Mountain Brook resident to appear on NBC's 'Hollywood Game Night'

Mountain Brook’s Sarah Kathryn Tarter will show off her pop culture knowledge Tuesday, Feb. 23 on NBC’s Hollywood Game Night.

Tarter, who grew up in Huntsville, said it was competitive nature that drew her to apply to the game show.

“I come from a super competitive, fun family. I love to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, even though I’m not very good at Jeopardy,” said Tarter with a laugh.

After studying Journalism at the University of Alabama, Tarter went on to work as a client associate at Merrill Lynch, a marketing and fashion writer for GoHaute.com and in marketing at Dinner Lab.

Tarter, who is also a lover of all things pop culture, said when Hollywood Game Night came on the scene a few years ago, she was instantly hooked.

“I thought, ‘I have to be on this show, this is my show,’” she said, of the game show that combined both competition and pop culture.

In September, Tarter sat at the computer and submitted her application. Less than 20 minutes later, as she was preparing to put her kids, Ella Bennett, 6, and Pippin, 4, down to bed, her phone rang. It was a Los Angeles number.

“I knew right away who it was,” she said.

Tarter impressed the judges that night, and the next morning, she was asked to participate in a second interview.

“I took a 20-question pop culture trivia quiz,” said Tarter. “They asked me everything from ‘who makes the Volt car’ to ‘what is the name of the rapper who sang on Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love track.’ You had to know all types of things.”

Seven interviews and a dozen pictures later, Tarter received an invitation to fly out to Los Angeles for a Nov. 22 taping. Once there, she and the two other contestants were notified that there would be one more round of cuts.

“I was so nervous,” she said. “It was pretty crazy, but I got a spot.”

Once on set, Tarter said it felt just like she was having a game night with all of her friends—a common practice back at home. Tarter said she and her husband, Eddie, have always hosted game nights and viewing parties at home, where her family and friends gather for fun.

“I was chitchatting with Rachel Ray, having drinks, eating popcorn,” she said. “It was game night, with celebrities. Jane Lynch was amazing.”

Tarter teamed up with Ray, Kesha and Taye Diggs on the show. On the opposing team were Meredith Scardino, Loretta Devine and Jaime Pressly.

“It’s been really hard not to tell anyone anything,” said Tarter about keeping the show’s details a secret. “It will be a lot of fun to finally watch the show together.”

Since filming, Tarter said she has hosted weekly Tuesday night viewing parties at her home.

“We even recreate the Hollywood Game Night set,” she said.

Tarter’s family and friends will gather at Workplay the night she will be on the show as a contestant.

“I’ve fulfilled a dream,” said Tarter, “and always been reminded of how wonderful my friends and family are for all their support.”

Hollywood Game Night airs Tuesday nights on NBC at 7 p.m. Central Time.