Robert F. Ryan Jr., a sergeant with the Bayonne Police Department from Shark River Hills, N.J., made it up to the $50,000 question on the Tuesday, May 6 episode of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
He had answered the $16,000 question successfully on Monday and returned on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, he answered the $25,000 question, but then failed to answer the $50,000 question. He still walked away with $25,000 in winnings.
Hosted by the Emmy Award-winning Meredith Vieira, “Millionaire” can be seen in New York City on WABC (ABC) weekdays at 12:30 p.m.
With each question, Ryan had the chance to walk away with some of the winnings, or take the risk of trying to answer another question and possibly lose money if he got it wrong.
The $25,000 question Ryan faced Tuesday was to be: “The Middle Eastern region of Qumran is best known as the site of what famous archaeological find? A) Epic of Gilgamesh tablets, B) City of Ur, C) Tomb of Tutankhamen, D) Dead Sea Scrolls.”
The correct answer is “D.”
Ryan used his “50-50” lifeline on his new $50,000 question, which was: “In 1879, just three years after it was patented, the first telephone was installed in the White House for what U.S. president? A) Andrew Johnson, B) Rutherford B. Hayes, C) Chester A. Arthur, D) Benjamin Harrison.”
After using the “50-50,” Robert was left with “B” and “D” as options. He guessed the answer to be “D,” but unfortunately, the correct answer was “B.” Ryan, however, managed to walk away from the show with $25,000.
As of Monday afternoon, no one knew whether Ryan would answer the questions correctly. Ryan had been walking around with people – including fellow workers – pressing him for the information.
Ryan is a 1993 graduate of St. Peter’s Prep and is the son of the late Robert Sr. and Joan Ryan, formerly of Bayonne. He is married to Nora and they have one son, 2-year-old Robert III.
Nora went to New York City with Robert and sat in the “Millionaire” audience as his on-air companion for the show.
A family in service
Robert is a sergeant in the Bayonne Police Department, where he works the late shift. His grandfather (the late Charles Ryan) and brother (Jack Ryan) formerly worked within the Bayonne Police Department, and his cousin (Charles Ryan) currently serves as a captain with the department.
Robert and Nora are both proud Irish-Americans and even got married on St. Patrick’s Day. So it makes sense that he brought the show’s host, Vieira, a “Bayonne Police Emerald Society” shirt to present it to her on the “Millionaire” set.
Go on TV
Robert and Nora watch “Millionaire” together all the time. Nora once told him, “You’re not making us any money by yelling at the TV.” So she convinced him to audition for the hot seat.
Ryan recently said that if he won big on “Millionaire,” he would fix their basement (which has a little bit of a mold problem), go to Disney World, and buy a new home.
Currently in its sixth season, production for the seventh season of the hit game show will begin in July 2008. Anyone interested in auditioning can go to www.millionairetv.com to find out where and when auditions will be held.
Tickets to be in the studio audience for a live taping of the show can also be found on www.millionairetv.com.