Hosted By: Tracy Pattin and Stephen Lang
Produced By: Wondery
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?
The Dating Game Killer Podcast Host:
Stephen Lang is an American born actor and playwright. He is best known for his role as Colonel Miles Quaritch in James Cameron’s Avatar and began production on the sequels.
Tracy Pattin is the host and co-producer of the Wondery Network’s groundbreaking series, Hollywood and Crime. She is also creator, producer and host of the new series, Women2018 where she travels the country documenting stories of women running for political office. With her West Hollywood history expertise, she designs and creates walking tours for the international media through Visit West Hollywood.
Praise from Listeners*:
- Emotional Depth: Listeners appreciate how the podcast delves into the emotional impact of the case on the victims’ families, shedding light on the lasting scars left by Alcala’s actions.
- Authentic Interviews: Tracy and Stephen conduct interviews with key individuals involved in the case, including law enforcement personnel, witnesses, and survivors, offering unique insights and firsthand accounts.
- Engaging Chemistry: The hosts’ dynamic rapport and genuine passion for true crime create keeps listeners engaged throughout the series.
Criticisms from Listeners*:
- Pacing Issues: Some listeners have mentioned that certain episodes or segments of the podcast may feel overly long or stretched out, resulting in pacing issues that could have been tightened fora better listening experience.
- Lack of New Information: True crime enthusiasts who are already familiar with the Rodney Alcala case and its various media coverage have noted that the podcast doesn’t always offer significant new insights or information beyond what is already available in existing documentaries and articles.
- Graphic Content: Given the disturbing nature of the case, some listeners have expressed discomfort with the graphic and explicit descriptions of violence and the heinous acts committed by Rodney Alcala. While true crime podcasts often delve into dark subjects, this particular one may be too intense for some individuals.
- Overemphasis on Dramatization: A few listeners have felt that the use of dramatic sound effects or reenactments in the podcast may detract from the seriousness of the subject matter and border on being sensationalistic.
* The True Crime Connection teams aims to keep this as an unbiased search database. In order to do this, we curate what people love the most and the least about a podcast by analysing ApplePodcast reviews.
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