The Dating Game Killer

4,925

In 1978, Rodney Alcala won a date on the popular TV show, The Dating Game. What no one knew was that he was a prolific serial killer in the middle of a cross-country murder spree. In this six-part series, co-hosts Tracy Pattin (Hollywood & Crime) and Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don’t Breathe) take listeners on an unbelievable journey into Alcala’s twisting secret life. He hid behind normal jobs as a typesetter at a prominent newspaper and a summer camp counselor. How did this predatory monster fool employers, prison psychiatrists, and parole boards — all while committing heinous crimes from coast to coast? And how did a one-time appearance as a game show contestant help lead to his capture? From the makers of Dirty John, Dr. Death, and Young Charlie, learn the story of the most famous serial killer you’ve never heard of - The Dating Game Killer.
Binge all episodes of The Dating Game Killer exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-dating-game-killer/ now.

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Recent Reviews

Lovethiscusbapp

Unlistenable

The storytelling is impossible to follow. Why all the narrators and perspective changes. This is not a book and the dramatization makes this so hard to listen to.
McGuffog

The writing is irresponsible, negligent, and frankly creepy.

The writer’s reimagining of each killing mirrors a portal in the very issue of its content. The dramatization and verbiage of this very sensitive subject is not only unintelligent, it’s creepy. Complete lack of empathy and reasonable reporting. So often talking about how handsome the killer is and how much the women want his attention. Mind you the victims are often children and teens. Calling them tinyboppers. Talking so much about what they wear. How easily they are victimized. The writer takes the liberty to explain how the deceased women actually feel and respond during their murder. What is that? Honing in on the creepiest made up details for the sake of entertainment. As an avid true crime podcast listener, this production was as distasteful as it comes.A D-list romanticized fluff of real events. Embarrassing at best. Gross in execution. Stick to the facts. The objectifying of women by these writers is frightful. Do better or do something else.
Schhhiejsn

Ugh

It’s quite an accomplishment to make one of the most interesting crime stories boring, confusing, and overall just not a good podcast, regardless of the topic. I think they just tried to get too deep into jumping timelines and being creative, and the storytelling suffered immensely. Very disappointing.
beccalc15

Very well done

Extremely well done crime podcast
Deej0616

Loved it but disappointed

You failed to say the biggest issue. He got away with this in the American criminal justice system because he was white. Other people aren’t given those many chances (over and over). I feel like it was a missed opportunity to talk about because all of his chances were brought up so many times through all the episodes.
TeeWhyT

Why am I paying for Wondery plus?

I subscribed to wondery plus, listened to half of the first episode (“The Dating Game Killer”). When I went to resume the remaining 24 minutes of episode one, it would not load. Several of the following episodes played as well as different free podcasts on the Apple platform without a problem. The content is excellent but the technical side is not.
Slambeanie

Not bad, not great

I like hearing the real people describe what they did and/or what they saw instead of two narrators juts reading. The story itself is tremendous and it could have really been a kickass podcast.
Jates89

0 out of 5 Stars

You can’t listen to this podcast at all unless you pay for Wondery+. They don’t even release one episode a week, like a lot of their other shows do. I’m not paying for podcasts that I don’t know if I will even like. I’m also not paying for pods when there are plenty of other pods out there for free. Boo on Wondery+ for taking good podcasts and then deciding to charge for them. Losing my true as a listener.
EricRhysTaylor

Lame Guest

I liked the show until they had the lame guest Joan Renner who disparaged a politician that she didn’t like. Completely unprofessional to be political on a show that has nothing to do with politics. These comments should’ve been edited out of the podcast.
nicolesarah22

Great show

Tracey Pattin is wonderful as usual, super well presented
shinyhoe

Interesting case I had never heard of

Well done and thorough. You will be outraged by the naïveté and ineptitude of the police and prison psychologists in letting this guy go free so many times. Very sad the lives that could have been saved.
mustardish

Sounds like a dateline show

Why are they telling this as if someone is reading aloud a fiction novel??? It feels so unreliable.
JDMae7

Skip episode 7

Eps 1-6 are a deep dive into the case. Episode 7 is cringey af—essentially a bunch of unscripted boomers rambling about LA murders and opining about “prostitutes” (you can guess how it goes).
Gabrielle188

Very well done, although sad

I learned a lot about this case that I did not know before. It is absolutely stunning how cruel this human being was. I really enjoyed hearing about the victims and their lives. Just a warning that there are many child crimes and it can be really hard to listen to.
Poohbear0985

Issues

The story is good the host is pleasant to listen to but it constantly pauses or stops playing or goes back to the beginning. I listen to podcasts all the time and this is by far the worse playing one. I def will be canceling my subscription . Not even worth it if I’m constantly stopping to fix the issue
Stwmmw

Mediocre

Tough listen with multiple narrators and timelines. Not their best…..
DelJessy

History at its best !

I remember hearing about this killer however the details of all the events is just amazing! Thank you guys for this PODCAST 💕
RadiantGinger

Great podcast

I love anything by Wondery. There are many “pros” like the great story line, research & storytelling. Only thing I would say is a “con” is the weird background music…sounds like you are in a fun house at a fair or something. Totally doesn’t fit with the rest of intense and gruesome story being told.
Casnh

Hosts enjoy these murders

It’s pretty creepy how much the hosts seem to be savoring these murders. This isn’t about crimlngy, science, or detective work. It’s about getting a sick thrill from this awful psychopath.
Animegirl15

I knew about the Dating Game Killer…

But I didn’t know he committed more murders. In the end Im glad how the story came to a close thanks to the wonderful people making the podcast.
AnnyMac

Episode 7 was so bad

Liked the podcast, but the discussion with the retired detectives and that awful woman Joan Renner? Wow, it was bad. Not a nice or very compassionate person, that Joan Renner. The way she spoke about one of our Senators from CA was very disrespectful and just made her look so partisan and really dumb.
alexis 🌙

Riveting

This is the second podcast I’ve listened to by wondering and neither disappointed. I found the story captivating and at times I wondered how I went so long without knowing such a crazy story. Amazing.
PortoRicanIvy

Awareness and insight in the dating game killer

I am new to podcasts. Love the personal spin on the narrative making us aware of how prominent social medias were unaware this serial killer was among them. The content focus on a central idea, showing structure, the insights gave authenticity to the narrative. The name of the podcast episode catch the attention, making us wonder how much we rely in the screening of people we are in contact each day by the companies who hired them. Also the who, how, why and what was given in a interesting manner. PortoRicanIvy
mp1636

Mediocre at best

Story is interesting, but the absence of actual witnesses and original journalism makes it a rather boring listen.
Addy_007

Well done

This podcast was very well put together. I don’t understand the negative reviews about the timeline. It’s should be messy because several serial killers were operating at the same time, making law enforcement officers job all the more difficult. I think this podcast highlights the victims well, which should always be the goal.
Enigk47

Gross.

Very exploitative narration. Disrespectful to the victims and their families. It comes across as romanticizing this evil predator.
Banana350

Great podcast!

Great narrations, I was intrigued the whole time while listening!!
gpd209

Confusing structure

I struggled at the beginning to follow the narrative. The bouncing perspectives and alternating narrators was confusing and distracting. By the middle third, I began to understand the groove and was able to follow better. Then I got lost again in toward the end - I had to head to Wikipedia to figure out what was happening.
kitty936

Great story … But

It is a great story & I like hearing the details But I wish they would of just stuck with one subject ie one serial killer or even one area of the country at a time … trying to keep up with the going back & forth was a bit much .. Also .. I wasn’t a fan of having different narrators
Diq

Two narrators?

Too hard to follow the timeline of the story.
Janelle001122

Ugh

Not worth listening to. Plus the dinging sound they play in the background is so obnoxious.
jane3083

Another tacky exploitive murder podcast

Did we really need another tacky overdramatic murder podcast from wondery?
Sairah Svahtee

Deja vu all over again

Yet another podcast that takes a compelling tragic story and turns it into entertainment. Please be embarrassed to have been a part of this if you aren’t already. Stop it with the manipulative background music, the overly emotive narration, the biased writing, jumping from storyline to storyline without explanation. Add actual reporting, interviews with witnesses, law enforcement personnel, journalists, and family members. Disappointing to say the least.
Rosy_9

Wow, I recommend

These are horrific crimes, and I appreciate their reporting on all this. Love Tracy Pattin & as always, very well made
Ditnes

Not going to listen and here’s why...

This is not entertainment. This man is the source of unimaginable trauma for so many people, myself included. I was looking for another podcast and happened upon this to my shock and deep dismay. Everyone who had a hand in this podcast should be ashamed of themselves.
tashi#

The dating game killer

Omg! May be the most engaging well presented and produced real life thriller ever. Love the hosts- perfect tone. Thanks to the sponsors for funding. Will support your products.
CelticRiver

I give 5 stars! (and still nit-pick)

Loved the layout; the story shared between the hosts makes it a little easier to understand the switch between Alcala’s periods of life between NY and LA and such. Only nit-picky downside was the subtle music behind the narrators, when it was often a simple two-tone piece— it sounds exactly like the musical scale in the alarm on my iPhone (“Bulletin” tone) and caused it to be pretty distracting. I would have to rewind to focus on what the narrator said. I’m still giving the podcast a 5 star for content, because I feel like that music part is just my own problem. But, just to note for future awareness of sound production.
Andraywill

Confusing

Don’t understand why the story switches back and forth between Alcala, the Hillside Strangler, and the Son of Sam. Very confusing!!
Meganm007

Great story.

I CANNOT believe I didn’t know more about this guy. Absolute EVIL
ihefbgerfhbrwnnji

it was really good but a little hard to follow

I love the two hosts and the special guests, but it was a little hard to follow at times. This story and other true crime stories always interest me.
Phone1999

4.5 Stars

Very interesting (sickening) podcast of the case. Would have given it 5 stars but having two narrators made the story a little confusing at times.
adiblaas

Very interesting

& well-made
MinaNUB

Binged in One Day

This was a riveting story and told very well. I couldn’t stop listening. Thank you for this! Thank you also for the reminder about the body farm in San Marcos. I knew about it because I attended Texas State University. I am going to donate my body to them instead of being cremated. What a wonderful option!
Mossy jen

Kept me listening

The commentators are usually what makes me keep looking for another podcast. Loved everything about this series!!
MSportsEngineering

Loved every episode

Can wait for more similar podcasts from the same team
aiimeeeee__

Hard to follow.

I love true crime podcasts but this one is confusing because of the switch between different stories and narrators. Makes it hard to follow.
littleporkbao

Pretty Thorough

Although I had already heard of this story from television and documentaries I wanted to listen to this in the background but it was quite interesting. The story is told in a very thorough narrative. It’s not boring and of course isn’t skimpy on all the sad and gory details that intrigue a lot of true crime listeners. A good binge.
Lil Scallion

Excellent Quality, Pace and Reporting

The quality: crystal clear, minimal but aptly placed environment sounds and spot on range. The pace: we all know that true crime can be a hard listen for anyone. Not the production type but the subjects discussed. I do appreciate the warning at the being of the episodes for those that may be unaware of the crimes discussed. The podcast jumps right in, weaving an intricate but easy to follow story of the killers MO, background and where it all leads. It’s told neither slowly or too quickly and I really appreciate that. The way they went about telling this true crime story is very ‘ear’ catching. So many perspectives without losing the main focus. Well done!
ChellBell99

Excellent

This podcast was compelling from the first minute to the interview episode at the end. Very immersive.
Fb stock

Jumbled mess

There are multiple stories with various narrators. Definitely not one of Wonderly’s best.

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