Karen Valentine looks back on her journey to her famous role as a teacher in *Room 222*, a hit TV show she still loves, even though it ended almost 50 years ago. However, she doesn’t have fond memories of her time on *The Dating Game*. She describes that experience as “awful” and doesn’t hold any positive feelings about it.
Before they were well-known, celebrities like Suzanne Somers, Tom Selleck, Leif Garrett, and Farrah Fawcett appeared on *The Dating Game*. It was the first dating reality show and helped launch many actors’ careers.
Karen Valentine was among those stars. After her appearance on the TV series *Dream Girl* in 1967, she was invited to be on *The Dating Game*, which was also created by Chuck Barris.
Karen Valentine, 1971. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
Karen Valentine, who used to be a teen beauty queen, got the chance to interview three eligible bachelors hidden behind a wall on *The Dating Game*. She thought it would be “harmless fun,” but it turned out to be a terrible experience.
Valentine, now 76, shared with Closer Weekly that the date didn’t go as planned. The guy thought it was going to be a serious date, but Valentine only ended up going to the Ambassador Hotel to see a show. The guy expected more from the date, like making out in the limo, which made her uncomfortable. She said it felt “sleazy” and just wanted to escape the situation.
After this regrettable experience, Valentine moved on to better things. She was cast in the TV movie *Gidget Grows Up* in 1969, which led to her starring role in the hit TV series *Room 222* (1969 to 1974). The show featured a black high school teacher, played by Lloyd Haynes, who worked to teach students about tolerance.
The show *Room 222* was created by James L. Brooks, who also made *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* and *Taxi*, and produced by Gene Reynolds, known for *M*A*S*H*.
In 1970, *Room 222* won big at the Primetime Emmy Awards. It was named Outstanding New Series, and both Karen Valentine and Michael Constantine, known for *My Big Fat Greek Wedding*, won awards for their supporting roles.
Valentine was amazed by the quick success and was thrilled when Carol Burnett congratulated her. “It was mind-blowing to have that happen so soon, and to meet Carol Burnett? Incredible,” she said.
Valentine also shared how starstruck she was when she met Gregory Peck. She was taking singing lessons and saw him through the window, and he gave her a thumbs-up. She was thrilled to meet such legendary actors early in her career.
Despite the praise, *Room 222* struggled with ratings in its fourth season and was canceled mid-season.
Karen Valentine doesn’t know why *Room 222* was canceled, but she remembers feeling sad when the network informed the cast. “It’s always tough when a good show gets taken away,” she said. The network simply told them they were going in a “different direction.”
After *Room 222* ended, Valentine starred in a new show called *Karen* in 1975, which was also created by Gene Reynolds. Unfortunately, it didn’t do well and was canceled after just four months.
Valentine described *Karen* as a show with “controversial political stories” that were a humorous take on current events. The original idea for the show’s opening was a parody of the film *Patton*, but it was changed to something softer and more personal, which she felt didn’t fit the show’s original concept.
Despite this, Valentine continued her career as a stage actor and appeared on TV shows like *The Hollywood Squares*, *Murder She Wrote*, and *The Love Boat*. Her last film was *Wedding Daze* in 2004, which aired on the Hallmark Channel.
Looking back at *Room 222*, Valentine has only positive memories. “Working on that show and having that experience early on was amazing,” she said. “It set a high standard for me, and while other projects may have been different, I was lucky to get some really great roles.”
If you’re a fan of Karen Valentine, what’s your favorite show or movie that she starred?