Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Today on Commotion, guest host Amil Niazi sits down with Jesse Wente to talk about his friend, the iconic Canadian actor Graham Greene, who died Monday in Stratford, Ont., at the age of 73. Plus, critics Eric Deggans, Rachel Ho and Kathryn VanArendonk join Amil to talk about the most anticipated fall TV shows.

Vass Bednar, a tech and policy expert, and Siva Vaidhyanathan, a media studies professor, dive into the crisis of our shrinking attention spans. They discuss how smartphones shift our relationship with art and literature, advocating for deeper engagement over superficial consumption. The guests share strategies to combat digital distractions, emphasizing mindfulness and authentic reading. They also critique how modern media manipulates our focus, highlighting that shallow engagement can hinder societal awareness and artistic appreciation.

It’s the end of the week, and what a week it's been in pop music. There’s a new Sabrina Carpenter album, a new album from The Beaches, and that casual engagement announcement that broke the internet. Culture critics Reanna Cruz, Natalie Harmsen and Fran Hoepfner join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to unpack it all.

Users of AI chatbots like ChatGPT are turning them into friends and romantic partners, some are even falling in love. Kashmir Hill, technology reporter for the New York Times, chats with Elamin about how the new version of ChatGPT has left some users with a broken heart. And Globe and Mail TV critic J. Kelly Nestruck makes the case that the Canadian public broadcaster shouldn’t be remaking the original French language shows it creates in Quebec, instead make the originals easily available with subtitles.

Riley Yesno, an Anishinaabe writer and researcher, joins Elle Jones, a poet and political professor, to dissect the YouTube series 'Surrounded.' They evaluate its unique debate format that may prioritize divisiveness over genuine dialogue. Discussing a controversial immigration debate, they examine media's role in shaping discourse. The conversation touches on how alternative formats influence public engagement and the rise of rage bait culture, while also reflecting on the importance of empathy and personal storytelling in bridging ideological divides.

Alex Nino-Getsu, an entertainment reporter for the Canadian Press, dives into the ramifications of TikTok's shutdown in Canada, especially for artists like the Beaches and bbno$. He discusses how this decision impacts creators' visibility and highlights pressing concerns about national security and data privacy. The conversation also shifts to the excitement surrounding 'Tell Tale Harbour,' a new musical inspired by 'The Grand Seduction,' which has become a hit at the Charlottetown Festival and is set for a Toronto debut, exploring small-town struggles and healthcare challenges.

Author Jael Richardson and sports journalist Shireen Ahmed join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about the U.S. Open’s newest venture: a reality dating show set at the grand slam tennis tournament. Also, with Mac DeMarco releasing his first proper album in six years, ‘Guitar,’ his old friend Rollie Pemberton, a.k.a. Cadence Weapon, explains how the impish kid he knew in the Edmonton underground scene became one of the most successful indie musicians in North America. 

Korean-culture writer Regina Kim, film critic Rachel Ho, and CBC entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver join the Group Chat to discuss the massive impact of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters as it transitions to the big screen; and whether the new English-dub version of the hugely successful Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 will translate into North American success. 

With the release of ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ the latest collab between Oscar-winners Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by culture critic Jay Smooth and film critic Sarah-Tai Black to discuss the reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic film, and where it stands amongst past Spike-Denzel movies. Also, as Oasis gets set to perform in Toronto, Guardian writer Rich Pelley talks about all the Oasis cover bands from across the globe he got a chance to interview -- including one right here in Canada. 

It's been a year since the viral meme of Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun hit the internet. Now we’ve got a musical about a dancer called 'Spraygun' at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Australian journalist Sean Tarek Goodwin talks about the show.