Stay ConnectedBig laughs. Smart takes. Every day. Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts & entertainment stories of the day, in 30 minutes or less.
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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-thinking, global-spanning sound and pointed messaging about colonialism, racism, and the refugee experience. However, in recent years, her politics have taken a noticeable turn to the right, endorsing Donald Trump and wading into conspiracy theories. This week, Kid Cudi fired M.I.A. from his tour after statements she made onstage. Music journalist Reanna Cruz explains how M.I.A. went from vanguard artist to persona non grata.
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 Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the ‘new’ InfoWars and whether satire can still speak to this political moment.
Also, Iran just dropped out of the Venice Biennale. That's after the exhibition's entire jury resigned amid tensions over Israel and Russia. Arts reporter Kate Brown unpacks the various controversies swirling around this year's exhibition. She also profiles the artist representing Canada, Abbas Akhavan.
This year, the conversation about the Met Gala was less about looks, and more about the outrage. Billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos were the main sponsors and honorary chairs at this year’s ball, proving the most prestigious night in the fashion world can be bought. But can taste? Elamin Abdelmahmoud gets into it with fashion writer Joan Summers and culture writer Amil Niazi.
And the film ‘Blue Heron’ by Canadian director Sophy Romvari tells the story of a family tragedy and how childhood memories of a summer can loom over one’s life. Exclaim film editor Rachel Ho shares why it's already one of her favourite movies this year.
When was the last time you watched a romantic comedy in theatres? Rolling Stone's CT Jones joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to break down why studio execs are putting rom-coms on streaming platforms instead.
And FIFA’s rules around what other events can be held during the tournament means organizers of summer festivals in Toronto and Vancouver have to change their plans. Dominic Lai with Dragon Boat BC explains why the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, North America’s largest dragon boat festival, is cancelled this summer.
Elamin is joined by culture critics Joan Summers, Lainey Lui and Taryn Finley to discuss ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, the new album 'Middle of Nowhere' from Kacey Musgraves and the online buzz around the breakup between Megan Thee Stallion and NBA player Klay Thompson.
The romance genre is booming in Canadian literature. From romantasy to sports smut to paranormal erotica, readers are flocking to romance-themed bookstores and Booktok to share their love for spice. Deborah Aarts and Nathan Maharaj join Elamin to discuss what’s driving the romance surge and how its popularity could be changing the way readers and publishers value the genre.
Plus, Ella Langley’s surprise hit song 'Choosin' Texas' was at the top of both the Billboard pop and country charts for months. Country music journalist Marissa Moss explains why song is dominant.
New legislation in Ontario makes it illegal to resell tickets to concerts and sporting events above their face value. The aim is to clamp down on a lucrative resale market blamed for high ticket costs. Billboard Canada reporter Richard Trapunski and public-policy analyst Vass Bednar explain why this law is being enacted right now, what it means for the ticket-buying experience going forward and why the scourge of high ticket prices is a problem too complex for any one piece of legislation to solve.
Plus, with the FIFA World Cup kicking off in just over six weeks in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, it’s an interesting time for the BBC’s ‘Twenty Twenty Six’ to land in North America. The ‘W1A’ spin-off mockumentary series follows a team in Miami helping plan the world’s biggest soccer tournament. CBC Sports’ Shireen Ahmed chats about the satirical show.
'Yesteryear', the debut novel of Caro Claire Burke, follows a tradwife influencer who posts about her idyllic farm life to millions of followers. But when she wakes up in 1855, she learns what it's really like for women living in the past. Amil Niazi, author of 'Life After Ambition', and essayist Charlie Tyson join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about how 'Yesteryear' takes on tradwives — the online trend where women dedicate themselves to the "traditional work" of wifehood on the homestead over the rat race of modern life.
Plus, Charli XCX got people talking when she shared an unreleased song with British Vogue with the lyric, "I think the dance floor is dead, so now we’re making rock music.” Niko Stratis, author of 'The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman', talks about the cultural shift to rock music and Charli XCX's decision to to put 'Brat' behind her.
With the release of 'Michael', the biopic on the King of Pop, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Black pop expert Prof. Mark Anthony Neal, film critic Sarah-Tai Black and culture critic Jay Smooth to discuss how it handles the high, lows and controversies of Michael Jackson's legacy.
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