By Eileen Moon
When Johnny Gilbert introduces Roey Hadar on “Jeopardy!” in two weeks, he’ll say Hadar is from Arlington, Virginia.
But a few thousand folks here in the Two River area know better.
Although Arlington is where he’s living now, Hadar is a Jersey guy, born and bred – and his real hometown is Fair Haven.
Despite his efforts to persuade producers otherwise, “Jeopardy!” rules state that contestants must claim the city they currently live in, not their hometowns.
Fortunately, Hadar’s mother Ashley has been spreading the word to friends and family that Fair Haven’s own Roey Hadar will appear on “America’s Favorite Quiz Show” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17.
Ashley Hadar is the business office manager and director of social media for Holiday Express, a well-known local charity that delivers live music, food, fun and friendship to those in need, making 100 visits each year to homeless shelters, care centers and similar charitable organizations during the holidays.
Roey Hadar is also a member of the Holiday Express family. “I spent whatever free time I had in high school volunteering with Holiday Express,” he said.
He was also a familiar face at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. “I worked everything from the cotton candy booth to the pitching game.”
A graduate of Rumson Country Day School (RCDS) and Ranney School in Tinton Falls, he holds a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Georgetown University and a master’s in journalism from Columbia University. He’s currently a staffer on the political news show “Washington Week,” which airs live every Friday on PBS.
Hadar, who’ll celebrate his 24th birthday soon after the show airs, was still in college when he signed up for the “Jeopardy!” practice test. Once over that hurdle, he was told he could be called to appear on the show anytime in the following 18 months.
Month after month went by without a call and eventually Hadar figured he’d have to sign up for the testing process again.
But just as he’d given up hope, the call came in. He had two weeks to book a flight to Los Angeles and find a hotel room. “They were speeding up taping because of Alex Trebek’s health,” Hadar said. The legendary “Jeopardy!” host is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Hadar had a few other hurdles to overcome as well. When he originally auditioned for the show, he was between college and grad school. By the time the call came, he was a working journalist.
“I had to ask my boss if it was OK for me as an employee of a TV station” to appear on the show, he said. He also had to clear it with the “Jeopardy!” production. Fortunately, he said, “I got an OK from both sides.”
For Hadar, the road to “Jeopardy!” began in grade school. He was a spelling bee champion at RCDS and played quiz bowl, a “Jeopardy!”-like team competition, in high school and college. He also was a contestant on a short-lived sports version of “Jeopardy!” several years ago.
“Given my interests, it made sense for me to be on the show,” Hadar said. “I had watched it on and off for years. I was always a big fan.” While in eighth grade, Hadar won a state geography competition and went on to compete for New Jersey in the National Geography Bee sponsored by the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. That competition was moderated by Alex Trebek.
“I feel like I’ve come full circle,” Hadar said. “And my girlfriend works for National Geographic.”
While Hadar is sworn to silence about what took place during the actual “Jeopardy!” rounds he participated in, he’s free to talk generally about the experience.
The producers tape five shows in one day, allowing time for contestants to rehearse and get comfortable with the game board and their buzzers, he said.
Unlike shouting out answers at home, “Jeopardy!” contestants have to master the timing of their answers. If they press the buzzer too soon, they’re locked out and prevented from answering. If they hesitate, someone else may ring in first. “The buzzer only activates when the lights (on the side of the board) light up,” Hadar said.
“They went out of their way to make sure that the contestants won’t be too nervous when they go on,” he said. And while competition is fierce, off-screen it’s a friendly group. “I really appreciated the fact that they leaned into this being an extraordinary experience. I really enjoyed myself.”
When the show airs on the 17th, Hadar plans to be at a local bar in D.C., where friends are hosting a watch party. His appearance is taking place on a pivotal day in politics when Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Mueller will testify before Congress.
“I’ll definitely be busy all day on the 17th,” Hadar said.
