Karen Valentine talks about the difficult journey that led her to her famous role as a student-turned-teacher on the hit TV show *Room 222*.

The show made her a star, and even though it aired almost 50 years ago, Karen still has a special place in her heart for it. But when it comes to her time on *The Dating Game*, Karen says it was an “awful” experience and one she doesn’t look back on fondly.

Before they became famous, other celebrities like Suzanne Somers, Tom Selleck, Leif Garrett, and Farrah Fawcett appeared on *The Dating Game*. This show, the first-ever dating reality show, not only inspired many similar shows but also helped launch the careers of new actors.

Karen Valentine was one of those stars. After appearing on Chuck Barris’s TV show *Dream Girl* in 1967, she was invited to join *The Dating Game*, which was also created by Barris.

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Valentine, who was a former teen beauty queen, had the chance to interview three bachelors hidden behind a wall.

She thought it would be “harmless fun,” but said that her “choice” made the experience awful.

“That was awful, because the guy thought this was really going to be a date, right? *The Dating Game* became more serious later, where people would be sent on trips,” Valentine, now 76, told *Closer Weekly*. “I only went to the Ambassador Hotel to see a show, but the guy thought we were going to make out in the limo. I was like, ‘You know this is a first date, right?’ It was so sleazy. You’d go to dinner and then a show, which was the prize I won, but the guy thought it was serious. I wanted to leave the date. You know, ‘Save the money, who needs to go on a date? Let me do another show. Give me a shot at acting or something.’”

After that experience, Valentine moved on and was cast in the TV movie *Gidget Grows Up* (1969), which led to her starring role in the hit TV series *Room 222* (1969 to 1974). The show was about a black high school teacher, played by the award-winning Lloyd Haynes (1934 to 1987), who tried to teach students to be tolerant.

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The show was created by James L. Brooks, the man behind *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* and *Taxi*, as well as films like *As Good as It Gets* and *Terms of Endearment*. It was produced by Gene Reynolds, who also worked on *M*A*S*H*.

In 1970, *Room 222* did really well at the Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding New Series. Both Valentine and Michael Constantine, who later became famous for *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* (2002), won awards for their supporting roles.

“It was kind of mind-blowing to have that happen so soon, so quickly,” Valentine said about her first nomination and win. “And to meet Carol Burnett and her saying, ‘Well, congratulations for this.’ It was like, ‘Thank you.’ But that Carol Burnett would know me? Just incredible.”

Valentine also remembers being starstruck when she met another famous actor.

“I remember I was taking singing lessons at the time, and I went to my singing class,” Valentine said. “Also taking lessons was Gregory Peck… When he walked by, I was at the teacher’s piano and he saw me through the window and kind of mimed, ‘You did it!’ I was like, ‘Oh my God. It’s Gregory Peck!’ How was it that I had the fortune to meet these stars and talented people from the get-go?”

According to *Closer Weekly*, critics praised *Room 222*, but in the fourth season, the show’s ratings dropped, and it was canceled in the middle of the season.

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“Why things changed, I have no idea,” Valentine said, remembering when the network told the cast that the show was ending. “But they did let us know it was happening, and it was sad… well, it’s always sad, but especially when you think you have a good show and it gets taken away. But in the end, the network decided to go in a different direction. That’s what they always say, ‘We’ve decided to go in a different direction.’”

When *Room 222* was canceled, Valentine starred in her own show, *Karen* (1975), which was created by Reynolds. However, the show was canceled after just four months because of low ratings.

Valentine described the show’s story as “controversial political stories that were a clever, humorous reflection of the news at the time.” She said, “The original opening titles were a take-off on the movie *Patton*. Instead of George C. Scott, you saw me marching up to an American flag background. It was really clever, but never aired.” She continued, “It was changed to me riding a bicycle around Washington, D.C. The network wanted something softer, more romantic and personal, and not too complicated. It wasn’t meant to be an issue-based drama/comedy in the political world. I’d say it was ahead of its time.”

Valentine, who had also worked on stage and in Broadway shows, kept her career going with a semi-regular role on *The Hollywood Squares* (1971 to 1977) and in episodes of TV shows like *Murder, She Wrote* and *The Love Boat*.

Her last film was *Wedding Daze* (2004), where she co-starred with John Laroquette. It was shown on the Hallmark Channel.

Looking back on *Room 222*, which brought her early success, Valentine says she only has good memories: “Working with all of those people, and to have that kind of experience right from the start—*the show* just brings back the fondest and best memories in the world to me.” She adds, “…It also kind of spoiled me, because it set the bar really high. So when other things came to you, you think, ‘What is this?’ It was different, you know. But I was lucky that I did get some pretty fun and well-done material.”

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If you’re a fan of Karen Valentine, which of her shows or movies is your favorite?