Diving into queer thriller Love Lies Bleeding, the SXSW boycott and Justin Timberlake's comeback attempt, Everything I Thought It Was

What happens to TikTok now? And the new Bon Jovi docu-series: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Why Burton Cummings is trying to stop his old band from playing his songs: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

24 min listen

Why people can't stop thinking about Baby Reindeer, and the plight of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Weinstein's court win, and Zendaya's moment in Challengers: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

28 min listen

The lasting influence of soul artist Jackie Shane: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Commotion Introduces: Split Screen: Kid Nation: 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 c by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

37 min listen

Unpacking the Shōgun finale, and can we Scrabble Together?: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Do true crime stories help or exploit? And unpacking Drake's new diss track: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

How theatres are being tricked by AI, and the dark comedy The Sympathizer comes to TV: 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 talks to Inverse entertainment editor Hoai-Tran Bui about how the dark comedy thriller translates to TV. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Diving into Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

27 min listen

An Israeli artist's statement on the world's biggest art stage: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Civil War is at the top of the box office, but what is it trying to say?: Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Omar El Akkad unpack Alex Garland’s new film "Civil War." by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

24 min listen

How covering O.J. Simpson reshaped entertainment: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Kill Tony is one of the biggest comedy shows right now, and The People's Joker is finally out: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Fallout, Netflix's Ripley, and J.Cole's diss track saga and whether artist rivalries make for better art: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

26 min listen

Scoop and the interview that ended Prince Andrew’s career: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

A searching conversation with Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha: 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 <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/01/a-palestinian-poets-perilous-journey-out-of-gaza" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">essay </a>for The New Yorker about his harrowing journey out of Gaza. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

22 min listen

Where did all the blunt cultural criticism go?, and trouble in the small press world: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

WrestleMania 40 was a turning point for WWE: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

26 min listen

Jerrod Carmichael's new show is so uncomfortable, and Dev Patel's directorial debut: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

28 min listen

The evolution of Kurt Cobain's legacy, and Robert Lepage's SLAM!: 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 Domenic Tardiff tells you about the day he spent with Quebec theatre giant Robert Lepage talking about his passion for wrestling, and his new exhibit. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

37 min listen

How Jewish creators are navigating their work after Jonathan Glazer's Oscars speech: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

A deep dive into Beyoncé and the ambition of Cowboy Carter: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

How did the Bible become cool again?: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Can artists still make it in Halifax?: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

28 min listen

A startling look at parenting influencers, and Richard Serra's legacy on the art world: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

24 min listen

Without corporate title sponsors, can Canada's cultural festivals survive?: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

23 min listen

A look back at the history of Freaknik, and examining Israel's entries into Eurovision: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

24 min listen

Recapping the 2024 Junos — Canada's biggest night in music!: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, comedy's man of the moment Ramy Youssef and new horror flick Immaculate: 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. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

25 min listen

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Diving into queer thriller Love Lies Bleeding, the SXSW boycott and Justin Timberlake's comeback attempt, Everything I Thought It Was

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