links for 2009-07-09

• Scribe tapped for 'Spider-Man 4'
  Gary Ross is rewriting Spider-Man 4. Wow. Having had to study his work at university, he's essentially made a career out of 'reimagining' Frank Capra's filmography. Spider-man seems closest to 'John Doe'. At least we can rest easy about it being half literate.
  
  
• BBC1 plans peaktime arts series | Media | guardian.co.uk
  These seem to be straight documentaries rather than something presenter led which is a bold step for the channel -- this looks like the kind of thing which you'd expect to turn up on BBC Four or at the very least BBC Two. It certainly makes a change from the usual routine of Rolf Harris patronising us for half an hour. But which end of peak time will it be?
  
  
• 5 Doctor Who universe characters who could join Torchwood - Den of Geek
  Random if amusing speculation. Despite an annoying start Chrissie turned into one of my favourite Whoniverse characters. Any woman who thinks a cherry necklace is acceptable is ok in my book.
  
  
• Lancashire County Cricket Club: The Ashes Are Coming To Sefton Park
  "The next best thing to being at the match, npower Cricket in the Park allows you, your friends and family to have the best day out of the summer watching the live Ashes action on a big screen with thousands of other fans ... plus much more."
  
  
• 15 Movies That Were Almost Turned Into TV Series
  Includes a hilarious comment from Kevin Smith on the subject of the failed Clerks tv pilot: "Keri Russell was in it as some chick who worked in a tanning parlor that was also in the strip mall. I was, like, ‘There’s no tanning parlor in the strip mall!’
  
  
• keris stainton: Get Gilbert*
  "The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you." Having had some nice comments about the Torchwood reviews which I thought were the rubbish late night meanderings of a tired illiterate this is something I have to keep remembering. But do I really want to be the Lester Bangs of the Whoniverse?
  
  
• Popjustice: He's just saying what they're all thinking
  Calvin Harris asked to open jam jar as part of ITV's Wireless Festival. Predictable non-hilarity ensues.
  
  
• The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry: The Spectator Lecture, Royal Geographical Society, presented in London 30th April 2009
  "Here we are. Gathered together in the very lecture theatre where Henry Morton Stanley once told an enraptured world of his momentous meeting with Dr. Livingstone. Charles Darwin was a member and gave talks in this same hall. Sir Richard Burton lectured here and John Hanning Speke … spoke ..."
  
  
• The Torchwood experience | Scott Matthewman
  Last week, The Stage's TV blog offered some excellent Torchwood related content. In here, Scott describes the rationale and comments on the web reaction.