Warning! This post contains spoilers for Woman of the Hour.
Woman of the Hourreveals that Sally Field was once a contestant onThe Dating Game, making it hard not to wonder who else participated in the TV game show before making it big in Hollywood. In its one-and-a-half-hour runtime,Anna Kendrick’s true-story thriller,Woman of the Hour, walks through several murders committed by Rodney Alcala. However, even though it unfolds in several different timelines, its primary focus remains on the serial killer’s appearance inThe Dating Gameand his encounter with Sheryl Bradshaw.
BeforeWoman of the Hour’sDating Gamearc ensues, Sheryl is portrayed as a struggling actress who finds it hard to land auditions and secure her place in Hollywood’s competitive world. Her agent eventually tells her aboutThe Dating Gameand promises her that her appearance on the game show will pave the way for her to get more acting opportunities. Although Sheryl is apprehensive about agreeing to show up on the show, she accepts the offer when her agent informs her that Sally Field was also onThe Dating Gamebefore she made it big as an actress.
Sally Field Was On The Dating Game In 1966 Before Her Acting Career Took Off
She Was Close To 20 Years Old When She First Appeared On The Show
Woman of the Hourchanges Rodney Alcala’s true storyin several different ways. However, the movie is factually correct when it states that Sally Field, too, was once a contestant onThe Dating Game. Sally Field made her feature film debut in 1962 by playing an uncredited role in Moon Pilot. In the years that followed, she played minor roles in TV shows likeGidgetandOccasional Wifebefore getting starring roles in movies likeThe Way West,The End, andHooper. Before she became a household name for her acting performances,she appeared inThe Dating Gamein 1966.
Woman Of The Hour Cast & Real-Life Character Guide
Apart from walking through some real-life crimes of Rodney Alcala, Woman of the Hour also uses its character beats to explore deeper underlying themes
As seen inWoman of the Hour, the game show features three bachelors and one bachelorette. After asking a series of questions to the bachelors, the bachelorette must decide who she wants to go on a date with. Of the three men who showed up as contestants in the Sally Field episode, two already knew the actress and had worked with her in the past. While she had dated one during her senior year in school, the other had been her surfing instructor duringGidget’s filming. Sally Field ultimately chose the third bachelor who she met for the first time on the show.
Other Notable Names Who Appeared On The Dating Game
From Lindsay Wagner to Arnold Schwarzenegger, many well-know actors have appeared on The Dating Game
Surprisingly, Sally Field is not the only renowned figure who appeared onThe Dating Gamebefore acquiring mainstream success. Lindsay Wagner, best known for her roles inThe Bionic WomanandThe Paper Chase, was also on the show in 1969. John Ritter, ofThe Waltons,The Love Boat, andThree’s Companyfame, also appeared on the television game show as Bachelor Number 3 in 1967.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Introduced as “the current Mr. Olympia” by Jim Lange, Arnold Schwarzenegger was also one of the three bachelors in an episode ofThe Dating Gamein 1973. Several other notable personalities, like Ron Howard, Michael Jackson, Sam J. Jones, Farrah Fawcett, Andy Kaufman, and Peggy Lipton, graced the show before achieving fame in their respective careers.Anna Kendrick’sWoman of the Hourportrays how even the serial killer Rodney Alcala somehow ended up on the show and won a date with Cheryl Bradshaw before she refused to go out with him.
Woman of the Hour
Woman of the Hour is a biographical thriller directed by Anna Kendrick, who also stars in the film. The movie chronicles the infamous real-life story of Cheryl Bradshaw’s appearance on the 1978 edition of The Dating Game, where one of the contestants, Rodney Alcala, would later be revealed as a notorious serial killer. The film delves into the chilling intersection of entertainment and true crime.
