Reality Television

New Jersey officials are tired of being snookered by out-of-control reality TV programs. Fed up with the antics of reality TV stars including Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and other cast members from MTV's "Jersey Shore,"  New Jersey state Assemblyman Ronald Dancer has introduced legislation that would give towns more say over reality TV shows that shoot in their communities. "These shows can attract crowds, which can benefit local businesses and challenge a community's resources," Dancer said in a statement.

Beverly Hills conjures up many images: expensive boutiques, tony restaurants and mansions owned by the rich and famous. It's also fast becoming known for something decidedly less glamorous: reality TV. The affluent community on the Westside of Los Angeles County has evolved into a haven for at least a dozen shows probing the lives of basketball wives, Hollywood executives, overworked nannies, pawn shop owners, chefs and celebrities. There's even a foreign-based reality series about two French girls living in L.A. PHOTOS: 10 Beverly Hills reality shows Last year alone, the city issued 142 permits for reality TV shows, about twice the level in 2008, according to the city of Beverly Hills.

Over the weekend, Ryan Lochte celebrated his five Olympic medals the way any red-blooded American male would do: by heading to Las Vegas, slipping into a tiny, star-spangled hot-pink Speedo, and partying alongside Prince Harry. Lochte's Sin City revelry capped off a week-long promotional blitz by the swimmer and aspiring actor, including a cameo on the CW soap "90210," a stroll down the red carpet at the premiere of "The Expendables 2," a striptease performance for Giuliana Rancic and Joan Rivers on E!

Sarah Palin is a public figure caught between two worlds. In some circles, she is still a political powerhouse, acting as the spiritual leader of the tea party right; speaking at events sponsored by the Koch brothers' anti-tax group, Americans for Prosperity; using her money and clout on favored candidate; and appearing as a commentator on Fox News. In other circles, she is the matriarch of an expanding reality television dynasty that includes her husband, her daughters and a grandson.

The writer-producers of "Worst Cooks in America," "History Detectives," "Cash Cab" and other cable TV reality shows will now be eligible for union health insurance and other benefits. The Writers Guild of America East announced Wednesday that it negotiated "landmark" collective bargaining agreements with New York-based reality TV producers Lion Television and Optomen Productions. The companies are among about 20 producers of reality TV shows the union is attempting to organize.

Core Media Group, the parent of production company 19 Entertainment, whose TV shows include Fox's "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance," has struck a deal to acquire reality television firm Sharp Entertainment. “This announcement is another step in our efforts to expand the breadth of our content offerings and align Core with some of the industry's most talented and innovative producers,” said Core President Marc Graboff. Sharp Entertainment's credits include TLC's "Extreme Couponing," Animal Planet's "Call of the Wildman" and Travel Channel's "Man V. Food.

Ah Pete Rose, what have you done now? Isn't it bad enough that you're barred from Major League Baseball and the Hall of Fame? That one of the only Halls of Fame to accept you as a member is the WWE Hall of Fame? That you were disgraced because you gambled on baseball? Do you have to lower yourself even further? It was announced Wednesday that Rose, prepare yourself, will star on his own reality TV show to be shown on TLC. The show will detail how Rose and his fiancee, model Kiana Kim, plan their wedding.

There is so much drama going on in Romi Klinger's life right now. Her ex-girlfriend Whitney is dating her friend Sara, who has brainwashed Whitney into thinking Romi is evil. And Romi is worried what her other friends will do when they find out about Romi's new relationship - with a man. "Lesbians can be really harsh toward women who sleep with men again. It's like, 'What is she doing? Is she a real lesbian?'" Romi asks the camera. It's a question that has serious consequences for her personal and work life, since Romi is a star of "The Real L Word" - the Showtime reality TV series that entered its third season this past week.

During the 18th century, a fashionable pastime among London's rich and royal was to visit Bethlem Royal Hospital, most commonly known as Bedlam, and watch the antics of the mentally ill. In the 21st century, it is the rich and famous who are gaped at, their habits and habitats reveled in and reviled through the lens of reality TV. What started as an aspirational experience, epitomized by the gushing "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," has become...

Reality TV producer Gay Rosenthal is behind such groundbreaking fare as TLC's "Little People, Big World" and Style's "Ruby. " In Sundance Channel's "Push Girls," Rosenthal explores the world of women living with paralysis - and suggests it is a reality alternative to HBO's 'Girls. " What is it like being Gay Rosenthal, reality TV producer? That's a hard question. Many times I say, if you had cameras on me, it would be a really fabulous sitcom. It's very busy. Today I started at 3:30 a.m. My days are pretty intense.