The star of Room 222 recalls an awful experience she had

Karen Valentine, beloved for her role in the groundbreaking TV series Room 222, recently opened up about the rocky road that led to her stardom—and one deeply regrettable moment along the way.

Long before becoming a household name, Valentine was just another aspiring actress trying to break into the industry. Like many celebrities of her era—including Tom Selleck, Suzanne Somers, and Farrah Fawcett—she made an early appearance on The Dating Game, a show she now remembers with a wince rather than a smile.

Before her breakout, Valentine had participated in Dream Girl of 1967, another Chuck Barris production. That led to an invitation to appear on The Dating Game, which at the time was still a light-hearted, novelty show. As a former teen beauty queen, she assumed the gig would be harmless fun. But it turned out to be anything but.

“That was awful,” Valentine recalled in a recent interview. “The guy actually thought this was going to be a real date. I won a night out at the Ambassador Hotel—a show and dinner—but he thought we were supposed to make out in the limo. I just wanted to get out of there. I remember thinking, ‘Skip the prize, give me another audition instead.’” The experience left her feeling uncomfortable and disillusioned. “It was sleazy,” she added, “and not what I signed up for.”

Luckily, that misstep didn’t define her. Not long after, she landed the lead role in the TV movie Gidget Grows Up, which led directly to her casting in Room 222. The series ran from 1969 to 1974 and made television history with its socially conscious storylines, centered around a Black high school teacher played by Lloyd Haynes. The show was ahead of its time, addressing race, tolerance, and youth culture in ways network television hadn’t dared to before.

Created by James L. Brooks—later the mastermind behind The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and As Good As It Gets—and produced by Gene Reynolds of MASH* fame, Room 222 quickly earned critical acclaim. In 1970, it won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding New Series. Both Valentine and co-star Michael Constantine won for their supporting roles, solidifying her status as a rising star.

Valentine still recalls the surreal feeling of receiving an Emmy so early in her career. “It was kind of mind-blowing,” she said. “Meeting Carol Burnett and hearing her say, ‘Congratulations’—that moment still gives me chills. I couldn’t believe she even knew who I was.”

She also remembers being starstruck by Gregory Peck. “I was taking singing lessons at the time, and so was he,” she shared. “He saw me through the window one day and mimed, ‘You did it!’ I was stunned. It was Gregory Peck! I still can’t believe the people I got to meet so early in my career.”

Despite its early success, Room 222 was canceled in its fourth season due to declining ratings. “It was sad,” Valentine admitted. “We felt like we had a good show—smart, progressive, meaningful. But the network made the call. They always say the same thing: ‘We’re going in a different direction.’”

After Room 222, she starred in Karen (1975), another project created by Gene Reynolds. The show was meant to tackle political issues with humor and insight, but it never found its audience and was pulled after just four months. “The original intro was a parody of the film Patton, with me marching up in front of an American flag,” she said. “It was bold, but the network backed off. They wanted something gentler, more romantic. It was ahead of its time.”

Valentine stayed active in showbiz, becoming a regular on The Hollywood Squares and appearing in popular series like Murder, She Wrote and The Love Boat. She also enjoyed a successful stage career, even appearing on Broadway. Her final film was the 2004 Hallmark Channel original Wedding Daze, where she starred opposite John Larroquette.

Looking back, Valentine still holds Room 222 close to her heart. “That show gave me everything,” she said. “It set the bar really high. So later, when other projects came along, it was hard not to compare. But I was lucky—I still got to work on some really great material.”

Now in her late 70s, Karen Valentine continues to reflect on her early days with gratitude and humor. That awkward Dating Game experience may have been a rough start, but it’s clear it didn’t define her. Instead, her legacy is rooted in a show that broke boundaries, entertained millions, and helped shape television into what it is today.

If you’re a fan of Karen Valentine, what’s your favorite show or role she played? Share your thoughts, and maybe pour yourself a bit of nostalgia while you’re at it.