Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

With the CN Tower celebrating its 50th birthday today, culture writers Michael Barclay, Niko Stratis, and Dalton Higgins reflect on the various ways—from Drake to Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie—the tower has shown up in pop culture over the years, and how it remains a potent symbol of Canadian identity even for people far outside Toronto.

Siphe November took his final bow as principal dancer at the National Ballet of Canada in Wayne McGregor’s adaptation of MADDADDAM this past weekend. As Siphe prepares to join the Dutch National Ballet as soloist, culture critic Syrus Marcus Ware and ballet critic Martha Schabas join Elamin to talk about his meteoric rise at the National Ballet and the pressure he’s faced as the second Black dancer to be made principal at the company.

Also, a public art piece featuring a floating convenience store has enchanted Torontonians and people around the world. Some have even swam and paddled up to it, hoping it might just be real. Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with Charlene K. Lau, an art critic and public art curator, about the unexpected ways people engage with public art.

Saint Jean Baptiste Day is the day when Quebec celebrates what makes it distinct. But this year, more young Quebecers are embracing the idea of an independent Quebec. Culture writers Eugenie Lepine Blondeau and Dominc Tardiff join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the culture that’s coming out of the sovereignty movement.

Plus, Elamin is joined by pop culture academic Professor Mark Anthony Neal to look back on the 60-plus year legacy of pop music mogul Clive Davis who died this week at 94.

Following Canada’s resounding victory over Qatar Thursday, it’s safe to say World Cup fever has finally taken hold across the nation. In advance of this week’s match-up against Switzerland, CBC sports reporters Shireen Ahmed and Laurence Watt explain how the World Cup is resonating with Canadians at this moment, be it on the streets of the host cities or through viral social-media moments.

Plus, The Globe and Mail reporter Josh O’Kane walks Elamin through the latest developments in a heist involving money that was intended to help independent Canadian musicians. While a settlement has been reached between FACTOR and Scotiabank, the thief – or thieves - are still at large.

With the release of Toy Story 5 Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai is joined by CBC film critic Jackson Weaver and Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko to review this latest installment in the popular franchise -- and how it holds up amongst past releases.

Is the culture really shifting away from smart phones? Are landlines becoming a thing again? Internet culture journalist Kate Lindsay joins Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about the trend, and whether it has staying power.