Randy Shaver, part of the Ch. 11 sports department since the 1980s, has been the interim co-news anchor on the station with Julie Nelson in recent weeks. Shaver, who for years has been KARE 11’s prime sports anchor, might replace Mike Pomeranz who had worked with Nelson before leaving for San Diego earlier this year.
“He’s (Shaver) a possibility,” said station general manager John Remes. “He’s definitely a candidate. We haven’t made a final decision. We’re working through the process.”
Paul Magers might have been the most popular news anchor in Minneapolis TV history before he left for Los Angeles. He and Remes remain friends. Could Magers be headed back? Remes told Sports Headliners Magers is “happily employed” in Los Angeles.
Magers endears himself to colleagues and other friends with his sense of humor. “He used to call me from his treadmill (in Los Angeles) and tell me a joke or two,” Remes said.
As for Shaver, he must be interested in the job of replacing Pomeranz because he’s been on air since late May doing news, not sports. Remes said Shaver “looks comfortable” reporting the news and there has been a “lot of really good feedback.”
It’s not that unusual for an established sportscaster to transition into the news anchor role. Jeff Passolt worked with Shaver in sports at Ch. 11 in the 1980s, and later left this market to work in Denver. When he returned it was as a lead news anchor for Ch. 9, a position he still holds.
Although Shaver might become the lead news anchor with Nelson, Remes said it’s too soon to say how the station’s sports department would be reorganized.