Key Points:
- Woman of the Hour tells the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala.
- Alcala appeared on The Dating Game in 1978 while already a murderer.
- The show’s bachelorette, Cheryl Bradshaw, felt uneasy and canceled their date.
- Alcala was later convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death.
Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, spotlights the disturbing true story of Rodney Alcala, a notorious American serial killer who appeared on the popular 1978 show The Dating Game. Alcala’s crimes went undetected during his appearance, though he had already committed several murders at the time.
Rodney Alcala’s Shocking Appearance on The Dating Game
Rodney Alcala, born on August 23, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, was a serial killer and sexual predator active primarily in California and New York. By the time he appeared on The Dating Game in 1978, Alcala had already killed several women and had been convicted twice for assaults on young girls. According to reports, Alcala’s charming demeanor won over the show’s bachelorette, Cheryl Bradshaw, despite his violent past.
As per Variety, in his episode, Alcala was introduced by host Jim Lange as a “successful photographer,” a hobby he used to lure his victims.
During the show, Bradshaw asked him, “I’m serving you for dinner. What are you called, and what do you look like?” Alcala responded, “I’m called the banana and I look good.” When prompted to elaborate, he disturbingly replied, “Peel me.”
David Greenfield, a producer on The Dating Game, reflected on the episode, saying, “In retrospect, it sounds horrible. But at the time, that’s a good, solid answer… We were looking for raunchy, sexy answers, and that was one.”
Despite Bradshaw choosing Alcala as her match, she canceled their date immediately after filming. As recalled by Ellen Metzger, the show’s contestant coordinator, Bradshaw felt uncomfortable: “She said, ‘Ellen, I can’t go out with this guy… He’s very strange. I am not comfortable.’”
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Rodney Alcala’s Crimes and Convictions
Just one year after his Dating Game appearance, Alcala was arrested and charged with the murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. He was convicted in 1980 and sentenced to death. However, his conviction was overturned twice, leading to multiple retrials. During the 2000s, DNA evidence tied Alcala to five additional murders, resulting in a third conviction and another death sentence in 2010. Authorities suspect Alcala could have killed many more victims, with some estimates in the hundreds.
Rodney Alcala died of natural causes while on death row on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77. Woman of the Hour, based on Alcala’s notorious life is streaming on Netflix.
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