Murder on Prime Time: The Chilling Reality of Killers Who Went on Game Shows
When you tune into a game show, the last thing you expect is to see a future—or active—killer smiling at the camera. Yet history has proven that some of the most dangerous criminals have sought the spotlight, blending into the world of entertainment while hiding their dark secrets. From serial killers to domestic murderers, here’s how these men turned prime-time television into a chilling backdrop for their crimes.
Rodney Alcala: The ‘Dating Game’ Killer Who Fooled Everyone
In 1978, Rodney Alcala confidently strolled onto The Dating Game, charming the audience and winning a date with bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw. What no one knew at the time was that Alcala had already brutally murdered at least four women and had a history of sexual assault.
“For a serial killer, there’s always a narcissistic need for attention,” forensic psychologist Rod Hoevet tells A&E True Crime. “They believe they are untouchable.”
During the game show, Alcala’s flirtatious double entendres intrigued Bradshaw, but after meeting him in person, she found him unsettling and declined the date. It was a decision that may have saved her life. Alcala would later be convicted of seven murders, though investigators believe he may have taken more than 100 lives.
John Cooper: The Welsh Serial Killer Who Gave Himself Away
In 1989, British game show Bullseye welcomed John Cooper as a contestant. Just four years earlier, he had murdered two siblings, and within weeks of his television appearance, he killed a vacationing couple in cold blood.
Despite the risks of being seen on national television, Cooper confidently answered questions about his knowledge of Pembrokeshire, the region where his crimes took place. That arrogance ultimately led to his downfall. Years later, police matched his still image from Bullseye to a suspect sketch, helping to convict him of four murders in 2011.
“Malignant narcissists believe they’re the smartest in the room,” Hoevet explains. “Even if they’re caught, they assume they can talk their way out of it.”
Edward Wayne Edwards: A Killer in Disguise on ‘To Tell the Truth’
Edward Wayne Edwards’ life was a twisted tale of deception. Once an FBI Most Wanted fugitive, he later rebranded himself as a rehabilitated criminal, even writing a book, Metamorphosis of a Criminal, and touring as a motivational speaker.
In 1972, he appeared on To Tell the Truth, a show where celebrity panelists had to guess the real Ed Edwards among impostors. He relished the attention, basking in the idea of outsmarting the world. Yet beneath the surface, Edwards had already killed.
His daughter later tipped off authorities, leading to his 2009 arrest. He confessed to five murders, but investigators suspect there were more.
Ryan Jenkins: A Reality Show Star Turned Fugitive
Ryan Jenkins, a contestant on Megan Wants a Millionaire and I Love Money 3, seemed like a confident, wealthy bachelor. But behind closed doors, he was a possessive, jealous man with a violent streak.
In 2009, after a whirlwind marriage to model Jasmine Fiore, jealousy consumed Jenkins. When her body was discovered in a dumpster—with her teeth and fingers removed to conceal her identity—Jenkins fled to Canada, where he later died by suicide.
“The speed of their marriage and the way he sought validation rather than real connection speaks to deep insecurities,” forensic psychologist Joni Johnston explains.
Tim Bliefnick: The ‘Family Feud’ Contestant Who Joked About Marriage—Then Killed His Wife
In 2019, Tim Bliefnick competed on Family Feud and shocked audiences with a now-infamous remark. When host Steve Harvey asked, “What’s the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?” Bliefnick quipped, “Honey, I love you, but…said ‘I do.’” The audience gasped, and Bliefnick chuckled, acknowledging the trouble his comment might cause.
What seemed like a tasteless joke at the time became eerie foreshadowing. In 2023, Bliefnick was convicted of murdering his estranged wife, Rebecca “Becky” Bliefnick, just days before their divorce trial. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Game Shows and the Criminal Mind
The unsettling pattern of criminals appearing on television underscores a darker truth: their need for validation and belief in their own invincibility.
“There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to be on a reality show or game show,” Johnston notes. “But when you have someone on the extreme end of narcissism—someone criminally or pathologically inclined—that’s when it becomes dangerous.”
As the cameras roll and the audience claps, we watch, unaware that sometimes, monsters are hiding in plain sight.
