[33girl]

Anne Rivers Siddons did use real names in her books, but when it came to the main characters (who sometimes did non-honorable things) the sorority names were fake or nicknames only.

I honestly think it's a case by case basis...in the case of Legally Blonde, SATC and the OC, even if it isn't the most flattering portrayal, they are shows college age women like and it gets their name recognized. On the other hand, if it was something like a crime show where the woman is a murderer, I think the producers just change it to avoid offending anyone. Witness the many "Hudson University" students on Law & Order.