Reality show staffers settle two lawsuits

January 21, 2009 Reality show staffers have won a rare victory against TV networks and production companies, settling two long-running cases alleging unlawful working conditions for more than $4 million. The dual class-action lawsuits were filed in 2005 by several hundred employees who worked in various capacities, including story editors, editors and segment producers, on such shows as "The Bachelor," "Trading Spouses," "Are You Hot?" and "The Real Gilligan's Island." A Los Angeles judge this week gave preliminary approval to a $2.57 million settlement with Fox Broadcasting and Rocket Science Laboratories and a $1.54 million settlement with ABC, CBS, Mike Fleiss' Next Entertainment and about six other production companies.

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