

Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
CBC
Big 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.Subscribe to Sounds Good: CBC's Podcasts newsletter for the finest podcast recommendations and behind-the-scenes exclusives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 30, 2024 • 26min
From Jennifer Lopez to The Black Keys, why aren't concerts selling well?
In recent weeks, big-name acts like The Black Keys, Jennifer Lopez, and Bad Bunny have either cancelled shows or reorganized their tours reportedly due to low ticket sales. Are these merely isolated setbacks, or do they point to a more troubling future for the big-ticket concert industry in the streaming age? Music journalists Jem Aswad and Maura Johnston will explain the challenges even popular acts are facing in the current climate. Plus, film critic David Ehrlich joins Elamin to discuss the buzz surrounding the film 'Universal Language' at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

May 29, 2024 • 26min
What's the way out of Hollywood's box office crisis?
The summer blockbuster was back last year with Barbie and Oppenheimer killing it at the box office. This year is a very different story. Culture critics Bilge Ebiri and Kristy Puchko imagine a future where theatres are full, if only studios started taking a few risks.

May 28, 2024 • 25min
Can 50 Cent be trusted with the upcoming Diddy documentary? And Netflix's big bet on Korean TV
Elamin is joined by culture critics Jay Connor and Tayo Bero to talk about how following a bidding war, rapper 50 Cent clinches a deal with Netflix to distribute his upcoming documentary chronicling the career of beleaguered rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Plus, Regina Kim talks about how Netflix and other streaming services disrupted the Korean television industry.

May 27, 2024 • 25min
The finale of the Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, and the King’s portrait
Elamin is joined by culture critic Jackson Weaver and comedian Cassie Cao to react to the season finale of ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show’ and what Jerrod’s approach to mining his own personal trauma for this series could say about the shifting line between comedy, reality shows and their audiences. Plus, we get into the controversy around recent portraits of King Charles and the Princess of Wales with the artist Erin Finley, who says the reaction says a lot about the divided times we live in.

May 24, 2024 • 29min
Did Apple Music's list of 100 Best Albums make you mad?
Elamin is joined by culture writers Niko Stratis, Suzy Exposito, and Dalton Higgins to talk about Apple Music’s controversial 100 Best Albums list

May 23, 2024 • 25min
How Black Twitter changed the culture
Commotion regulars Marlon Palmer and Syrus Marcus Ware join Elamin to talk about a new docuseries called 'Black Twitter: A People's History,' and how a community transformed pop culture and became a force for change on Twitter (now X). Plus, psychotherapist Jhanelle Peters talks about a new trend, TikTok Therapy.

May 22, 2024 • 25min
Billie Eilish is a different kind of pop star
Elamin is joined by Aisling Murphy and Reanna Cruz to review 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' - the latest album from Billie Eilish. Plus, Scarlett Johansson said no to Open AI when they asked if they could license her voice to be its new virtual assistant. But despite her refusal, the latest ChatGPT voice sounds a lot like hers. Open AI has pulled it – for now. But they say that any resemblance to the real Scarlett is coincidental. So - how similar is too similar? Elamin is joined by L.A. Times Editor and Commotion regular Alyssa Bereznak.

May 21, 2024 • 25min
Megalopolis, Furiosa, and all the highlights from Cannes 2024
Elamin is joined by film critics Rad Simonpillai and Hoai-Tran Bui to talk about some of the highlights at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

May 20, 2024 • 24min
How Stax Records changed music forever
Elamin is joined by Rob Bowman, Ericka Blount and TJ Armour to discuss the historic legacy of Stax Records with the release of the new documentary "Stax: Soulsville U.S.A."

May 17, 2024 • 28min
Bridgerton is back, and why no one seems to like the Amy Winehouse movie
Culture critics Leila Latif, Louise Bruton, and Jael Richardson discuss the new romance in Bridgerton season 3 and critique the Amy Winehouse biopic 'Back to Black'. They analyze character developments in Bridgerton, express concerns over concluding storylines, and passionately critique the disrespectful portrayal of Amy Winehouse in the biopic.


