You’ve seen the clip. Or maybe you’ve just heard the rumors whispered in Twin Cities Facebook groups or saw a grainy thumbnail on a "News Fails" compilation on YouTube. A well-known news personality, sitting at the desk of the iconic Minnesota station KARE 11, appears to drift off into dreamland right in the middle of a broadcast.
In the world of live television, there is no "undo" button. When something goes sideways, it goes sideways in front of hundreds of thousands of people. But when it comes to the story of a KARE 11 anchor falls asleep, the reality is actually a lot more calculated—and frankly, funnier—than a simple case of burnout or a late-night bender.
Honestly, people love a good "on-air disaster" story. We’ve seen the tragic cases, like Annie Stensrud over in Mankato, who became a national punchline in 2011 after a broadcast where she seemed completely out of it (she later clarified it was a reaction to medication). But KARE 11 is a different beast. This is the station of the "Backyard" and some of the most polished pros in the Midwest. So, how did they end up with a viral "sleeping" scandal?
The Man Behind the Nap: Eric Perkins Explained
The "anchor" in question wasn't a traditional news desk lead like Randy Shaver or Julie Nelson. It was Eric Perkins. If you’ve lived in Minnesota for more than five minutes, you know "Perk." He was the station's sports director for years, known for his high energy, his "Perk's Play of the Week," and a generally irreverent style that made sports feel less like a lecture and more like a chat at a bar.
So, did he actually pass out during a live segment?
Basically, no. But the internet doesn't care about "no."
Back in 2012, during a weather transition with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard, Perkins decided to commit to a bit. The joke was simple: weather segments can sometimes be, well, a little dry or repetitive. To poke fun at his colleague, Perk laid his head down on the desk and pretended to be dead to the world while Sven did his thing.
The problem? He did it too well.
When a Staged Bit Goes Globally Viral
Comedy is all about timing, but live TV timing is a fickle mistress. The clip was picked up by FailBlog and eventually made its way to CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. Suddenly, the "KARE 11 anchor falls asleep" narrative was everywhere. People who had never even been to Minneapolis were suddenly experts on Eric Perkins' sleep hygiene.
It's sorta wild how fast the context disappears. On the actual broadcast, the chemistry between Perk and Sven made it obvious to local viewers that they were just messing around. They had that kind of "brotherly" dynamic where they were constantly trying to crack each other up. But once you strip away the 25 years of local rapport and just post a 10-second clip of a man face-down on a desk, it looks like a career-ending catastrophe.
Perkins himself has talked about this quite a bit. He once mentioned to the Star Tribune that he didn't necessarily regret the stunt, but it definitely made him realize how dangerous "bits" can be in the age of the viral internet. You think you're making a joke for the folks at home in Edina, and twenty-four hours later, you’re being mocked by David Letterman.
Why Do We Obsess Over This?
There is something deeply humanizing about seeing a professional "fail" at their job. News anchors are supposed to be these unflappable, perfectly coiffed pillars of the community. When we see one—even as a joke—fall victim to something as relatable as a nap, it breaks the "uncanny valley" of local news.
- The relatable factor: Everyone has wanted to nap during a long meeting.
- The "gotcha" culture: We live in a "camera-on-at-all-times" world where we wait for the mask to slip.
- The Minnesota factor: We have a weird pride in our local stars. We want them to be perfect, but we also love it when they're a little "scrappy."
The Real Strains of the News Desk
While the Perk incident was a gag, it highlights a real issue in the industry: exhaustion. Let’s talk about the morning crew. Anchors like Kim Insley (who was a staple of KARE 11 Sunrise for decades) or more recent departures like Kris Laudien, live lives that would break most people.
Waking up at 2:00 AM.
Being "camera-ready" by 4:30 AM.
Maintaining a bubbly, "good morning Minnesota!" personality while the rest of the world is on their first cup of coffee.
It’s a recipe for actual sleep deprivation. While there hasn't been a confirmed case of a KARE 11 staffer accidentally nodding off due to exhaustion on air, the "sleeping anchor" trope persists because we all know, deep down, it’s a miracle it doesn't happen more often.
Modern Times and the "New" KARE 11
Flash forward to today. KARE 11 has been through a lot of changes. There was the massive transformer fire in 2025 that forced them to broadcast from their transmitter tower in Shoreview and even fly anchors to Atlanta just to get a signal out. In those high-stress moments, the crew was running on fumes.
When Lauren Leamanczyk and John Ziegler were anchoring from WXIA in Georgia just to keep the Twin Cities informed, you better believe sleep was a luxury. Yet, even then, they stayed awake.
It’s a testament to the "show must go on" mentality. The Perkins clip remains the gold standard for this specific search term because it hits that perfect sweet spot of looking real enough to be scandalous but being lighthearted enough that nobody actually got fired.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you’re still hunting for the "real" story behind the sleeping anchor, here is the short version to save you the deep dive:
- Check the Source: Most "sleeping anchor" videos are either staged bits (like Eric Perkins) or medical/medication reactions (like Annie Stensrud).
- Look for the Full Clip: If you see a short snippet, try to find the 30 seconds before and after. Usually, you’ll see the anchor laugh or the co-anchor join in on the joke.
- Respect the Grind: Local news is a 24/7 beast. These folks work weird hours to keep us updated on everything from Shoreview fires to winter storm warnings.
The next time you see a headline about a KARE 11 anchor falls asleep, remember Eric Perkins. He wasn't tired; he was just a guy who knew that sometimes, the weather report is the perfect time for a quick, very public power nap.
Keep an eye on the live broadcasts—you never know when the next bit of "TV magic" might turn into a decade-long internet legend. Just don't expect the current team to be quite as daring as Perk was; the viral stakes are a lot higher now than they were back then.