Reality Shmality

OK, so I happened to catch some of "The Hills" last night on MTV--don't ask me why, but as I was flipping channels, I saw Spencer Pratt's mug and thought, what is this little d-bag up to now?
No, I don't usually watch the show--my daughter sometimes does and I have caught snippets of it and asked her, "Why are you watching this stuff?"
Anyway, I saw a fight break out between Spencer and another guy on the show at a bar. Spencer punched the other guy, and bouncers broke it up. I thought, "Isn't it illegal to hit someone? Why are no police showing up?" It may be a misdemeanor, but the last time I looked, assault and battery were still criminal acts. I looked it up, and yep, in the state of CA, assault (intent or threat to physically harm someone) and battery (actually physically causing harm) ARE crimes, punishable by fines and/or time in county jail. There is video of the incident. How come no one was charged??? WTF?
Online it has been reported that the guy (Cameron) that was punched was asked by the producers of "The Hills" to provoke Spencer and was told that Spencer knew about it and it was all "for the show." Well, apparently NOT. Spencer allegedly was not told of the setup. Now the guy wants to sue the producers of "The Hills." OK--so sue--but what about the responsible party, SPENCER? He did the crime--HE should be held accountable as well.
What is it with so-called reality TV trying to create situations that might end up with someone getting hurt? And, do we really like to watch other people getting pissed off at each other? Is this what our "entertainment" has been reduced to?
The producers of these shows are "pot-stirrers"-- they sometimes agitate situations for better TV. Reality TV may be unscripted, but it certainly is not a documentary medium.
In REAL reality, punching someone has consequences, especially if their are witnesses/video. Also, what's with some of these shows showing underage drinking--or underage people out partying at clubs, where the usual policy is "No one under the age of 21 permitted"? MTV shows have numerous examples of cast members under the age of 21 out at bars and clubs. Even if it is argued that said cast members are not drinking, what kind of message does that send to the younger viewers?