Why serial killers like Rodney Alcala are on TV and game shows

There has been a disturbing pattern over the years of murderers and serial killers appearing on television, namely game shows.

An example is Rodney Alcalawho was on the popular game show ‘The Dating Game’ in 1978, amid his killing spree. His story was made in the new Netflix film ‘Woman of the Hour’, directed by and starring Anna Kendrick.

There is also John Cooper, who appeared on the TV darts competition program ‘Bullseye’ in 1989. Years later, he went to prison for murder and footage of his appearance on the show was used as evidence against him.

Criminal psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das told it the Daily Post Sunday that killers have “inherent narcissistic tendencies,” prompting some of them to appear on TV.

“Narcissistic individuals have an inflated sense of self-importance and need for admiration, so they can literally put themselves on TV as a platform to be adored,” Das said.

“By appearing on these shows, these killers could have been given the opportunity to showcase their perceived talents, charm and intelligence – especially in the form of remembering hugs on an assembly line,” Das added.

The criminal psychiatrist also noted that for people who “live lonely and often troubled lives,” which is the case for most serial killers, “the prospect of being on television” is very “appealing” to them.

That was certainly the case for Alcala, who killed at least eight people between 1971 and 1979 (authorities estimate the actual number is more than 100).

During that time, he appeared in a 1978 episode of ‘The Dating Game’, where host Jim Lange introduced three male suitors (including Alcala) who were there to be adorably interrogated by a single woman, Cheryl Bradshaw, who sat on the other side of a partition.

Bradshaw ended up not going on a date with Alcala because she had a bad feeling about him.

Alcala was arrested in 1979 and later sentenced to death in California for five murders. He was also later given a prison sentence of 25 years to life for two murders committed in New York. Alcala died in 2021 in a California prison from unspecified natural causes at age 77.

The story of Alcala in “The Dating Game” was told by Kendrick, 39, in her directorial debut. Daniel Zovatto plays Alcala “Woman of the Hour.”

Lori Vallow is another killer who was on a game show. She showed up “Wheel of Fortune” in 2004. Vallow, who went by the name Lori Ryan at the time, talked about her family as Pat Sajak’s host on the show. She was later arrested and charged with several murdersincluding her 17-year-old daughter Tylee and her 7-year-old son JJ.

Edward Wayne Edwardsanother serial killer, appeared on the game show “To Tell the Truth” in 1972 after escaping from prison, robbing gas stations and being placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list. He committed several murders after being on the show and was arrested in 2009. He died in prison in 2011 at the age of 77 of natural causes.

Another killer, Paul Curry, joined in “Danger!” in 1989 and won $24,000. Five years later, he poisoned his wife Linda to collect more than $500,000 in insurance money and other benefits. Curry was sentenced to life in prison in 2014.