Matt Buckler: State suffers from electric shock

Nov. 18—It was almost impossible to watch the state's local newscasts Thursday without feeling any pain.

Starting in January, our wallets are going to be anemic and our savings accounts will turn into distant memories.

The news hit viewers like a tropical storm to the midsection. Eversource, one of the state's two major energy companies, will be raising their rates about $85 per month.

The stations had the dreaded details and also suggestions on how consumers can save a few dollars.

Wearing an extra sweatshirt around the house, however, is not going to save you $85.

Eversource executives explained on camera that Russia's conflict with Ukraine was responsible for the upcoming price hike.

That was expected. But seeing the rates go up more than $80 per month was not expected.

Local reporters also talked to customers. The remarks were expected — everyone interviewed was upset and said this was too much.

This was a story that everyone was talking about Thursday. That's why the stations were correct in giving it as much play as they did.

And that wasn't the only piece of bad news delivered Thursday. WTIC-TV61 did a story on how gasoline prices are rising, making Thanksgiving travel more expensive. And we've heard all week that the price of turkey is higher.

Because almost every item that is needed is going up in price, it wouldn't be surprising that the person who hit that $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot in California is already out of money.

Vicki fills vacuum

Vicki Lawrence has done just about everything in a career that started in the '60s when she was a regular on "The Carol Burnett Show."

She has been a talk show host. She's also been a game show host.

In the early '70s, Lawrence launched a hit record, "The Lights Went out in Georgia."

She played a mom, dressed in a white wig, on the syndicated sitcom, 'Mama's Family."

A couple of seasons back she was one of NBC's "Cool Kids" in a sitcom that featured senior citizens at a living center.

Lawrence, 73, is now ready for her latest challenge, playing the late Leslie Jordan's mother on an episode of "Call Me Kat" on Fox.

Jordan died in a traffic action last month and was the heart and soul of "Call Me Kat."

Lawrence will play his mom who fills in as a baker while her son Phil is on vacation.

Lawrence is expected to unload some of the same type of one-liners that Jordan did.

This is just a one-shot deal. But Lawrence could sign on for more episodes.

Jordan's final appearance on "Call Me Kat" will be in two weeks, on Dec. 1. That's when the show will lose many of its punch lines. Maybe Lawrence can bring them back.

First-place 'Fire'

There were no major shakeups in the Nielsen ratings for Wednesday.

"Chicago Fire," which usually leads the ratings chart, was No. 1 again Wednesday with an audience of 6.8 million. That was enough support to squeeze past "Chicago Med," which finished second with an audience size of 6.7 million.

"Chicago P.D." was third — as it always is — with 5.4 million. Then "Survivor" checked in with 5.1 million.

The top two cable shows in the adult 18-49 age group were National Basketball Association game, but the largest audience Wednesday was Fox News Channel's "The Five" sat 3.5 million. Perhaps that's because there are five reasons to watch.

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Matt Buckler is television and radio editor of the Journal Inquirer.

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