Serial killer appeared on ‘The Dating Game’–and won!

Rodney Alcala’s now infamous winning appearance on “The Dating Game” in 1978 proves two things. First, that you shouldn’t look for romance on a television show. Second, that some serial killers really do have weirdly charismatic personalities.

When Alcala appeared on the show as Bachelor No. 1, he was introduced as “a successful photographer who got his start when his father found him in the dark room at the age of 13, fully developed. Between takes you might find him skydiving or motor-cycling.” In fact, last month he was found guilty of murdering four women and a girl between 1977 and 1979, with the first murder–of a 12-year-old girl–happening shortly after the television appearance. With all four adult women, prosecutors said Alcala raped and then strangled them with such force that he broke bones in the jaw and throat area.

In 1968–ten years before being selected for the game show–he’d been convicted or raping an 8-year-old girl. Clearly background checks were less than thorough at ABC in the late 70s.

According to CNN, Bachelor No. 2 Jed Mills was creeped out by Alcala almost immediately and said he caught himself leaning away from him when they were on the set. In the green room before taping, Mills said Alcala was “obnoxious and creepy”:

“He was quiet, but at the same time he would interrupt and impose when he felt like it… he became very unlikable and rude and imposing as though he was trying to intimidate. I wound up not only not liking this guy … not wanting to be near him … he got creepier and more negative. He was a standout creepy guy in my life.”

The contestant who chose Alcala, Cheryl Bradshaw, refused to go out with him. Crime profiler Pat Brown suggested to CNN that that may have helped trigger his violent behavior that started up again shortly after the taping: “One wonders what that did in his mind. That is something he would not take too well.”

“Convicted serial killer won on ‘Dating Game’” [CNN]
“Rodney James Alcala On ‘Dating Game’” [Huffington Post]

March 9, 2010 | Filed Under Crime, News, People, Television | View Comments 

This seatbelt ad from the UK gives punctured lung the CSI treatment

If you can’t watch the YouTube clip, here are a couple of the pertinent screens for your enjoyment education.


December 9, 2008 | Filed Under Online, Television, Video Clips | View Comments 

SNL video: bathroom terror with Ellen Page and Dracula

If you don’t watch SNL, I don’t blame you, but you may have missed this short last year that spoofs the gotcha! moment in horror movies when someone appears out of nowhere in the bathroom mirror.

Note: if the embedded video doesn’t show up below, blame NBC, not my blog, and click here to view the clip on their site.

October 20, 2008 | Filed Under Arts & Entertainment, Funny, Movies, Multimedia, Online, Television, Vampires, Video Clips | View Comments 

FearNet cable channel adds 8.9 million homes

If you’re a Time Warner Cable digital subscriber, your options for on-demand horror movies may be increasing substantially by the end of summer. FearNet just made a deal with Time Warner Cable to expand its base to another nine million households, bringing the total figure to 29 million. The Hollywood Reporter writes:

FearNet, which also encompasses a Web site, launched in 2006. It features a mix of original programming and library titles from Sony Pictures and Lionsgate. New originals include a sequel to its miniseries “30 Days of Night: Blood Trails” titled “Dust to Dust,” from Ghost House Pictures. The network said it will announce more new projects in the coming weeks.

“FearNet inks deal with TWC” [THR]

July 21, 2008 | Filed Under News, Television | View Comments