Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Film critics Corey Atad, Sarah-Tai Black, and Justine Smith join the Group Chat to talk about the new Canadian indie horror film Son of Sara: Vol. 1, and why the horror genre seems to be thriving in Canada right now. They’ll also weigh in on the nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards, and pay tribute to Quebec screen star Marc Messier, who died this week at age 78.

Little House on the Prairie has been adapted countless times, and Netflix is adding their modern retelling into the Laura Ingalls Wilder canon. TV critics Johnnie Jae and Kathryn VanArendonk join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about what Little House on the Prairie has meant to the generations who grew up with it, and how much has changed with the representation of Osage characters in sho...

Have you ever been to a friend’s house for dinner and suddenly realized they were fighting with their partner right before you walked through the door? That’s where Olivia Wilde’s latest movie, The Invite, begins and the tension never lets up - but does it deliver? Adam Nayman and Teri Hart stop by Commotion to give us their take on the new relationship comedy-drama. Plus, CBC sports reporter Morg...

The only large photochemical film lab in Canada is slated to close .. and film lovers are lobbying the owners to reverse their decision. Film professor Michael Yaroshevsky says that if MELS closes in Montreal – it’s not just the loss of an essential service … it’s going to weaken cinema in this country as we know it.  Plus, Playstation announced it will discontinue making video games on physi...

Canada is only one game away from the World Cup quarter-finals. All eyes will be on their match against Morocco this weekend. On Monday, CBC’s Shireen Ahmed and Zameer Karim join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about this pivotal game for Canada, and reflect on Toronto and Vancouver’s experiences as host cities as their hosting duties officially wind down. Plus, Lainey Lui checks in her re...

Music journalist Emilie Hanskamp, broadcaster Garvia Bailey, and culture writer Mel Woods join the Friday Group Chat to discuss Canada joining the Eurovision song contest; Madonna’s long-awaited new album Confessions II; and a documentary about trailblazing Canadian queer rock icon Carole Pope.

"Nirvanna the Band: A comedy about Matt and Jay, a duo unrelated to the legendary band Nirvana, who devise a ridiculous plan to build a time machine for a performance and travel back 17 years to when they first met" is the full translated title for the Korean version of the Canadian hit film "Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie." Michelle Cho talks with guest host Radheyan Simonpillai about how a...

It's Canada Day, which means the first half of the year is over. Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by culture critics Jackson Weaver, Riley Yesno and Eugénie Lépine-Blondeau to look back on the Canadian artists making the biggest impact on pop culture this year so far (Hudson Williams! Drake! Charlotte Cardin! Matt Johnson! Angine de Poitrine!) and what they are most looking forward to in the next hal...

Culture critics Matt Hart and Niko Stratis talk to Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai about the enduring appeal of the Jackass franchise, and what it teaches us about male friendship, vulnerability, and getting older.  Plus, CBC senior contributor Morgan Campbell discusses ‘Overture,’ the first new album in almost 10 years from Canadian R&B artist Glenn Lewis.

Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai is joined by culture critic Sonya Ballantyne and CBC film critic Jackson Weaver to discuss 'Supergirl’ - the latest installment in James Gunn’s DC Universe franchise. Also, the newly opened Museum of Animated Film in Annecy, France includes a permanent exhibition of works created by Canada’s National Film Board—including two works by Montreal-based Oscar-n...

With the CN Tower celebrating its 50th birthday today, culture writers Michael Barclay, Niko Stratis, and Dalton Higgins reflect on the various ways—from Drake to Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie—the tower has shown up in pop culture over the years, and how it remains a potent symbol of Canadian identity even for people far outside Toronto. 

Siphe November took his final bow as principal dancer at the National Ballet of Canada in Wayne McGregor’s adaptation of MADDADDAM this past weekend. As Siphe prepares to join the Dutch National Ballet as soloist, culture critic Syrus Marcus Ware and ballet critic Martha Schabas join Elamin to talk about his meteoric rise at the National Ballet and the pressure he’s faced as the second Black dance...

Saint Jean Baptiste Day is the day when Quebec celebrates what makes it distinct. But this year, more young Quebecers are embracing the idea of an independent Quebec. Culture writers Eugenie Lepine Blondeau and Dominc Tardiff join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the culture that’s coming out of the sovereignty movement. Plus, Elamin is joined by pop culture academic Professor Mark Anthony Neal t...

Following Canada’s resounding victory over Qatar Thursday, it’s safe to say World Cup fever has finally taken hold across the nation. In advance of this week’s match-up against Switzerland, CBC sports reporters Shireen Ahmed and Laurence Watt explain how the World Cup is resonating with Canadians at this moment, be it on the streets of the host cities or through viral social-media moments.  P...

With the release of Toy Story 5 Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai is joined by CBC film critic Jackson Weaver and Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko to review this latest installment in the popular franchise -- and how it holds up amongst past releases. Is the culture really shifting away from smart phones? Are landlines becoming a thing again? Internet culture journalist Kate Lindsay...

Ahead of National Indigenous People’s Day, Cree radio producer Kaitlyn Swan, nêhiyaw musician Marek Tyler, and Anishinaabe writer Riley Yesno join the Group Chat to talk about the new album from Anishinaabe artist Zoon, and the Indigenous indie-rock artists experimenting with the noisy-yet-soothing sounds of 'moccasin gaze.' The group chat also shares their thoughts on the recently revealed Polari...

After the New York Knicks won its first NBA championship in 53 years the city will celebrate on Thursday with a massive parade. Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by culture critic and New Yorker Jay Smooth to talk about what this win means to him as a fan. But also, the moment this win is landing in. Jay talks about the current political climate surrounding these big ticket sporting events, including...

Founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize Scott Griffin joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud in-studio for a feature conversation – about recent changes to the prize, elevating Canadian poets and the power of poetry at a time when writers are struggling to find an audience. Also, the CBC just announced it's getting out of the business of broadcasting NHL games. That's after the CBC was unable to agree on a new sub...

Rezervations for Two, hosted by Kairyn Potts and Scott Wabano, is the first ever reality dating show exclusively for Indigenous folks. With the first season set in Winnipeg and kicking off this month, culture critics Riley Yesno and Sonya Ballantyne join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to share their thoughts on the show’s unique (read: less toxic) approach to love and dating on reality TV. Also,...

Olivia Rodrigo’s third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, begins with a love story, and ends with a break up. Music critics Melissa Vincent and Niko Stratis join guest host Amil Niazi to dig into the new record, which includes a rare feature from The Cure’s Robert Smith. Plus, Elamin is joined by culture critic and publicist Dalton Higgins to look back on the legacy of Monica Lewis...

Film critics Radheyan Simonpillai, Adam Nayman and Ashley Ray join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to weigh in on Steven Spielberg’s latest sci-fi epic, Disclosure Day, RuPaul’s drag action comedy Stop! That! Train!, and the controversy surrounding the Obsession art director who went viral for revealing she made less than $7,000 working the low-budget horror hit, which is expected to make over $250 million at...

This year’s World Cup is the biggest in FIFA history, with 48 countries playing 104 matches across 16 cities. And for the first time ever – it’s being hosted by three countries: Canada, the United States and Mexico. And while this World Cup was supposed to represent a massive show of unity, it has become something else altogether. Soccer fan and Commotion host Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by thre...

It's not often you have this kind of Cinderella story in the Canadian book world. Carley Fortune's debut novel came out in 2022. Since then, she's written four more romances and all five are bestsellers. Now her debut novel is a tv series on Prime Video. Romance fans CT Jones and Jessica Sorrentino chat with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about 'Every Year After' and how the setting of Ontario's cottage coun...

Culture critic Jay Smooth joins Elamin to discuss two new docs that are out. First, HBO's Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs That's the Weight of the World) - plus he unpacks the new Netflix docuseries, Michael Jackson: The Verdict. Plus, the Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry announced a new 10-year endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning. While he’s not the first American...

An unauthorized musical parody of Heated Rivalry is taking the theatre world by storm. Theatre critic Juan Ramirez and Canadian musical theatre actor Mitch Wood join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain why it’s such a smash success, and they’ll weigh in on the Tony Awards – the morning after they’re handed out.  Plus, Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans are mourning the passing of British actor Anthony...