screencaptures: clear colouring

help.
this is probably a re-post, but i have search high, and i have searched low and nothing has come up.
1. Working with red-ish/dark/somewhat grainy screencaptures like in The West Wing is a real bitch.
Like so: 1 2 (only examples, much more should be provided.)

I'm looking for tutorials who would provide these effects:
 
  

Thanks a lot in advance :)