Nancy Grace Blog

Anthony trial a showcase for HLN's Nancy Grace

NEW YORK (AP) — Nancy Grace may now be the most polarizing host in cable television news — and that's saying something.

The former prosecutor took up the cause of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony when the child went missing and spent hour after hour on the case as mother Casey was charged with her daughter's murder. Grace harbored nothing but disdain for "tot mom," as she called Anthony. With Grace in the lead studio chair, coverage of Anthony's acquittal on Tuesday brought HLN the largest audience in its 29-year-history.

Grace's audience of nearly 3 million people that night was also a personal high. She brings the same in-your-face opinionated approach to legal news that several Fox News Channel and MSNBC personalities bring to politics, and viewers strongly endorsed it. Yet her assertion that the Anthony jury was "kooky" and post-verdict statement that "the devil is dancing tonight" seemed over the top even by Grace standards, offering fresh material for both those who cheer her advocacy and others who find her overbearing.

One of the jurors in the Anthony case, Elizabeth Ford, told ABC News that the 51-year-old Grace was not fit for television.

"I think a lot of things she says fuel the fire and they're based on nothing," Ford said. "I'm obviously against making decisions based on just speculation and opinion."

Back down? You don't know Nancy. After one of Anthony's lawyers said the verdict should send a message to those who engage in "media assassination" — remarks considered largely aimed at Grace — she said she wasn't concerned. "I don't like them much either," she said on a CNN blog.

"When I take a stand, I don't expect people to like what I have to say," Grace, who declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press, told ABC News. "But I do hold myself up to the standard of trying to tell the truth. And if they don't like it or if it hurts their feelings, there's nothing I can do about that. But I can tell you this much: That mom is guilty."

Grace's career was fueled by a personal fire. Her fiancé, college student Keith Griffin, was murdered in 1979 when Grace was 19. The tragic crime caused her to abandon her plans to teach English and turn to law. She wound up working in the Atlanta-area district attorney's office, often on cases involving women or children. But the Georgia courts also cited her for prosecutorial misconduct on one or two cases.

Telegenic and not reluctant to take stands, she became a popular television figure with legal experts in demand in the post-O.J. Simpson era.

So, Nancy Grace viewers, are you enjoying the week without Nancy ...

Most of you who follow my posts here know how much I admire Jean Casarez, so you probably also know how much I enjoyed Nancy Grace with Jean Casarez and without Nancy.

Normally, when Nancy is doing her own show, I am at the edge of my seat waiting for her to flip out and spray someone – anyone – with her venom. Its like watching World Extreme Cagefighting and waiting for that one high kick to the opponents head and then watching the fighter reel back in pain.

At the end of the show Monday night, I noticed my shoulders did not hurt from tension and there was no perspiration on my forhead from all my body movements trying to prevent Nancy from assaulting one of the defense attorneys.

Sure, there is some exxageration here on my part but I think everyone gets the drift of what I am saying.

I cannot remember Tuesday’s substitute for Nancy but it seemed like a non-event – she appeared to be an average host – nothing spectacular – so so at best.

But Jean was her charming self on Monday. First, she is very lovely, which is great – she is very easy on the eyes, but more than that, she is a real, warm human and not a hateful android.

So now we are up to Wednesday and the substitute is Diane Diamond. What impressed me is that she came on a said a sentence or two and then the focus was on a missing 5th grader from New Hampshire, who went missing sometime after she went to bed and when she would have normally woken up in the morning.

Diane did not sensationalize the case – she presented all the relatent information but there were no sharp cutting words – no intense stares – no accusatory comments about family members – especially because she had a step-father, a fact that Nancy would have beaten to death. Diane was inquisitive and factual in a concerned yet warm manner.

Also, Diane did NOT run over anyone providing input – the sheriff’s spokesmen, relatives, other regular guests that comment. It was also very refreshing NOT hearing “Bombshell Tonight”, as a matter of fact, a guest joked about this is where Nancy would say “Bombshell Tonight” and they both laughed about that – nicely done.

Lasty, Diane briefly discussed Casey Anthony and she did it without any anger, hatred, accusatory remarks – refreshingly done, I might add…

Diane said that she will also host the show on Friday night and I can hardly wait to watch. I would enjoy the show more if it were named The Diane Diamond Show or the Jean Casarez Show.

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