Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Movies about splitting up are typically pretty serious, but two new films, Splitsville and The Roses, buck that trend. Rad Simonpillai, Barry Hertz and Haley Mlotek chat with guest host Amil Niazi about why divorce movies are lightening up.

Saturday Night Live has announced exits and additions to the cast, just weeks away from the season’s premiere this fall. Ashley Ray joins guest host Amil Niazi to talk about the decisions behind the shuffle, where the show is headed, and the audience reaction to it all. Plus, with reports that pioneering Canadian animation company Nelvana will be indefinitely shutting down production, Commotion guest host Amil Niazi is joined by entertainment reporter Teri Hart and Canadian animator David Soren (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie) to react to the news and discuss Nelvana’s contributions to animation history.

Rad and Teri talk about TIFF's opening night and some of the big Canadian films getting a lot of love. Also, why Elamin isn't there (spoiler: he broke his leg).

Librarian Laura Winton joins guest host Amil Niazi to share her reaction to news that the Alberta government has hit pause on a ban that would've seen more than 200 books be removed from public school libraries in Edmonton, including Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale,' due to sexually explicit content.Plus, the new show KPOPPED has artists like the Spice Girls, Boyz II Men and TLC reimagine some of their biggest hits with help from K-pop groups, including ITZY, ATEEZ and Kep1er. Michelle Cho and Hannah Sung join guest host Amil Niazi to review the Apple TV+ musical mashup reality series.

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.