This week's TV: Garlands and Dogs

William Gallagher looks at the week's TV ahead

By the BBC's William Gallagher

It sounds as if it should be atrocious.

But Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (Saturday 1815 GMT, Channel 4) is not the maudlin melodrama you would imagine but an energetic, even joyous little romp.

Judy Davis plays the older Judy Garland well while Hugh Laurie shines as Vincente Minnelli.

In the US, where it aired earlier this year, it had the strapline "Dorothy found the end of the rainbow... Judy spent her life looking for it".

Frankly, that should have been left off - it just makes the viewer even more convinced the show is a weepie.

Shackleton

But it is not a patch on Kenneth Branagh in the title role of Shackleton (Wednesday 2100 GMT, Channel 4).

Part one is a lightning-speed dash through the preparations for Sir Ernest Shackleton's famous Antarctic expedition.

Kenneth Branagh is exceptional in the role of Shackleton

You will be reminded very quickly of Channel 4's Longitude, shown two years ago, and with good reason.

This is written and directed by Charles Sturridge who made that as well as Brideshead Revisited.

It is arguably a little too fast, but settles down as the expedition gets under way. Branagh really has not been this good on TV since Fortunes of War in 1987.

Smallville

Superman, on the other hand, has been rather variable. The good films with Christopher Reeve were followed by a couple of atrocious ones, while TV's Dean Cain popular version had poor storylines.

When UK TV wants to be popular, it brings in a dog

Now the man is back. Superman returns but in a new and possibly better way as Smallville starts (New Year's Eve 1645 GMT, Channel 4).

The premise of this new take on the story is that Clark Kent, Superman's alter ego, is a teenager dealing both with X-ray vision and pimples.

Well, possibly not pimples - this is US TV and he has got to look good. And star Tom Welling does.

The writers of the show stated at the start that they promised Clark would not fly and would not wear underpants outside his trousers and so far, so good.

It is more a Kryptonite version of Dawson's Creek than a science fiction fantasy, but that is proving to be a popular thing in the US.

Station Jim

When UK TV wants to be popular, it brings in a dog.

Tamzin Outhwaite got to pat one during Red Cap.

Now one named Station Jim gets to transform the lives of everyone around a railway station (Sunday 1830 BBC One).

Some viewers are guaranteed to bury their heads in their hands, but those with heart and strong stomachs will love it.