Nancy Grace Softens Under Pressure?

Nancy Ann Grace (born October 23, 1959) is an American legal commentator, television host, and former prosecutor. She frequently discusses issues from what she describes as a victims’ rights standpoint, with an outspoken style that has won her both praise and condemnation. She is the host of Nancy Grace, a nightly current affairs show on HLN

To anyone watching HLN’s “Nancy Grace Show” last night it looked as though Nancy had taken some time off to think about her demeanor and behavior that many empathetic people have criticized for some time.

Nancy interviewed the father of missing Haleigh Cummings, “Ronald Cummings”
and although the segment was designed to question whether he wondered if his wife Misty knew more than she was admitting about Haleigh’s disappearance, Nancy didn’t use her usual hard line interrogation technique with no regard for the person she is questioning. It was easy to see just how tempting it was for Nancy Grace to fire away at Cummings. After all, he is not the most savory of characters. He lives in a trailer with his minor wife, Misty. He has had numerous problems with law enforcement including a recent episode in which he is accused of assaulting his wifes father and brother in their own home. This was apparently the result of his wife Misty calling and asking her family to pick her up after she claimed that her husband had beat her. Yes I can see how Nancy might have been temped. Clearly, Cummings has violent tendencies. He has reportedly been investigated in the past for beating Haleigh. Now she’s missing. It certainly looks suspicious. But, Nancy controlled herself and asked good questions in a civil but stern tone. Quite frankly I was amazed at the change in her style. She appeared to be more credible than I have ever seen her. There were no talking heads spouting worthless opinions, no screaming or crying antics—just good questions. If in fact, this is the new Nancy Grace, let me say, congratulations Nancy! I hope this trend continues with one exception. Once again, Nancy had to bring “the twins” into the her commentary. She said that if she came home and found out the twins were gone……..etc. Does she need to state how she would feel if her children were gone in order to find out how one of the guest on her show felt when he discovered his child missing. And isn’t the questions a little obvious. Commentators and talk show hosts often ask the obvious. But why must they ask “how did you feel?” Michael Jackson’s daughter was asked shortly after his death how she felt. Does anyone really need to ask? It was obvious the child was in pain.
This is what I call ratings booting at the expense of showing a person proper respect at a difficult time. So, Nancy, you still have a little more work to do. But in general, this last show was a huge improvement.

I am not so presumptuous as to think that Nancy actually reads what I write. And were she to read this article she might be offended by my supposing that she has “softened”. After all, it is safe to deduce based on Nancy’s past shows that she relishes her tough reputation. The point is, it isn’t necessary to be rude and degrading to be tough. I hope that is what she has finally realized. Perhaps we will have another glimpse of her new style tonight. if so, I will have more to say about it later.