalists A. Harmony and Niko Stratis give their highlights and reactions to yesterday's Junos nominations announcement and what they might say about the state of the Canadian music industry in 2023. Plus, Bollywood has been in a slump the past couple of years — but Shah Rukh Khan's new film appears to be reviving the genre. Smashing all kinds of records since it opened last week, audiences are going wild for Pathaan. Aparita Bhandari tells Elamin why this is a comeback story worth paying attention to.

It's been 15 years since the Hollywood writers strike ended, and changed TV forever. Television writer Michael Schur shares memories from the front lines, having been a writer on The Office at the time, and why 15 years later the issues from back then are still unresolved. With more labour strife brewing in writer's rooms across America, entertainment journalist Teri Hart shares why writers are demanding a better deal this time — and what's at stake.

On Day 3 of Commotion's AI Week, we're learning about how artificial intelligence is already making movies. The Hollywood director Scott Mann tells us about how he is using AI to make movies he never dreamed could be possible — but not in the way you might think. Plus, entertainment reporter Teri Hart gets into the latest episode of Succession and how it has reignited the debate around spoiler etiquette.

Friday wrap panelists and culture journalists Syrus Marcus Ware, A. Harmony and Falen Johnson talk about: 1) the new comedy film Cocaine Bear, which follows the true story of a bear who takes cocaine — and all hell breaks loose, 2) the news that a British publisher plans to make edits to Roal Dahl's beloved novels for children, and 3) the beauty of The Hair Tales, a dynamic new series on Disney+ that celebrates Black women's identity, beauty, culture and humanity through the stories in their hair.

A cheating scandal on the reality show Vanderpump Rules is the talk of the Internet. Our panel of reality TV experts get into why it's making some consider whether the genre of reality TV has gone too far. The countdown to Canada Reads continues! Actor and filmmaker Keegan Connor Tracy will share why Greenwood by Michael Christie is her pick for the great Canadian book debate.

The rising cost of, well everything, is forcing artists to change the way they work. Artists Ken Lum and Erin Finley talk about making art in this age of inflation. Plus, even after 25 years, whenever you hear Celine Dion's hit song "My Heart Will Go On," you can't help but think of the movie Titanic. Simon Franglen is a Grammy-winning producer and composer based in LA. He remembers what it was like to work on the soundtrack, and the lengths they went to get the now-iconic song into James Cameron's hands. And, we remember songwriter and composer Burt Bacharach, who passed today at the age of 94.

Music journalists Richie Assaly and Maura Johnston give us the morning-after report on the big winners, the surprises and snubs from the 65th annual Grammy Awards. Plus, it's been a year since the New York Times bought Wordle. Writer and game developer David Shariatmadari helps Elamin look back on the game's success as well as preview a new brain teaser for word sleuths.

Sinead Bovell, a Canadian model and futurist, has long signalled the impact that artificial intelligence could have on the fashion industry. With the launch of an AI modelling agency, she delves into why models are particularly vulnerable to this wave, the benefits of AI for sustainability and creativity, as well as the ethical concerns AI raises. Plus, Nashville-via-Montreal singer/songwriter Allison Russell talks about her role in organizing Love Rising, an all-star concert featuring the likes of Sheryl Crow and Jason Isbell, happening in Nashville today to protest Tennessee’s recent anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-drag legislation.

On Day 2 of Commotion's AI Week, film composer and co-founder of AI music generator Amper Music Drew Silverstein explains why AI-generated music doesn’t pose an existential threat to artists like himself, but rather heralds a new revolution in music-making that will enhance human creativity. Plus, music journalists Matthew Ismael Ruiz and Kelly Bishop weigh in on whether AI-created music will render working musicians extinct — or unlock unforeseen creative possibilities?

Culture critics Syrus Marcus Ware and Craig Seymour join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss Rihanna’s performance at this year’s Super Bowl Halftime show, from the setlist to her surprise pregnancy announcement. Plus, Odario Williams makes the case for his favourite love song and helps us remember David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, one-third of the iconic rap triumvirate De La Soul.

Commotion’s resident music experts Lisa Christiansen and Rollie Pemberton (a.k.a. rapper Cadence Weapon) weigh in on the highlights and lowlights of the 2023 Juno Awards. Plus, The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was once a pop culture juggernaut, but a couple of scandals and growing calls to diversify the runway led them to cancel the show in 2019. Now, the show is coming back in 2023, and fashion writer Lisa Wong Macabasco talks about why the reaction to its return is mixed.

Netflix launches its all-star-esque reality dating show Perfect Match, bringing familiar faces from past hits like Love is Blind and The Circle to a remote island to find love. Culture critic Amil Niazi, author Jael Richardson and Sexy Beast cast member Tamiko Sianen review the highly-anticipated series, and discuss how reality show dating has grown and evolved in recent years. Elamin explains why if any government shoots down any more flying objects this week, he's going to "need someone to get in front of a microphone and tell us what the hell is going on."

With the Vancouver Folk Music Festival cancelling its 2023 edition and possibly shutting down for good, Elamin checks in with two regular attendees, Lisa Christiansen and Naomi Moses, to tell us why this event is so important to the city and how it could be saved. Plus, CBC columnist and culture critic Huda Hassan joins Elamin to unpack the milestones, controversies and implications tied to the recent acquisition of Toronto legacy magazine NOW by rising media journalist Brandon Gonez and his company Gonez Media Inc.

A theatre adaptation of the Canadian novel Room made its mark in London's West End, in Canada, and it was about to make its Broadway debut — when the plug was pulled. Theatre writer Glenn Sumi explains how a critically-acclaimed show suddenly got cancelled, and the shockwaves it sent down Broadway. Plus, Canada Reads is next week! Michael Greyeyes is championing Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. He explains why this dystopian novel is the one all of Canada should read.

Culture writers Syrus Marcus Ware, Rad Simonpillai and Sarah-Tai Black discuss: 1) the TikTok hearings currently being held in the United States Congress, 2) the new podcast about J.K. Rowling and her views on trans people, and 3) the return of Succession and Yellowjackets.

Today is the first day of Commotion's AI week! To help kick off this special week of programming, tech journalists Melissa Heikkilä and Alyssa Bereznak join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud for a discussion about what, exactly, artificial intelligence is, how the field of AI has changed and progressed over the last few years, and its potential in the world of the future. Plus, Elamin shares his thoughts on the line between the capabilities of AI and humans (with a little help from Nick Cave).

We remember the great Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, who has died at the age of 92. Three of his good friends — comedian Mark Critch, actor Allan Hawco and TV executive Denise Donlon — stop by to share stories from the icon's career.

It seems like there are fewer steamy scenes on screen these days. While that might be a plus if you're watching TV with your grandma, it begs the question: what do we lose when sex scenes aren't as mainstream? Culture writers Rad Simonpillai and Angela Watercutter dive into the debate around intimacy onscreen. Plus, Jeopardy! and Canada Reads champion Mattea Roach shares their love for Kate Beaton's Ducks.

After years of legal limbo, the groundbreaking music of influential rap trio De La Soul will finally be available on streaming services this week. Maura Johnston and Ian Steaman dig into what took so long, and how an absence from streaming platforms can affect an artist's legacy. If an artist isn't on Spotify in 2023, do they still exist? Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon turns 50 this week. As essential as those songs are to rock'n'roll history, the album cover is equally iconic. Aubrey Powell and the late Storm Thorgerson were responsible for that album art, and Aubrey stops by to tell us the story of how they made Dark Side of the Moon.

Canadian entertainment reporter Teri Hart explains how the controversy around Andrea Riseborough's Best Actress Oscar nomination for the little-known film To Leslie came to be, and what happens next. Plus, with The Last Of Us dominating our Sunday night viewing schedule, Elamin catches up with Felix Gillette and John Koblin, authors of It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO, to talk about what makes the streaming giant so good at getting people's attention — and keeping it.

Culture writers Niko Stratis and Mel Woods unravel the collective genius of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, on their first full-length album The Record as the indie rock supergroup boygenius. Plus, film critic Sarah-Tai Black discusses the new film A Thousand And One and how it pushes back on the traditional film tropes surrounding single Black mothers and young Black boys.

100 Gecs' music seemingly exists both within and outside every known genre. Music writers Carrie Battan and Richie Assaly examine how the pair have managed to make some of the most challenging, exciting, and frustrating music of the moment. Plus, culture columnist Anne T. Donahue shares why she started listening to CDs again in the age of streaming.

Culture critics Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Jesse Wente discuss whether the decision to air a packaged version of this year's Canadian Screen Awards was a good one, and react to Netflix's massive fail with its live Love Is Blind reunion. Plus, Slow Art Day encourages people to stand in front of a piece of art for 10 whole minutes to really take it all in. AGO curator Melissa Smith talks about what we can learn from Slow Art Day, and the value of lingering — even in spaces outside of a gallery.

With sped-up versions of popular songs taking over TikTok and boosting Spotify streams, music industry experts DJ 4Korners and Reanna Cruz look at what’s fuelling this need for speed, and how the music industry is trying to capitalize on it. Plus, Sarah Hagi remembers actor Lance Reddick, who died on Friday just days before he’ll be on screen in the latest instalment of John Wick.

Friday Wrap Panel with Rad Simonpillai & Amil Niazi: Beyoncé's announcement of a Renaissance World Tour has a Ticketmaster-sized cloud hanging over it, M. Night Shyamalan's latest film Knock at the Cabin is hitting theatres this weekend, and the latest media outlet to announce a string of layoffs this month is pop culture news site Gawker, which will shut down after relaunching just two years ago.

Culture critics Amil Niazi and Kathryn Jezer-Morton react to Fortesa Latifi’s Teen Vogue piece on the wellbeing of kid influencers, and consider the way influencer parents need to be held accountable for the safety of their children. Plus, after 25 years and over 1,200 episodes, Ash and Pikachu’s storyline on the long-running anime show Pokémon will come to an end this year. Sarah Natochenny is the English voice actor behind Ash Ketchum, and she stops by Commotion to reflect on the legacy the beloved pair leave behind.

Back in March 2020, Playboy announced it would stop printing its magazine. Now, the iconic brand is launching a platform for creators to upload their own content — but could this new model work? Andrea Werhun and Samantha Cole talk about the relationship between sex and the internet, and what may come of Playboy's latest move. Plus, just when people seem to (kind of) be getting used to this idea of Chat-GPT, a more powerful iteration of the artificial intelligence chatbot has launched. Alyssa Bereznak explains what GPT-4 is, and whether we should be worried.

The Porter isn't getting picked up for a second season, despite leading the Canadian Screen Awards with 19 nominations. Three creators take stock of the Canadian TV landscape, its financial reliance on networks abroad and the challenges in getting diverse Canadian stories on the air. Plus, musician Ben Gibbard gives us an exclusive 20th-anniversary oral history of The Postal Service's only album Give Up.

Pop culture journalist and reality show junkie KC Hoard joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about why he feels Big Brother Canada continues to be the best reality show spin-off in Canada — and gets a surprise visit from Big Brother Canada Season 9 winner Tychon Carter-Newman. Plus, The Young and the Restless celebrates its 50th anniversary this week. Actor Jess Walton joins us to share one of her favourite scenes to film with the late, legendary Jeanne Cooper.

Toronto Star music critic Ben Rayner, freelance writer Niko Stratis and comedian Andrea Jin discuss: 1) the value of negative reviews, 2) Nickelback's entry into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and their legacy as the most polarizing band in the country, and 3) Michelle Yeoh's controversial Instagram post about the Oscars.

The 2023 recipients of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards were announced this morning, and Elamin speaks to renowned choreographer James Kudelka, one of the laureates honoured for their outstanding contributions to Canadian culture. Plus, with only five weeks to go until Canada Reads, champion and #BookTok star Tasnim Geedi stops by to tell us why Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is her pick for the great Canadian book debate.

Our panel of professional binge-watchers, Teri Hart and Jen Sookfong Lee, tells us if the long-awaited season premieres of Succession and Yellowjackets were worth the wait.

Culture critics Jen Sookfong Lee, Michelle Cho and Rad Simonpillai discuss the acclaimed Netflix series BEEF and what this show about rage, depression and class might signal for the present and future of Asian American filmmaking. Plus, the panel reflects on the end of Commotion's special week exploring all things AI.

There's a new movie about Canadian tech company Blackberry's fall from grace — and it's called BlackBerry, of course. The film just had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, and the film's director Matt Johnson stops into Commotion from Berlin to tell us all about it. Plus, R&B singer Jully Black joins Elamin to talk about her performance of O Canada at this weekend's 2023 NBA All-Star game, and why she chose to reinterpret the line, "our home and native land."

Canada Reads champion Mattea Roach and author Kate Beaton drop in to talk about their historic win with Ducks. Plus, for our weekly wrap panel culture critics Niko Stratis, Sarah-Tai Black and Bee Quammie discuss the problems with Levi’s announced A.I. diversity strategy and why some are calling the latest season of Netflix’s Love Is Blind the best one yet.

Baseball is back. Baseball movies, however? Not so much. Culture writers and baseball fans Noah Gittell and Stacey May Fowles revisit the golden age of baseball movies, and get in to why no one’s making them anymore. Plus, the lead single from BTS’s Jimin debut solo album FACE is already being talked about as a contender for the song of summer. Korean pop culture writer Bina Lee talks about Jimin’s new album and what the other members of BTS have been up to since the supergroup announced its hiatus last year.

Introducing our new show: Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud! Every weekday, culture writer and professional fan Elamin will bring you thoughtful and vibrant discussions in just 30 minutes. With the help of superfans and experts alike, Elamin will cover the most urgent and joyful stories in arts, pop culture and entertainment. Welcome to the group chat!

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E and Midjourney promise to make us all artists in seconds — but those tools are being trained using the work of real artists. Sinead Bovell and Michael DeForge break down why AI is in its "wild west" era, and how artists are being affected. Plus, AI-generated stories and artworks have been bombarding science fiction magazines like Clarkesworld recently. Editor Neil Clarke explains why this is happening — and what he’s doing about it.

Tech journalists Alyssa Bereznak and Samantha Cole weigh in on the deepfake porn scandal with gaming streamer Atrioc that rocked the world of Twitch last week, and its impact on female streamers like QTCinderella. Plus, Juno Award-winning producer Rich Kidd joins Elamin to give a bit of a back story behind the theme music for Commotion, which he produced.

Everything Everywhere All At Once was firmly in the winning circle on Oscars night. Film critics Eli Glasner, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Alison Willmore unpack the wins and losses at Hollywood’s big night.

The hosts of Let’s Make A Sci-Fi, one of The New Yorker’s “Best Podcasts of 2022”, are back in their writers’ room and this time they’re getting serious about love. Over eight episodes, Maddy, Mark, and Ryan try to balance love and laughs into a fresh, funny, and heart-felt movie script. When they run into trouble, they’ll have help from Hollywood experts, including rom-com screenwriting royalty Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You), blockbuster director Ol Parker (Ticket to Paradise, Mama Mia II), comedian Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens), as well as agents and actors, to reveal how we bring love to the big screen. And in the final episode, they’ll pitch their original romantic comedy and see if sparks fly. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/YUWzrI5d

Culture writers Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Jen Sookfong Lee and Kevin Fallon discuss: 1) Donald Glover's new show Swarm (and the new Childish Gambino music he released with it), 2) the season 3 premier of everyone's favourite feel-good show Ted Lasso, and 3) the surprise retirement of celebrity stylist Law Roach.

One year ago this Friday Russian tanks rolled across the border into Ukraine, escalating a conflict that's been simmering for years with horrific consequences. But through it all, many Ukrainian artists are still making art, musicians are still playing, dancers still dancing. Elamin speaks with two of them about how their lives have changed – and how they're using their art to support the war effort. Plus, Tom Power joins Elamin to discuss this year's Canadian Screen Award nominations.

Culture writer Amil Niazi delves into the drama unfolding in a Park City courtroom where Gwyneth Paltrow is denying she struck a man while skiing out of control, plus NOFX frontman Fat Mike and Hamilton, Ontario punk superfan Talli Osborne discuss their two-decade-long friendship, which has culminated in their current roles representing the new Punk Rock Museum opening this weekend in Las Vegas.

Sneakerheads Akil Augustine and Alicia "Ace" West discuss AIR, the new film about the Nike shoe deal that changed pop culture, and why Air Jordans remains so iconic. Plus, with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera is ending its record-breaking 35 year run on Broadway, theatre critic Glenn Sumi reflects on the show’s legacy.

For our Friday wrap panel, culture writers Kathryn VanArendonk, Niko Stratis and Kathleen Newman-Bremang discuss the rumour that Kevin Costner's character on Yellowstone may be riding off into the sunset ahead of its sixth season, Lana Del Rey's new 7-minute song A&W and if it can be a hit in a TikTok-driven music market, and whether Marvel fatigue is in the air as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theatres this weekend.

It's been nearly a year since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, and the comedian is ready to talk about it — on camera. His live Netflix special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, aired live on Netflix over the weekend. You'll hear more about the set — and who showed up for Chris Rock. Plus, The Weeknd's show The Idol is under pressure after Rolling Stone reported on a toxic set that turned a story about a pop star angling for her own agency into a man's "rape fantasy."

Pamela Anderson was one of the biggest stars of the '90s. Now, she's telling her story in the Netflix documentary Pamela, a love story. Culture writers Alessa Dominguez and Kathleen Newman-Bremang join Elamin to talk about the ongoing trend of celebrities taking control of their own narratives through documentaries. Plus, Elamin reveals the nominees for Rap Album/EP of the Year category at this year's Juno Awards, and we remember American guitarist Tom Verlaine and Tyre Nichols

In light of Ed Sheeran’s recent remarks that music critics are irrelevant in the age of streaming, we talk to journalist Maura Johnston and writer/rapper Rollie Pemberton (aka Cadence Weapon) about why music criticism still matters. Plus, AJ McLean’s been in the public eye for three decades, debuting as a member of the Backstreet Boys in 1993. Since then he’s wrestled with strict, and ever-shifting, beauty norms — ultimately realizing that it’s up to each of us to define beauty on our own terms. He talks about hosting the new reality competition show, The Fashion Hero: A New Kind of Beautiful.

Janis Kahentóktha Monture is the new CEO of the Canadian Museums Association, and the first Indigenous person in this role. She talks about implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 67th call to action, and ongoing efforts to repatriate cultural artifacts. Plus, this Friday Netflix is dropping the second half of the K-Drama The Glory. When part one aired it was the biggest show in Korea, and a hit internationally, too — including here in Canada. Netflix announced 2023 will be their biggest year yet when it comes to Korean content: dramas, movies and reality shows. Bina Lee tells Elamin what all the commotion around K-Dramas is about.

Netflix is about to crackdown on people who share their passwords — which means, just about everyone currently using the streaming service. TV journalist Alison Herman joins Elamin to talk about how and whether, as the internet predicts, it will backfire. Plus, longtime hip-hop journalist Jerry L. Barrow looks back on the legacy of 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' debut album, and how one of the biggest selling debuts of all time holds up 20 years later.

Friday Wrap Panel featuring Teri Hart and Rad Simonpillai: Channing Tatum's final installment in the Magic Mike franchise, Magic Mike's Last Dance, takes the floor this weekend in theatres. Plus, AMC Theatres in the U.S. is taking a page from the airline industry's playbook with their new ticket pricing, and with the beloved character Winnie the Pooh entering the public domain, the Hundred Acre Wood's most famous resident is starring in new adventures — including the upcoming horror film Blood and Honey.