Lentorama 2009: Great(?) Moments in Catholics on Television

February 3, 1998: Father Sal Garelli dispenses some Old Testament justice

While the main plot of this night's episode of NewsRadio focused on an election for station manager that neither Dave nor Lisa wanted to win, a subplot involved Joe Garelli and his brothers planning a surprise birthday party for his brothers. Not surprisingly, the Garelli boys like to kid about each other's manhood, which leads to fighting. The solution? Call in the oldest brother, Sal, who is now a priest.

And Sal is an old-school priest, which is obvious in two ways. First, he wears a cassock, which traditionally-minded priests tend to opt for over the more common clerical suit. Second, within the folds of his cassock he carries a baseball bat, which appears to be his atonement instrument of choice. Sal gets his brothers to stop fighting, uniting them in their desire to not get whupped.

(You can see Father Sal in action here.)

Not a particularly important moment in the series, really, but I mention it as Sal is played by Robert Hegyes, best known for playing self-described Puerto Rican Jew Juan Epstien on Welcome Back, Kotter. Hard to pass this up, between the change of religions and getting to mention a second Sweathog this week. Though he'll be the last; neither Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs nor Ron Palillo have taken the collar for television.