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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Hulk Hogan, one of the most famous American professional wrestlers and a cultural icon of the ‘80s, has died at the age of 71. He is being remembered for the way he raised the profile of the sport and his unforgettable crossover into mainstream culture at large, but also for his history of hateful behaviour. Today on Commotion, wrestling fans Pablo the Don and Damian Abraham join Elamin to unpack Hulk Hogan’s complicated legacy.
NPR writer Eric Deggans, entertainment reporter Teri Hart, and Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko join the Group Chat to talk about whether the new Fantastic Four movie can reverse Marvel’s recent slump; the subversive new romcom ‘Oh Hi!’, and the pop-cultural impact of Hulk Hogan and Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, both of whom died this week.
Toronto rocker Danko Jones, culture critic Niko Stratis, music journalist Melissa Vincent join guest host Eli Glasner to talk about the legacy of the late Ozzy Osbourne.
The executive director of the Giller Prize says that Canada’s most prestigious literary award will be forced to close if they don’t get millions of dollars from the federal government. This comes after the Gillers cut ties with its former lead sponsor because of its connection to an Israeli arms manufacturer. Marsha Lederman joins Commotion guest host Eli Glasner to talk about why it’s such a predictable outcome, and what’s at stake for CanLit. Plus, when CBS announced that 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' would be ending in 2026, the news was not taken lying down by late night TV hosts — the least of all Jon Stewart. Culture writer Devin Gordon talks to Eli about the fallout from the cancellation, and why it took Colbert getting axed to bring out late night’s fiery side again.
Today on Commotion, culture writers Sarah Hunter Simanson and Megan Angelo join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the Amazon Prime Video series that has turned viewers of all generations into fans: 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Plus, in recent weeks, the existential threat of climate change has had tangible impacts on the live-music industry—the 2025 edition of Bonnaroo was shut down due to inclement weather, and veteran rocker Steve Miller just cancelled his summer tour due to concerns over extreme heat and storms. Variety reporter Jem Aswad discusses how the industry is adapting to this new normal.
Vinson Cunningham and Kate Lindsay join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about Substack, and how the online newsletter platform has positioned itself as the future of media. Plus, Syrus Marcus Ware and Alessandra Nacarrato celebrate the legacy of the late Andrea Gibson, the spoken word poet whose work and politics transcended the world of poetry.
Culture critics Dylan Green, Rad Simonpillai and Alison Willmore join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to the news that Stephen Colbert's late night talk show is being cancelled. Plus, the group chat weighs in on Ari Aster's Eddington, a dark comedy western about how the pandemic changed the ways we relate to each other, and the gossip-y reasons a couple at a Coldplay concert went viral.
Culture critics Joshua Chong and Jim Provenzano join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about Luigi: The Musical, the satirical prison show inspired by Luigi Mangione that's on a sold out run in San Francisco.
Plus, La Presse reporter Dominic Tardiff talks about why more than half of the albums on this year's Polaris Prize shortlist are by Quebec artists.
Four years after releasing his 2021 blockbuster Justified, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber surprised fans by dropping his new album, Swag, this past weekend mere hours after announcing it. Music journalists Emilie Hanskamp, Natalie Harmsen, and Reanna Cruz explain how the album’s off-the-cuff, experimental sound reflects the recent upheavals in the singer’s life, including new fatherhood, a highly publicized split from manager Scooter Braun, alterations with paparazzi, and his increased openness about his mental health.
With the release of the latest Superman reboot - Elamin is joined by Siddhant Adlakha and Sonya Ballantyne to discuss how the film holds up against past Superman films, the conservative backlash, and what the movie says about the future of the DC franchise under director James Gunn. And are we at Peak Labubu? Do you know what that means? Internet Culture Journalist Alyssa Mercante joins us to explain its brave new world of status, demonic accusations, and how something so ubiquitous can be so hard to get.
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