Except that reality shows aren't that 'real' either. Behind that bunch of stranded people, the dozen girls wooing one guy, the wannabe singers and so on, there is a whole crew of script writers and directors and support techs that groom and coach them. That direct the flow of the show based on what the ratings are. That will often introduce fake 'events' for maximum impact.

It's basically the dramatic equivalent of pro wrestling... :)

Also about the airbrushed covers, it's all gonna become CG anyway. I can imagine a time, not too far away, when the art director just takes photos of his wife in the living room and gives them to the photoshop guys to jazz up for the next mag cover. And when a plastic NVIATWAS render is considered the epitome of realism :P