What's On the Box this week?

'By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama' (BBC 2, Saturday) - Nearly a year before Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States, filmmakers Amy Rice and Alicia Sams began to roll cameras on the young senator. Featuring intimate footage of Obama, his family and his election team, this unique film documents the behind-the-scenes story of the passionate campaigners who helped a young African-American freshman senator reach the White House. 'By The People' tracks Obama's halting progress from long-odds candidate to front-runner in the 2008 presidential race. It's a roller-coaster ride that includes the victories and upsets that were followed by millions in the media, seen this time from within the Obama camp - from thrilling wins and disappointing losses in key states, to controversies stemming from Obama's associations with the Rev Jeremiah Wright and domestic terrorist Bill Ayers and from the high of receiving his party's nomination over Hillary Clinton, to the low of losing his grandmother the day before his final victory over John McCain on election day. ____________________________________________________________ 'Raw' (RTE 1, Sunday) - The award-winning kitchen drama returns for a second series with Aisling O'Sullivan, formerly of 'The Clinic' joining regulars Charlene McKenna, Keith McErlean, Liam Garrigan and Ger Ryan. With Dublin restaurant, Raw, having been closed for the past 18 months and its staff dispersed into other occupations, a new owner steps into the breach determined to make the restaurant a success again. Australian Damon Gameau is hired as head chef and immediately begins recruiting his old workmates, including boyfriend Pavel, Jojo, Shane, Richard and Tiny. But, as always, the complicated personal lives of the staff overflow into the restaurant, making life in the raw as dramatic as ever. Welcome back, folks, for a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant business you'll never see on any of those other cool cuisine shows dominating the TV schedules. ____________________________________________________________ 'O Sister, Where Art Thou?' (RTE 1, Sunday) - Anna Nolan, a long-time 'Would You Believe' presenter and reporter, talks frankly about her childhood and what brought her to the decision at 19 years of age to join the Loreto order and become a nun. The documentary follows Nolan back into her past where she confronts her decision and reflects back on both the joys of community life and the pressures of living a strict monastic existence. The programme also sees her follow up with some of the novices who trained with her over 20 years ago to see how many of them stayed in religious life and how they feel about their decision now. ____________________________________________________________ 'Your Bad Self' (RTE 2, Monday) - A new six-part sketch comedy show about the things we think and do not say featuring some of the most recognisable faces from Irish stage and film, including Amy Huberman, Micheal McElhatton, Jason O'Mara and Peter McDonald. A deranged doctor tortures his patients. A marooned mountaineer is brought to the edge of reason by his incessantly chatty Sherpa. A showbiz mother torments her tomboy daughter - these are just some of the characters who make up the 'Your Bad Self' universe and who will develop and mutate over the course of the series. As the title suggests, the series is about the dark side - with sketches that are for the most part observational, non-political and sometimes slightly surreal. It has recurring characters, but it's not about catch phrases. You're more likely to recognise the situation than the punchline. ____________________________________________________________ 'The Girl Who Cries Blood' (Ch4, Tuesday) - For almost two years, 13-year-old Twinkle Dwivedi has inexplicably cried tears of blood. The spontaneous bleeding, which happens almost daily, also comes from her head, hands and feet. This programme follows Twinkle and her mother as they travel from their home in northern India to explore the cause of her extraordinary condition, visiting a Catholic bishop to ask whether her bleeding is stigmata. But when a world expert on blood disorders flies in to examine her, Twinkle's journey of discovery edges closer to some uncomfortable possibilities. ____________________________________________________________ Movie Of The Week: 'SWAT' (RTE 2, Saturday) - Samuel L Jackson and Colin Farrell star in this actioner about an imprisoned drug kingpin who offers a huge cash reward to anyone that can break him out of police custody, and only the LAPD's Special Weapons And Tactics team can prevent it. A solid dose of mindless violence and a decent performance from Farrell to help ease you back into the routine after Christmas and New Year.