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Netflix’s hit movie Woman of the Hour, tells the horrifyingly true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala’s appearance on the popular television game show The Dating Game. Directed by and starringAnna Kendrick, the film follows a woman named Sheryl Bradshaw, who appears as a contestant on the show. Unknown to Sheryl, the show’s producers, and viewers, one of the potential suitors is Alcala (Daniel Zovatto).
While Woman of the Hour revolves around the horrifying story surrounding that one episode of the show, there’s actually much more to The Dating Game‘s lore following Alcala’s appearance. Despite having one of the most infamous contestants in TV history, the show continued to air for years after, even with several revivals decades later.
Alcala and Bradshaw appeared on The Dating Game back on September 13, 1978, and at the time nobody involved with the production knew he was a serial killer responsible for a number of murders happening in the ’70s. Luckily, Bradshaw decided not to go on a date with him.
The Dating Game Continued Airing For Years After Rodney Alcala’s Appearance
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Via Netflix</figure>
The Dating Game first premiered on ABC on December 20, 1965, and it quickly became one of the most popular game shows in the network’s lineup. Created by television producer Chuck Barris, the premise of the game show featured contestants asking questions to three potential suitors before ultimately choosing one to go on a date with.
Shockingly, Alcala’s appearance in 1978 didn’t bring the show to an end, and it actually continued airing for two more years before its final episode in 1980. Since then, several revivals of the show have come about. Elaine Joyce hosted the 1986 revival and then Jeff MacGregor took over from 1987 to 1989.
The show later returned for another iteration in 1996. This time the show’s format was updated to give contestants a chance to see their suitors before making their final decisions.
The most recent revival premiered in 2021, this time for a celebrity-themed edition of the show. This time around it was hosted by Zooey Deschanel and featured Michael Bolton as the musical co-host. However, it didn’t last too long and ended after only eight episodes.
Who Was The Real Host Of The Dating Game During Rodney Alcala’s Appearance?
One detail that Woman of the Hour changes completely is the show’s host. Tony Hale plays the fictional Ed Burke in the movie, but the actual host at the time was Jim Lange. Lange hosted the game show from its premiere in 1965 until 1980.
After his time on The Dating Game, Lange continued to work in television and radio, hosting other shows like Hollywood Connection and The New Newlywed Game. He worked in television broadcasting for decades before his death in 2014.
In an interview with CBR, Hale explained that the character of Ed Burke was created to represent the broader attitudes towards women at the time.
“He was kind of the symbol of how the culture was, treating women like how Sheryl was treated in her audition scene by the casting director. It wasn’t just them. It was the acceptance of that and the allowance of that.”
“He was kind of the symbol of how the culture was, treating women like how Sheryl was treated in her audition scene by the casting director. It wasn’t just them. It was the acceptance of that and the allowance of that.”
He also added that Burke’s treatment of women created a different kind of trauma to contrast with the physical trauma inflicted by Alcala.
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“But my character is causing trauma, because of how he’s talking to these women, not listening to them, and treating them like objects. It’s just sad.”
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“But my character is causing trauma, because of how he’s talking to these women, not listening to them, and treating them like objects. It’s just sad.”
What Happened To Rodney Alcala After The Dating Game?
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Photo courtesy of Leah Gallo/Netflix</figure>
Alcala became known as the “Dating Game Killer,” but his crimes were not responsible for the show’s eventual cancellation. He was convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death in California, but both of his sentences were later overturned. He died in prison in 2021.
Alcala’s full number of victims remains unknown. However, investigators have connected him to a series of murders and suspect his victim count could be over 130. His Dating Game appearance remains one of the spookiest things to happen in television history, especially because he was able to present himself as an ordinary, charming guy, despite his crimes.
What Happened To Sheryl Bradshaw After The Dating Game?
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Via Netflix</figure>
While Woman of the Hour ends with Sheryl escaping Alcala, her real-life story provides some important context around this particularly dark episode. Bradshaw reportedly became uncomfortable after meeting Alcala in person and decided against going on a date with him — a decision which may have saved her life.
The Dating Game Featured Two Other Bachelors Alongside Rodney Alcala
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Via Netflix</figure>
While Alcala’s post-Dating Game story lives on, the other two contestants lived much quieter lives out of the spotlight. Their identities and what happened after the episode have not been publicly documented, though their presence is still important to the story.
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