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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With Penske Media Company’s acquisition of several key publications and award shows, Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai is joined by entertainment media critics Jarrod Jenkins and Teri Hart to discuss the rise of PMC and the impact its acquisitions could have on entertainment journalism. And New York Times movie critic Alissa Wilkinson talks about why the movie musical The Testament of Ann Lee is flying under the radar.
After winning lots of fans and awards in its first season, HBO’s medical drama 'The Pitt' is back for another 15-hour shift. Culture critics Nicholas Quah and Sophie Gilbert join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about how the show continues to use the ER as the setting for social commentary and whether fans will enjoy season 2. And MC and writer Rollie Pemberton gives his take on A$AP Rocky's new record, 'Don’t Be Dumb.'
Elamin is joined by culture critics Marlon Palmer, Roxana Hadadi and CBC Entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver to discuss ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’, season four of the hit reality series, ‘The Traitors,’ and the debates sparked by an exchange on the CBC’s ‘Dragons' Den’ about gourmet Jamaican patties.
While sports and betting have always gone hand-in-hand, the gambling industry has started infiltrating all corners of the entertainment world, establishing a presence in everything from Golden Globes telecasts to Roblox games. Tech culture writers Alyssa Mercante and Matthew Frank discuss how gambling is changing the way we consume arts and entertainment, and what the long-term impacts could be.
Plus, trouble is brewing inside CBS News in the months since Bari Weiss officially became editor in chief. Elamin talks to The Guardian’s Jeremy Barr about what’s driving the tension, and why it’s permeating beyond the network.
With The Giller Prize announcing that for the first time its jury will consist of seven booksellers and no authors, Elamin is joined by Another Story Bookshop manager Anju Gogia to react to the news, and how this new approach might shape the outcome of the prize this year.
Plus, remembering Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir – with his friend Dan Kanter. They met backstage at a Justin Bieber show – Dan will tell Elamin how that encounter sparked a deep friendship, jam sessions, and a new understanding of the meaning of life.
One of Canada’s most prestigious orchestras is facing a moment of reckoning. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra says it will no longer use non-disclosure agreements in cases involving sexual misconduct. Elamin talks to Globe & Mail reporter Robyn Doolittle and violinist Lara St. John on how we got here, and what still needs to happen for real change inside the rigid, secretive world of classical music.
The 83rd Golden Globes were held in Los Angeles last night, providing an early gauge as to which films and actors have the momentum heading into Oscars season. Entertainment reporters Teri Hart and Chris Murphy join Elamin to discuss the most memorable moments from last night’s telecast.
Plus, with the premiere of season four of the acclaimed series 'Industry’ - Elamin is joined by Guardian TV critic Hannah J Davies to discuss the show’s latest season and the series’ growing popularity.
There has never been a bigger Canadian show than Heated Rivalry – and people everywhere are obsessed. Culture critics Cassandra Morann, Jason P Frank and Lainey Lui join Elamin to take stock of how the gay hockey show became such a massive global phenomenon, and where it goes from here.
Are we in an era of insufferable TV dialogue? Screenwriter and show-runner Anthony Q. Farrell and culture writer Kathryn VanArendonk talk to Elamin about why writers are dumbing down dialogue, and what impact it’s having on storytelling and the viewing experience.
Plus, from the late ‘70s into the ‘80s, the free-form Toronto radio station CFNY was a crucial incubator of alternative music that introduced trailblazing British bands like The Cure and New Order to North American audiences, while nurturing Canada’s own indie-music culture. A new TVO documentary explores CFNY’s groundbreaking impact and eventual absorption into the commercial corporate-radio system, and music journalist Liisa Ladouceur explains how the documentary reflects her own experiences as an avid listener, and why the CFNY story still resonates today.
The new year kicked off with some big stories from the world of hip hop. There's the petition to have Nicki Minaj deported to Trinidad, Drake is facing a lawsuit over an alleged gambling scheme, and the controversy surrounding comments made by Adin Ross towards Doechii. Culture critics Pablo The Don, Jay Smooth and El Jones join Elamin Abdelmahoud to dig into this week’s biggest stories.
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