The true story behind “Woman of the Hour” and the dating game killer

Is Woman of the hour based on a true story? Yes. Follow it all the situation? Well, not necessarily, although it's mostly the core reality of what happened, along with some fictional deviations and changed details and names. If you've never heard of the “Dating Game Killer” or the chaos he wreaked, or are curious to see what Kendrick makes of this historically grisly moment, here's an explanation of the true story that shaped Netflix Woman of the hour.

Who was “Dating Game Killer” Rodney Alcala and what did he do?

Many may know him better as the “Dating Game Killer,” but the all-too-real Rodney Alcala was a prolific serial killer and sexual predator. Born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor on August 23, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas, he joined the Army at age 17 but was not Dismissed in 1964 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. After graduating from UCLA in 1968, a witness linked him to the rape and abuse of an eight-year-old Tali ShapiroHe fled to New York, where he took a new name: John Berger. There he studied film and worked as a photographer, security officer and camp counselor.

In 1971, he committed his first known murder in New York, of 23-year-old flight attendant Cornelia Crilley. She was bitten, sexually abused and strangled, which would become gruesome signs of Alcala's future crimes. Between 1977 and 1979 he murdered five victims in California. He is also linked to a second murder in New York and another murder in Wyoming. Although he is officially linked to the murders of eight women and girls, the full extent of his murders is unknown. Authorities believe he may have killed up to 130 people Associated Press.

In 1978, in the midst of his killing spree in California, Alcala was hired The dating game for his looks and charm. The producers never ran a background check on him. If they had done that, they would have discovered that he had already served 34 months in prison for the brutal attack on Shapiro.

Who was Cheryl Bradshaw and what happened to her?

Little is known about the real Cheryl Bradshaw, who appeared as a bachelorette looking for love The dating game in 1978, per Weekly entertainment. She asked the three bachelors questions without being able to see them and chose Alaca, who was introduced as a “successful photographer,” as the lucky winner of a date with her.

So was she looking for her affection on this date with the serial killer? Luckily no. Although Bradshaw was initially charmed by his amusing answers, he got a creepy feeling when she met Alaca and stared into his eyes. “I felt sick,” she said supposedly said in a 2012 interview. The show showered her with romantic perks — free tennis lessons and a trip to Magic Mountain — but when Alcala suggested hanging out, she declined. “I didn’t want to see him again.”

That wasn't all: dating game Producer Ellen Metzger recalled a call from Bradshaw asking to miss the promised date. “She said, 'Ellen, I can't date this guy,'” Metzger said 20/20. “'There are strange vibrations coming from him. He is very strange. I don't feel well. Is that going to be a problem?'” And of course I said, 'No.'”

What ultimately happened to Rodney Alcala?

In the end, Alcala was brought to justice, but only after causing even more consternation among his victims and their families. In 1979, Alcala killed his last known victim, 12-year-old Robin Samsoe, by kidnapping her as she walked home from a ballet class. A sketch released by police led to Alcala's arrest on July 24, 1979. What sealed his fate: His probation officer saw the similarity in the sketch and informed the authorities.

Alcala was sentenced to death for Samsoe's murder in 1980, but the sentence was overturned on legal grounds. In 1986 he was retried and found guilty again. The second conviction was also overturned in 2001, reportedly due to inappropriate legal advice. A third trial, beginning in 2003, secured the DNA evidence needed to link him to several of his murders. The trial ultimately dragged on for years until Alcala was convicted of all five counts for his murders in California in March 2010. He was sentenced to death for the third and final time. He was later convicted of the two New York murders in 2012.

Alcala served his prison sentence on death row in Corcoran, California. He is awaiting execution died a natural death on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77.