Karen Valentine discusses the difficult journey that lead her to her award-winning role as a student turned teacher in the hit television series Room 222. Catapulting her to popularity, the show, which last aired nearly 50 years ago, is a love she still cherishes, unlike her appearance on The Dating Game, which she acknowledges was a “awful” experience with no love lost.
Before becoming famous, superstars such as Suzanne Somers, Tom Selleck, Leif Garret, and Farrah Fawcett appeared on The Dating Game, the first dating reality show that not only generated hundreds of similar concepts in the future, but also served as a launchpad for new actors.Karen Valentine was one of those stars who, after starring on Chuck Barris’ TV series Dream Girl of 1967, was invited to the dating show founded by Barris himself.
Valentine, a former adolescent beauty queen, had the opportunity to interview three attractive bachelors who were hidden behind a dividing wall. She admitted that she thought the appearance would be “harmless fun,” but her “choice” turned it into a horrific experience. “That was terrible because the guy assumed this was going to be a date, right? “The Dating Game became more serious later, and people were sent on trips,” Valentine, now 76, told Closer Weekly.
“I just got to go to the Ambassador Hotel to attend a play, but the guy assumed we were going to make out in the limo, and it was like, ‘You know this is a first date, right?’ It was quite sleazy. You’d go to dinner and then to a show, which was the award I received, but the guy took this seriously. I wanted out of the date. You know, ‘Save your money; who needs to go on a date? Let me perform another show. “Give me a shot at acting or something.”
Leaving that sorrow behind, Valentine was cast in the TV film Gidget Grows Up (1969), which led to her main part in the hit television series Room 222 (1969–1974). The avant-garde TV drama centered on a black high school teacher (played by the award-winning Lloyd Haynes 1934-1987) who attempted to teach students tolerance.
The show was conceived by James L Brooks, the genius behind The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, as well as films like As Good as It Gets and Terms of Endearment, and produced by Gene Reynolds, a developer and producer of M*A*S*H. Room 222 swept the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1970, winning Outstanding New Series, while Valentine and Michael Constantine, also renowned for My Big Fat Greek Wedding in 2002, received supporting roles.
Valentine described her first nomination and triumph as “mind-blowing” because it happened so quickly. “And to meet Carol Burnett and have her say, ‘Well, congrats for this.’ It was like, ‘Thank you.’ But would Carol Burnett recognize me? “Just incredible.” The teenage actress recalls being taken aback when she met another great actor.
“I remember I was taking singing lessons at the time, and I went to my singing class,” Valentine recalls. Gregory Peck also took lessons. When he passed by, I was at the teacher’s piano, and he spotted me through the window and mimed, ‘You did it!’ I was like, “Oh my God.” It’s Gregory Peck! How did I get the opportunity to meet these celebrities and talented individuals from the start?”
According to Closer Weekly, critics praised Room 222, but in the fourth season, ratings plummeted and the show was terminated mid-season. Karen Valentine discusses the difficult journey that lead her to her award-winning role as a student turned teacher in the hit television series Room 222. Catapulting her to popularity, the show, which last aired nearly 50 years ago, is a love she still cherishes, unlike her appearance on The Dating Game, which she acknowledges was a “awful” experience with no love lost.
Before becoming famous, superstars such as Suzanne Somers, Tom Selleck, Leif Garret, and Farrah Fawcett appeared on The Dating Game, the first dating reality show that not only generated hundreds of similar concepts in the future, but also served as a launchpad for new actors. Jennifer Lopez, 54, was widely criticized after her Met Gala performance.
Karen Valentine was one of those stars who, after starring on Chuck Barris’ TV series Dream Girl of 1967, was invited to the dating show founded by Barris himself. Karen Valentine. 1971. (Photo credit: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)) Valentine, a former adolescent beauty queen, had the opportunity to interview three attractive bachelors who were hidden behind a dividing wall.
She admitted that she thought the appearance would be “harmless fun,” but her “choice” turned it into a horrific experience. “That was terrible because the guy assumed this was going to be a date, right? “The Dating Game became more serious later, and people were sent on trips,” Valentine, now 76, told Closer Weekly. “I just got to go to the Ambassador Hotel to attend a play, but the guy assumed we were going to make out in the limo, and it was like, ‘You know this is a first date, right?’
It was quite sleazy. You’d go to dinner and then to a show, which was the award I received, but the guy took this seriously. I wanted out of the date. You know, ‘Save your money; who needs to go on a date? Let me perform another show. “Give me a shot at acting or something.” Leaving that sorrow behind, Valentine was cast in the TV film Gidget Grows Up (1969), which led to her main part in the hit television series Room 222 (1969–1974).
The avant-garde TV drama centered on a black high school teacher (played by the award-winning Lloyd Haynes 1934-1987) who attempted to teach students tolerance. The show was conceived by James L Brooks, the genius behind The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, as well as films like As Good as It Gets and Terms of Endearment, and produced by Gene Reynolds, a developer and producer of M*A*S*H.
Room 222 swept the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1970, winning Outstanding New Series, while Valentine and Michael Constantine, also renowned for My Big Fat Greek Wedding in 2002, received supporting roles. Valentine described her first nomination and triumph as “mind-blowing” because it happened so quickly. “And to meet Carol Burnett and have her say, ‘Well, congrats for this.’ It was like, ‘Thank you.’ But would Carol Burnett recognize me? “Just incredible.”
The teenage actress recalls being taken aback when she met another great actor. “I remember I was taking singing lessons at the time, and I went to my singing class,” Valentine recalls. Gregory Peck also took lessons. When he passed by, I was at the teacher’s piano, and he spotted me through the window and mimed, ‘You did it!’ I was like, “Oh my God.” It’s Gregory Peck! How did I get the opportunity to meet these celebrities and talented individuals from the start?”
According to Closer Weekly, critics praised Room 222, but in the fourth season, ratings plummeted and the show was terminated mid-season. “Why things changed, I have no idea,” Valentine remarked, recalling when the network informed the actors that the show would be canceled. “They informed us of the situation, which was unfortunate. It’s always upsetting, but especially when you believe you have a good product and a nice show, to have it taken away.
However, the network ultimately decided to proceed in a different way. “They always say, ‘We’ve decided to go in a different direction.’” When Room 222 was cancelled, she starred in her own program, Karen (1975), which Reynolds produced but was canceled after four months due to low ratings. Valentine described the show’s premise as “controversial political stories that were a savvy, humoristic reflection of then-current headlines,” adding that the initial opening titles were a parody of the introduction to the film ‘Patton.’ Instead of George C. Scott, you had me walking up against an American flag backdrop.
“Very clever, but never aired.” She went on, “It shifted to me riding a bicycle around D.C. Instead of a political drama/comedy, the network envisioned something softer, more romantic and intimate, and less convoluted. “I think it was ahead of its time.” Valentine, a stage actor who has previously starred in Broadway musicals, maintained her career as a semi-regular on The Hollywood Squares (1971–1977) and in episodes of TV shows such as Murder She Wrote and The Love Boat.
Her most recent feature was Wedding Daze (2004), which aired on the Hallmark Channel and starred her alongside John Laroquette. Valentine says she only has pleasant recollections of Room 222, which was a huge success for her from the start: “Working with all of those people, and to have that kind of experience first time out-the show just brings back the fondest and best memories in the world to me.” She admits, “It kind of spoiled me, because it set the bar really high.” So when other things happen to you, you wonder, ‘What is this?’ It was different, you understand. But I was fortunate to acquire content that was both enjoyable and well-done.”
