Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Film critics Corey Atad, Kaiya Shunyata, and Hanna Flint join the Group Chat to talk about the remarkable success of the low-budget horror movie ‘Obsession’ (which recently became the first film since E.T. to see its box office numbers rise week-over-week in its first three weeks), and how a new generation of YouTube-reared filmmakers are changing the Hollywood game. The panel will also discuss Ap...

With Jay-Z making his return to the concert stage at this year’s Roots Picnic and Serena Williams also announcing her return to the tennis court, Elamin is joined by culture critics Jay Smooth, Taryn Finley and Ian Kamau to react to these moments and what they might tell us about the role retirement plays in the lives of our great performers.

Recruitment in the Canadian Armed Forces is seeing a bit of a boom right now. It’s at a 30-year high. That could be because of a new sense of nationalism or the economy. But another part of this equation could be the Forces’ new recruitment videos. Fast-paced and action-packed, the videos are heavily coded with gaming culture and Hollywood movies. Writer Kawika Guillermo talks to Elamin Abdelmahmo...

The literary world is in an uproar after a prize-winning short story was accused of being AI-generated. But was it? How easy is it really to tell if a piece of creative writing is AI? Writers Innocent Chizaram Ilo and Jen Sookfong Lee join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the environment of fear and paranoia around AI in the writing world.  Plus, the new Bell Fibe 1 TV series ‘Destinati...

Heated Rivalry wins big at the Canadian Screen Awards, taking home 16 awards. Elamin is joined by film critic Radheyan Simonpillai and filmmaker/culture critic Sonya Ballantyne to talk about the wins, losses and surprises from the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards and what this year’s broadcast might say about the state of film and television in Canada right now. Plus, when Kane Parson was 16, his short...

The vibe shift around Artificial Intelligence is happening. The Pope released his manifesto warning that AI poses a threat to humanity. Meanwhile, our social feeds are filled with graduates booing mentions of AI at their commencement speeches. And more celebrities are speaking up. Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks with culture writer Amil Niazi and religious studies professor Judith Ellen Brunton about th...

t’s happening all over again -- a hockey romance based on a Canadian book series is taking over television. Off Campus is the number one show on Amazon Prime and it’s based on Toronto author Elle Kennedy’s romantic comedy novels. Gillian McKercher and Steve Dangle Glynn join guest host Amil Niazi to dive into the new series, and discuss how hockey’s place in pop culture is changing today. Plus, af...

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is a new AppleTV comedy-thriller starring Canadian actor Tatiana Maslany. Commotion guest host Amil Niazi is joined by film critic Radheyan Simonpillai and culture critic C.T. Jones to talk about the new series and why it's so polarizing for some audiences. Plus, over the past week, videos of an Olivia Rodrigo performance in Barcelona have gone viral largely due to her...

The big fashion story of the moment is Shein buying Everlane. The companies are total opposites: Shein is the king of ultra-fast fashion and Everlane marketed itself as an eco-conscious and ethical clothing brand. Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with Clare Press, the host of the sustainable fashion podcast, ‘Wardrobe Crisis’ about what this acquisition says about our relationship with sustainable clothi...

Held on May 24 in Las Vegas, the Enhanced Games is a rarity among international sporting competitions, in that it permits – and actively encourages – athletes to compete using performance enhancing drugs, thus earning the dubious nickname of the “Steroid Olympics.” Sports writers Morgan Campbell and Adam Skolnick discuss whether the games are just a silly spectacle, or a troubling bellwether of wh...

It’s the end of an era – when The Late Show with Stephen Colbert goes off the air (May 21). TV critic Eric Deggans, comedian Ashley Ray and political columnist Justin Ling join Elamin the morning after the finale to take stock of Colbert’s impact -- and the show that will fill his slot: Comics Unleashed.

With release of ‘I Love Boosters’ from Boots Riley and ‘Is God Is’ - the debut film from Aleshea Harris, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by film critic Sarah-Tai Black and culture critic Rania El Mugammar to discuss the buzz around these two releases and the different ways these two films explore themes like revenge and justice. Plus, the Canadian Grand Prix is this weekend! As Montreal gears up to...

After five critically acclaimed seasons, the superhero satire series ‘The Boys’ drops its final episode today. TV critics Kaiya Shunyata and Ben Rosenstock reflect on how the show reinvigorated the superhero genre with its real-world political commentary, and whether fans will be satisfied with the finale.

This past weekend the most anticipated MMA fight happened — Ronda Rousey v. Gina Carano, two pioneers of the sport, and the first matchup of its kind to stream live on Netflix. Pablo The Don from the Those Wrestling Girls podcast joined Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain why this fight is such a big deal, and what it means for Rousey and Carano.

Drake is the most-streamed artist in the world, but his best rap is about being an underdog. With three new albums out at once — Iceman, Maid of Honour and Habibti — Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by culture critics Matt Amha, Pablo The Don and We Love Hiphop podcast host Friday, to review the new releases and unpack Drake's place in music right now.

At the beginning of the new Canadian documentary ‘Modern Whore,’ Andrea Werhun asserts that sex workers have often been cast as victims or villains in pop culture. With so many examples of sex work on TV right now — from 'Hacks' and 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' to 'Euphoria' — the group chat takes stock of what's changed and how far we still have to go. Boarlord, Arabelle Raphael and Lux Alptraum...

A new movie about talking sheep who solve a murder case is making waves at the box office. Film critics Radheyan Simonpillai, Justine Smith and Kristy Puchko join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the crime comedy’s surprising buzz, plus what’s happening on the ground at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.

Once a small-scale private event for comedians, the celebrity roast has become a massive arena event live-streamed around the world on Netflix. Comedian/podcaster Ashley Ray and media personality Matt Hart talk to Elamin Abdelmahmoud about last weekend’s all-star roast of Kevin Hart and what it says about the state of comedy in 2026. Plus, a new Hallmark movie that premiered on CTV Life called 'Al...

After eight seasons, the time travel romance series 'Outlander' is coming to an end this week. Like its lead character, Outlander is stuck between two worlds: the harsh prestige TV of the last decade and on-screen romances of today. Culture critics Kathryn VanArendonk and Kayleigh Donaldson talk to Elamin Abdelmahmoud about how Outlander has stuck around despite never quite cracking the mainstream...

The Montreal Canadiens are the last Canadian team left in the NHL playoffs. But before you start calling them “Canada’s team,” let’s be clear, this is Quebec’s team. Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks with Montreal Gazette writer Brendan Kelly who wrote the book 'Habs Nation: A People's History of The Montreal Canadiens' and Biz, a rapper whose Habs anthem is everywhere right now. They’ll talk about the te...

The new musical 'It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken' uses the Tragically Hip’s songbook to tell the story of an Iraqi immigrant adapting to his new home in Canada in the early 2000s in Kingston, Ontario. Globe and Mail critic Aisling Murphy and theatre historian Karen Fricker chat with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about how the Hip’s songs translate to the musical-theatre format.

The Big Five answers the most pressing question of our time: what are the “Big 5” of any given category? Not the best 5. Not the top 5. Not anyone’s favourite 5. But objectively, the Big 5. In each episode, Donovan Woods, Tom Power, and a celebrity guest tackle new topics and debate things like: what are the Big 5 farm animals? Types of hats? Slang terms for “butt”? Ways to cook a potato? In this...

Half Man, from the creator of Baby Reindeer Richard Gadd, a new adaptation of Lord Of The Flies, and a surprise capsule episode of The Bear are talking about the dark side of masculinity in really interesting ways. Culture critics Hanna Flint, Jackson Weaver and novelist Ben Purkert join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain how they illuminate what’s wrong with masculinity right now.

The Toronto Tempo open their season at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Friday, making history as Canada’s first team in the WNBA. Sports journalists Shireen Ahmed and Savanna Hamilton join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to break down the roster and predict who will get the honour of becoming Toronto’s rival team. Also, in the mid-2000s, the artist M.I.A. was hailed as the ultimate progressive pop star with a forward-t...

If you read headlines saying The Onion wants to take over InfoWars, Alex Jones’ far-right conspiracy talk show, no one would blame you for thinking it was all a big joke. But it’s true: last Friday, the satirical news site released its first parody of the show with new host, Tim Heidecker. The comedian did an uncanny impression of Alex Jones. Journalist Justin Ling and comedian Ashley Ray join Ela...