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 Netflix’s debuting its revival of the popular series ‘A Different World’ - Elamin is joined by culture critic Kathleen Newman-Bremang and film/tv critic Sarah-Tai black to discuss the show’s new characters, direction and ongoing legacy.
Plus, Marc Masters, host of ‘The Music Book Podcast,' discusses ‘The Last Temptation of Beck: The Untold Story of a Pop Messiah,’ a new unauthorized biography that explores the influence of Scientology on the alternative rock star’s life and career, and how he’s largely shielded that aspect of his past from the public.
U.S. tariffs have thrown the Canadian art market into chaos. Guest host Rad Simponpillai speaks with Globe and Mail reporter Josh O’Kane, and Quebec artist Jennifer Lefort about how Canadian artists, dealers and gallerists are being affected, and getting creative to deal with this new reality.
Plus, book blogger Dani Roulette talks about how author Eden Robinson draws from her own Haisla and Heiltsuk background, as well as bringing in inspiration from Indigenous cultures from across the Pacific Northwest, to create the fictional planet in her new novel The Sorceress of Sky Serpents.
With season one of HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ wrapping up, culture critics David Dennis Jr. and Hanna Flint review the series, and talk with guest host Rad Simonpillai about how it measures up against other releases from James Gunn’s DC Universe.
Plus, CBC Books’ Talia Kliot talks about the five books on the Giller shortlist, and the changes to the Giller Prize jury this year.
Film critics Adam Nayman, Hanna Flint, and Kaiya Shunyata join guest host Rad Simonpillai to discuss the new Tom Cruise political satire ‘Digger,’ the erotic thriller ‘Verity’ starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, and Netflix’s new miniseries adaptation of John Steinbeck’s ‘East of Eden.’
The new animated film Forgotten Island follows a pair of best friends who, right as they’re about to begin the next chapter of their lives post-high school, find themselves pulled into a mythical world full of monsters. Set in the Philippines in the ’90s and 2000s, the film puts Filipino culture and folklore front and centre. Filmmaker and musician Romeo Candido and film critic Kristy Puchko join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to review the coming-of-age adventure, and whether it could be the next KPop Demon Hunters.
Plus, with calypso lovers across the world mourning the death of the Mighty Sparrow, Juno-nominated musician and calypso history archivist Jesse Ryan discusses the legacy of the undisputed King of Calypso.
We're seeing new public works from Indigenous artists pop up all over Canada. They're big, outdoor installations from artists like Cheyenne Rain LeGrande, Brain Jungen and Kent Monkman. Celina Yellowbird and Reneltta Arluk join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about these works, and how public art can help further reconciliation.
Media giant Black Entertainment Television has deleted all of its digital articles from its website as part of its move to prioritize video content. Journalist Dalton Higgins and hip-hop broadcaster Jay Smooth join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to the news and its larger ramifications for the preservation of Black pop culture.
Plus, film critic David Ehrlich talks with guest host Radheyan Simonpillai about the Resident Evil movie and what makes it a successful video game adaptation.
The new Netflix reality series 'Wonka's Golden Ticket' is based on the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory universe and features an A.I. recreation of the voice of the late Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka in the original 1971 film version. TV critics Alison Herman and culture writer Anne T. Donahue join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss why the series may be a new low for reality competition shows.
Plus, the new book ‘Save A Seat For Me: Notes on Black Fatherhood’ dedicates a chapter to Black TV dads. Author Mark Anthony Neal looks at some of the noteworthy portrayals of Black fatherhood on the small screen over the past 50 years.
Elamin is joined by film and TV critics Jackson Weaver, Sarah-Tai Black and Roxana Hadadi to discuss the growing buzz and critical acclaim surrounding the feature film and directorial debuts from Lance Oppenheim (Primetime) and John Wilson (The History of Concrete).
The Tamil Canadian actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's career has been on a roll since her breakout performance in Never Have I Ever. Now she’s starring in the new Netflix movie Best of the Best. And while many critics like the movie, some Sri Lankans are mobilizing to review bomb it – and everything else she’s been involved with. Nedra Rodrigo, founder of the Tamil Studies Symposium at York University and CBC journalist Joyita Sengupta join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to explain the controversy, and the consequences.
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