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Arts & Life
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‘CIA’ on CBS Network
One of the most successful creators and producers in the television industry is Dick Wolf, best known for his “Law & Order” franchise about aspects of the criminal justice system that has been around in various iterations since 1990.
Working in the realm of law enforcement series, Wolf has co-created and executive produced the police procedural “FBI,” which also became a franchise with spinoffs for two additional series, “FBI: Most Wanted” and “FBI: International.”
Wait, there’s more. Wolf also co-created and executive produced the “Chicago” franchise with three series dedicated to stories about firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel based in the Windy City.
Even though at an age where most people have long retired, Dick Wolf is not slowing down. For the current television season, his latest American police procedural is “CIA” on the CBS network.
The basic premise of “CIA” is the teaming of a Central Intelligence Agency case officer with an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, based in New York City, working together to investigate domestic threats to the United States.
According to the law, the CIA’s jurisdiction is focused on threats outside our nation’s borders, and it has no domestic law enforcement function, nor can it collect information about U.S. persons, including citizens, resident aliens, and corporations.
Given the constraints on CIA involvement on American soil, it’s interesting that CIA operative Colin Glass (Tom Ellis “Lucifer” series) comes into the picture after a crime in a New York office building wipes out workers dealing with computer systems.
The FBI is on the scene with Special Agent Bill Goodman (Nick Gehlfuss) and others, and then Glass shows up because he’s got some mysterious connection to dealing with an apparent terrorist plot.
Unable to operate solo for an investigation, Glass needs to work with the FBI, and that’s when New York CIA deputy chief Nikki Reynard (Necar Zadegan) and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charger Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto) pick Goodman for the assignment.
To say that Goodman is not thrilled to be teamed with Glass is an understatement, mainly since Goodman recognized the CIA agent from the crime scene and had some doubts about him being trustworthy.
The feeling seems to be mutual because Glass works alone, operating without any boundaries, whereas Goodman not only looks like a “Boy Scout with a briefcase” according to Glass, but his modus operandi is to adhere strictly to the rules. They likely won’t be sharing beers after work.
The first meeting between Glass and Goodman does not get off to a good start because the CIA agent identifies himself as working for DOD and tells the FBI agent that he has “a clearance so high you need a ladder to reach it.”
FBI’s Jubal Valentine informs Goodman that he’s been selected to join an elite CIA-FBI Fusion Cell, which takes on tricky situations where the U.S. government needs to use a lighter touch with counterterrorism and diplomatic flareups.
Fair to say that Goodman doesn’t seem thrilled when he asks how long his posting will be, and Valentine can’t say but assures that his agent is honored to take on this assignment.
Arriving at the CIA’s secret location, Goodman wants to set aside their differences to work the “case,” only for Glass to tell him that it is an “op” and not a case. To the CIA, FBI’s job is just to close cases.
What happened at the New York office turned out to be a “directed energy attack” against a defense contractor involved with secret government work, and now the CIA fears that one of its assets may be involved with the theft of documents.
From this point on, the story turns on standard spy fare with the unconventional CIA agent having to get along with the by-the-book FBI agent, clashing at times on methods, even though Goodman loosens up a bit to go with his gut.
During a CBS press conference for TV critics, executive producer Mike Weiss said he did not know what CIA people would expect from the show, but one of the benefits of a CIA show is that “a lot of the activities are secret, they’re shadowy.” That’s what viewers are looking for.
There’s no doubt that “CIA” is a formulaic spy thriller, and that’s perfectly fine with the dynamic established between the uptight FBI agent being a stickler for following the rules and the roguish CIA operative as the opposite with his disdain for bureaucratic norms.
Espionage stories hold a special appeal for many. That would explain the popularity of the James Bond franchise. Showtime’s long-running drama “Homeland” focused on CIA counterterrorism. The British spy thriller “The Night Manager” is drawing interest on AMC.
That the FBI agent is tasked with finding out if there is a mole within the CIA is almost reason enough to give “CIA” the leeway to continue down the path of intrigue. This seems to be working because a second season has already been given the green light.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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‘WAR MACHINE’ Rated R on Netflix
In the years since the horrific attack on U.S. soil on September 11, 2001, there have been several movies focused on the War on Terror and the battles that ensued in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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Applications open for the Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship: Supporting creators and culture bearers across 19 counties
The Individual Artists Fellowship returns this year to Upstate California to continue its mission of providing direct support to artists and culture bearers. Now officially open for applications, the program offers unrestricted grants to artists, culture bearers, and creative workers living and working across a 19-county region.
“Building upon our work for Upstate Creative Corps in 2023-2024, we are thrilled to announce a new cycle of California Arts Council’s Individual Artists Fellowship in the Upstate Region. This is an opportunity to apply for unrestricted funding designed specifically for our rural communities,” says Sofia Vivanco Airaghi, Grants Manager at Nevada County Arts & Culture. “Artists and culture bearers—please attend our Kick-Off Informational Session on Thursday April 9th at 1:30pm! This virtual gathering is designed to pull back the curtain on the application process and help you submit your strongest possible proposal.” Artists can register here and the recording will be available on the program website afterwards.
The program remains open to artists of any medium including but not limited to visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, and media, as well as Culture Bearers—those dedicated to the stewardship and intergenerational transmission of traditional rituals, ancestral knowledge, and community lifeways.
“This competitive Fellowship is more than a financial award; it is a recognition of the excellence of artists in our communities,” says Eliza Tudor, Executive Director at Nevada County Arts & Culture. “We are looking for individuals whose work creates meaningful social impact and continues to shape the cultural fabric of the Upstate region, from emerging voices to those with a lifelong legacy of practice.”
Fellowship Highlights:
• Three tiers of support: The program offers distinct categories for Emerging, Established, and Legacy artists, ensuring equitable funding opportunities at every career stage.
• Unrestricted funding: Selected fellows will receive [Dollar Amount] to support their practice, whether for materials, studio space, living expenses, or community projects.
• Professional development & statewide connection: Beyond the financial award, fellows join a vibrant peer-to-peer cohort. This initiative provides unique opportunities for professional growth and fosters meaningful connections with fellow artists and culture bearers across the 19-county Upstate region and throughout the state of California.
How to Apply: Applications are now open and will be accepted until May 6th, 2026 11:59 p.m. PST.
Interested artists are encouraged to visit upstateIAF.org to review the full guidelines, eligibility requirements, and more. To lower barriers to entry, the program provides a Google Doc template for applicants to draft their responses offline before submitting via the official portal.
The program is also seeking people to serve as review panelists who will review and score applications. Panelists will receive a $400 stipend and review 30-40 applications over a 4-6 week period.
The panel experience provides great insight into the grant-making process, offering professional development for arts practitioners working across creative sectors. Individuals who are interested in serving on the grant review panel can learn more information and apply here. Please note that if you are an applicant for the 2026 Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship you are not eligible to apply to serve as a panelist.
Within the Upstate Region, as the administering organization for the Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship, Nevada County Arts & Culture is one of a network of agencies who serve as State-Local Partners with California Arts Council.
While each serves distinct communities, State-Local Partner agencies are connected through a coalition who benchmark, consult, and gain from peer learning and support, with equity at their core. Agency partners are Arts Council of Mendocino County, Arts Council of Placer County, Colusa County Arts Council, Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness, Friends of the Arts in Butte, Humboldt Arts Council, Lake County Arts Council, Lassen County Arts Council, Modoc County Arts Council, Nevada County Arts & Culture, Shasta County Arts Council, Sierra County Arts Council, Siskiyou County Arts Council, Tehama County Arts Council, Trinity County Arts Council, and Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture.
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‘PROJECT HAIL MARY’ Rated PG-13
The destruction of Earth by asteroids, comets or sinister forces has long been a staple of Hollywood science-fiction thrillers. H.G. Wells’ classic novel “War of the Worlds” about a hostile Martian invasion of Earth was adapted for an authoritative science-fiction film in 1953.
As for comets or asteroids threatening Earth, 1998 proved to be a banner year with NASA recruiting oil drillers to save us from an asteroid the size of Texas in “Armageddon” and in “Deep Impact” a 7-mile-wide comet was on a collision course with our planet.
With “Project Hail Mary,” a fictional phenomenon called the Petrova Line, from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, represents a curved arc of infrared light emitted by what is called Astrophage, a microorganism that feeds on solar energy that results in a serious threat to alter Earth’s climate.
Astrophage drains energy from all stars in the universe except apparently for the Tau Ceti solar system. What this means for Earth is that particles floating in space are diminishing the power of the sun. So much for global warming, as the threat moves toward a rapid encroachment of an Ice Age.
Enter Ryan Gosling’s middle school biology teacher Ryland Grace, an unlikely and reluctant hero who reminds Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller), the leader of an international task force, that he’s neither an astronaut nor suitable for taking on a suicide mission.
With civilization facing imminent doom, desperate times call for desperate measures, and Dr. Grace (he’s got a PhD) is a science nerd who has espoused apparently discredited theories but his potential for the mission is appreciated by Stratt’s efficient German utilitarian judgment.
Waking up from an induced coma on a spaceship that is light years away from home, Grace discovers that he’s wholly involved with a mission he wanted to avoid. The destination is to the one spot in the galaxy that is not affected by Astrophage.
The mission began with two experienced astronauts, Yao (Ken Leung) and Olesya (Milana Vayntrub), but unfortunately, they have accidentally died, and now Grace is alone and adrift in space, but as a math genius as well as scientist he adapts quickly to the task at hand.
Frequent flashbacks allow for more understanding of why Grace, whose molecular biology research was rejected by the science establishment, was picked for the mission. Grace may have been a lone scientific voice, but his proved to be the correct one.
Aside from his rapport with his students, not much more is known about Grace outside of his unfortunate interaction with the scientific community and his sparring with the autocratic Eva Stratt, who has more faith in him than he has in himself.
The outer space trip to Tau Ceti, which seems to be the only place immune to destruction, looks to be a one-way trip due to limits on available fuel. Without the other crew members, Grace must become a quick learner on handling spacecraft.
Facing isolation and loneliness, Grace is not alone for too long. An encounter with another much larger spaceship sent on an identical mission brings Grace into contact with an interesting alien being.
The sole survivor is a creature made of stone that has flexible limbs allowing it to move about in the manner of an ambulatory simian waving its arms. Communication between Grace and the creature that he calls Rocky begins tentatively with gestures.
The relationship between alien and human becomes a bonding exercise, where Grace and Rocky can eventually communicate verbally, with Rocky voiced by John Ortiz. The emotional connection between them turns into the heart of this space odyssey.
“Project Hail Mary” may remind some viewers of Christopher Nolan’s 2014 science-fiction blockbuster “Interstellar,” where in the dystopian future Earth faces extinction that leads to a group of astronauts traveling through space searching for a new home for humanity.
Despite the fact most critics gave it positive reviews, I don’t recall the Christopher Nolan epic with great enthusiasm for its space odyssey. To be fair, the visual effects were impressive.
For a sci-fi saga, “Project Hail Mary” works exceedingly well on an emotional level as this film proves to be a pleasant crowd-pleaser that is heartwarming and enjoyably entertaining and should be seen on the big screen.
Not enough credit can go to Ryan Gosling’s superb performance as the likable Everyman with the effortless charm and sense of humor which infuses his friendship with the alien. His T-shirt collection alone illustrates his quirky playfulness.
“Project Hail Mary” is all the better due to Gosling’s whimsical nature and easygoing charisma. Gosling owns this film the same way Tom Cruise is synonymous with the “Mission: Impossible” franchise.
“Project Hail Mary” is what Hollywood should strive to deliver, namely family-friendly entertainment, smart storytelling, and great characters.
The only possible drawback to “Project Hail Mary” is a running time slightly more than two-and-a-half hours, but rather than quibble about its length, this film should be enjoyed for being original and touchingly delightful.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.