Beth McDonough returns to TV news as KSTP producer

Former FOX 9 crime reporter Beth McDonough has returned to TV news as an investigative producer at KSTP-TV.

"She is smarter than a whip," KSTP news director Lindsay Radford said Monday. "I'm telling you, in the two weeks I've had her on staff, she's uncovered more stories than reporters I've had in a year."

McDonough will be in charge of developing the station's investigative unit and producing stories for it.

In 2008 McDonough was dismissed by FOX 9 after her second drunken-driving arrest. She said the dismissal by FOX 9 news director Bill Dallman saved her life.

In an emotional interview with me in 2009, McDonough said, "When I got my first DUI, my boss at the time [Dallman] asked me face-to-face, Beth, do you have a problem?" After the second drunken-driving case, she followed through with treatment at Hazelden and since then supported herself by starting a dog-walking business.

"I met with her three years ago right after she left FOX," Radford said. "At the time I just didn't know what kind of position I had for her or how we could make it work."

Then recently "we had a position open for an investigative producer and [morning anchor] Brad Sattin -- I think they are Facebook friends -- said, Hey, you know Beth McDonough is interested in getting back into television news. And I thought, 'Hmmm, if she didn't mind not being on TV, I have a job that's right up her alley.'

"So [assistant news director] John Mason and I met her for coffee. She's a complete person, and I mean that in that she's grown tremendously and is very comfortable in her own skin, confident, smart and sophisticated, and you just know that when you meet with her."

Welcome back, Beth.

Anti-balding breakthrough?Hair stylist Jason Deavalon's clients may start appearing to have more hair.

Deavalon, Realtor Mike Sward and most importantly "anti-aging specialist" Dr. Samuel Yue are partners in SDY Hair Solutions, a line of products which reportedly helps grow hair.

"We've been testing people for about three years. A lot of Jason's clients are hooked on this stuff. It doubles the thickness of your hair," said Sward. "We have testimonials on our website," www.sdyhairsolutions.com.

"It takes probably three to four months before you start noticing the hair growth. Results may vary," Sward said. "What's so unique about this is we are using anti-aging products versus minoxidil and the other things. We're taking Jason's expertise as the hair maestro that he is and making sure the shampoos and conditioners are top-notch."

According to Sward, "We have found a unique blend of natural ingredients combined with [anesthesiologist] Dr. Yue's patented ingredient -- a colostrum extract is as much as they'll cough up [by way of identifying the precise mystery component] -- that helps both stimulate growth as well as strengthen your own head of hair. The products are outstanding, revolutionary. Barbers are [asking], 'What's going on with your hair?'"

And Sward isn't just the CEO of SDY Hair Solutions -- he's a user of the product, the blond guy in the website's testimonials.

I'll believe it when it works on FOX 9 weekend features reporter Todd Walker's pate, and so will he. He's trying it now.

"I ran into Jason, while emceeing an event for Smile Network, and Jason said, I've got a new product that's going to work on you," he told me. "If it can work on this [head], it can work on anybody."

I'd been talking to Walker about doing something to his hair since he asked for my advice. Now I've shot a before video, although his results are sure to vary.

A more hirsute Walker won't come cheap. The shampoo costs $45.95 for 8 ounces, a two-months' supply, and the conditioner is $45.95 for 8 ounces, which should last longer.

ABCs of reportingIt looked as though the ABC Evening News had located Twin Cities meteorologist Paul Douglas' doppelganger.

"Steve Presley," read the name on the TV screen, identifying the weather expert as a Texas Tech professor of environmental toxicology -- one who not only looked like Douglas but sounded a lot like Paul, too.

"Naw, no other poor schlub out there looks like me. My five seconds of fame and they get my name wrong," said Douglas, founder of Broadcast Weather (Broadcast-Weather.com) and former meteorologist for KARE11 and WCCO-TV.

I'm highlighting ABC's misreporting of the name of Minnesota's most nationally famous meteorologist to temper the big fun ABC News had with a Target print ad from Australia on a recent weekend evening news report.

Google "Three armed man in Target ad." Apparently the person who Photoshopped in that third hand for the ad didn't notice the male subject already possessed the requisite two meathooks.

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude an be heard Thursday mornings on FOX 9's "Buzz."