The Dating Game premiered in 1965, a game show in which single women asked three bachelors questions, without seeing what they looked like, before choosing the one man with whom they'd go on a date.
In a 1978 episode, Bachelor No. 1 was introduced as a photographer in his 30s. He was good-looking, charming, and successful; it was no surprise when Cheryl ended up choosing him as the winner.
While the cameras were rolling, the winner — Rodney Alcala — didn't set off any red flags. According to ABC, it wasn't until Cheryl came face-to-face with him backstage that she regretted her decision in choosing him.
Cheryl said Bachelor No. 1 was acting so creepy that she declined the date altogether and decided she never wanted to see him again.
At the time, neither Cheryl nor anyone on The Dating Game staff knew that Rodney Alcala was actually a wolf in sheep's clothing, and he had just made his television debut in the middle of his terrifying murder spree …
