Here are a couple of academic papers related to stereotypes and reality televison that could serve as starting points for that aspect of the question.

There's an article in the Internet Journal of Criminology here, and another paper presented at the International Communication Asociation's May 2008 meeting here.
Both have citaions which could be followed for further resources.

I'm posting these as starting places while I have the links up. Hopefully we will have more to follow.