Distasteful necessity

I've resisted but finally given up. This is my one and only post on Rodney Alcala, the Dating Game killer.

Alcala's crimes are repulsive, and I don't want to talk about him at all. But he's been in the news again for two more murders he committed. Every story seems to mention his episode of Dating Game back in the 1970s.

There's little to be learned from this miserable tale. Except the obvious: looks can be deceiving with game show contestants as much as anybody else. Alcala seems completely normal in his Dating Game turn, even though he had already been convicted of rape. (Great background checking by Chuck Barris' organization.)

Evil comes in all shapes and sizes. It's even been known to arrive as a contestant.