Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Club Chalamet is a Timothée Chalamet fan club started by Simone Cromer. Elamin is joined by pop culture writers Kayleigh Donaldson and CT Jones to dig into the business behind Club Chalamet, what it reveals about the current state of fandom, and whether the parasocial obsession with Timothée Chalamet has gone too far.Plus, with iHeartMedia announcing its "Guaranteed Human" pledge, Elamin is joined by music industry insider Michelle Santosuosso to get reaction to the initiative and what it could mean for the future of human and AI music on commercial radio.

With the Netflix release of the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs docu-series ‘The Reckoning,’ executive produced by 50 Cent - Elamin is joined by entertainment reporter Taryn Finley and New York culture critic Jay Smooth to discuss the series and its approach to the Diddy scandal. Plus, Canada has a new Heritage Minister – the seventh in fewer than 10 years. The Globe and Mail’s deputy arts and film editor Barry Hertz calls it a revolving door and says it’s bad for Canadian culture workers. He explains why. 

Three new movies illuminate what it means to be an absent father: Joachim Trier's movie 'Sentimental Value,' Chloé Zhao’s film 'Hamnet,' and Noah Baumbach’s movie 'Jay Kelly.' The Friday group chat gathers to talk about a new kind of Dad movie. 

Zacharias Kunuk’s films are legendary for the way they show the beauty of Canada’s North and the richness of Inuit culture. His latest film 'Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband)' is an epic love story, set four thousand years ago. Two artists from Igloolik, filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk and actor Zorga Qaunaq talk to Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the film and how Zacharias Kunuk’s movies have influenced Inuit storytelling in film.Theatre critic Glenn Sumi discusses the new pro-shot film version of the Stephen Sondheim musical ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ opening in movie theatres this week, and whether these cinematic versions of Broadway productions are a legitimate substitute for the live theatre experience. 

With pioneering MuchMusic program ‘RapCity’ having its 35th anniversary celebrations this year, Elamin is joined by the show's original creator and producer, Michele Geister - to look back on the program’s early rise to prominence.

Imagine this: Two of the best hockey players on the best teams in the NHL are arch-rivals on the rink. Off the ice: they’re lovers. That’s the premise of a new series on Crave called Heated Rivalry – adapted from a popular series of romance novels. Lainey Lui and former pro hockey player Brock McGillis join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about a show that might be the steamiest on TV right now.Plus, people are talking about Claire Danes’ face in her new Netflix show, 'The Beast in Me.' Amil Niazi joins Elamin to talk about the response, what it reveals about Hollywood, beauty standards, and the world we’re living in today.

Choclair’s first full length album in 20 years - veteran music critic Dalton Higgins and Canadian music industry veteran Craig ‘Big C’ Mannix join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to review the new album and reflect on Choclair’s early rise to prominence. And Guardian columnist Stuart Heritage discusses the upcoming fourth entry in the action-comedy film series Rush Hour, a movie that is reportedly being made at the request of President Donald Trump.

Jesse Wente, a writer and Storyteller in Residence at Toronto Metropolitan University, shares his profound insights on the recent revelation about Thomas King's ancestry. He unpacks the complex emotions surrounding this news and its impact on King's legacy and works. Jesse discusses the disruption it caused in their film collaboration and reflects on his own mental health journey amid these struggles. Highlighting the importance of accountability and resilience, he offers hope for healing within Indigenous communities and recommends various Indigenous stories to explore.

Sonja Stanley Niaah, a cultural studies professor, and Danae Peart, a Jamaican-Canadian culture critic, discuss the profound legacy of reggae legend Jimmy Cliff following his passing. They delve into Cliff's role in globalizing reggae and the impact of his film The Harder They Come. Later, TV critics Alison Herman and Hoai-Tran Bui analyze the cultural phenomenon of Stranger Things Season 5, its nostalgic appeal, and the stakes for its characters. They highlight the show’s evolution and critique its nostalgic reliance as it approaches its conclusion.

Cree journalist Michelle Cyca and Anishinaabe/Mohawk writer Kim Wheeler probe the controversy surrounding author Thomas King's stunning admission about his ancestry. They explore the implications for his literary legacy and debate whether his claims were a mistake or intentional deception. Meanwhile, Min Chen, culture editor at Artnet News, dives into the recent Jim Henson Company auction, detailing how pop culture memorabilia has evolved into a booming market for collectors, highlighting record sales and the significance of preserving history through artifacts.