1. "Step aside, crime dramas. There's a new sheriff in town." In case you haven't noticed, reality shows are staking out more and more space in network lineups. In 2001, according to Ted Magder, chair of NYU's Department of Media, Culture and Communications, major networks devoted three hours a week of their prime-time schedule to reality TV and "challenge" game shows. The number increased to eight in 2002 and jumped to more than 20 in 2007. Today reality TV accounts for 20% of prime-time programming on network television. Seasoned viewers know that what gets called reality on these shows is...