The Untold Story of Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala: Key Details on the “Woman of the Hour” Case

The new Netflix thriller, Woman of the Hour, delves into the chilling story of notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala and his interactions with several of his victims, including Cheryl Bradshaw. Marking Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, the film portrays Bradshaw (played by Kendrick), who becomes acquainted with Alcala while participating in the game show The Dating Game.

Unbeknownst to Bradshaw, Alcala had already claimed the lives of five women, and he would go on to murder more in the future. However, Bradshaw narrowly escaped this tragic fate by choosing not to go on a date with Alcala, a decision she communicated to the show’s coordinator. In reality, her only interaction with him was during the taping of the show.

In Woman of the Hour, Anna Kendrick’s character is a loosely based representation of the real Cheryl Bradshaw, with some plot points and events adapted for cinematic flair.

What led Cheryl Bradshaw to refuse a date with Rodney Alcala?

As depicted in the film, the real Cheryl Bradshaw never accepted a date with Rodney Alcala. The two crossed paths during the production of The Dating Game, where Cheryl was presented with three potential suitors, one of whom was Alcala.

After the show, Bradshaw reached out to Ellen Metzger, the contestant coordinator, expressing her discomfort about going out with Alcala. Metzger later recounted this occurrence to ABC’s 20/20:

“She [Cheryl] said, ‘Ellen, I can’t go out with this guy. There [are] weird vibes that are coming off of him. He’s very strange. I am not comfortable. Is that going to be a problem?”

Feeling uneasy about the situation, Bradshaw was not pressured to continue, effectively avoiding a potentially deadly scenario with Alcala.

After her refusal, Alcala continued his murderous spree, which resulted in the deaths of women such as 21-year-old Jill Marie Parenteau and 12-year-old Robin Christine Samsoe. A criminal profiler later suggested that Bradshaw’s rejection may have triggered Alcala’s subsequent violent behavior after his television appearance.

In sharp contrast, the film portrays Cheryl going on a date with the serial killer, placing her in a perilous situation where she relies on luck for survival—a creative liberty taken to enhance the drama.

What is Cheryl Bradshaw’s life like now?

After this narrow escape from Alcala, Cheryl, who was pursuing an acting career at that time, opted to leave Los Angeles and California altogether. Shortly after her Dating Game appearance, she chose to live a more subdued life and focus on raising a family, staying largely out of the public spotlight until 2012.

In 2012, she opened up about her encounter with Alcala for the first time, sharing her experience with The Sunday Telegraph:

“I started to feel ill. He [Rodney] was acting really creepy. I turned down his offer. I didn’t want to see him again,”

Her intuition undoubtedly protected her from a potential disaster, and she later passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones.

Woman of the Hour is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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