SPOKANE, Wash. -- Former KREM 2 News anchor Randy Shaw returned to Spokane on Thursday after retiring from television news in 2015. He is here for a special fundraiser, but took time to chat with his old friend, Chief Meteorologist Tom Sherry.
Shaw and Sherry instantly picked up where they left off before Randy left, and during a special Facebook live on the KREM 2 Facebook page they talked about what Shaw has been up to.
"You were here up until September 2015 and then you disappeared," Sherry joked.
"I was doing exactly what you told me to do, and that was babysitting your house in Arizona," Shaw quipped.
Shaw is living in Chandler, Arizona these days. He said he definitely noticed the change in temperatures when he arrived.
"It was 75 [degrees] when I left," Shaw said, "and it was 5 [degrees] when I got in."
While Shaw did retire from television news, he did not retire from being active. He has been acting. Shaw said he hired an agent and has been in a few projects so far.
"I was in the syndicated television thing called 'Women in Prison'," he said. "It was a 20-minute film for Best Western Hotel owners and I was the talking mirror."
"And they pay you for this?" Sherry asked, jokingly.
"Yes they pay me for this!" Shaw said.
Shaw is also going to be in a movie called "Mama"
"I play the police officer," he said, "and I have to intervene in an emotional dispute."
Shaw joked that his acting career would take him to Beverly Hills. Shaw said he feels at home while acting, and does not get all that intimidated being around other actors.
"I really like it. I haven't done a western [film] yet, and that's what I want to do," Shaw said.
Shaw said he is enjoying himself in retirement, and said his wife is also doing well too.
"Did you envision yourself doing this before you retired?" Sherry asked.
"No, I knew a couple actors in Tucson and they just said try it! and it's been great," Shaw said.
Shaw said that he does miss Spokane. He said it was great to be back in town and the city looked beautiful under the snow. He said he plans to make more trips back to Spokane.
"I notice something here that you just don't see anywhere else -- Pot holes," Shaw joked.
The conversation would turn serious when discussing Shaw's health. He battled with cancer after his retirement.
"A tough year," Shaw said. "If there were 10 steps to death, I walked nine of them."
"Oh my," Sherry said.
Shaw said he went through massive chemotherapy and had numerous surgeries, one lasting as long as 12 hours. He said his wife helped him get on a better diet and recover.
"I am back. I am cancer-free, I have no problems. I lost 40 something pounds," he said.
Shaw credits his wife and the doctors at the Mayo Clinic they saved his life.
As for his life with television news, Shaw said he does miss it.
"Do you ever think you'll want to do that again?" Sherry asked.
"No!" Shaw quickly answered back with a laugh.
You can watch the full interview between Shaw and Sherry Thursday on KREM 2 News at 4:00 p.m. and again at 6:00 p.m.
Shaw will be at the Bing Crosby Theater at 7:00 p.m. All the money raised at the fundraiser will go to local children. Shaw said it is to ensure they have access to musical instruments and instruction -- something he said is a fundamental part of a complete education.
The Future Song Foundations benefit concert will feature acoustic performances. Guitarist and vocalist Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge and Slash and the Conspirators will perform along with Peter Rivera of Rare Earth. Shaw will emcee the event.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit this website.
Look who's back in Town! Rand Shaw interview @4 @6 @KREM2. And on https://t.co/Si2NegXvEp pic.twitter.com/N5vmZGfK4h
— Tom Sherry (@KREMTomSherry) December 15, 2016