Welcome to the SALections!

We hope you find this newsletter inspiring and just maybe it will make you laugh out loud or shed a tear. Here we go.

April 2025

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Tom Foolery

So to celebrate April Fools day, we are celebrating one of the High Priests of High Jinks - none other than Steve Martin.

Steve's first job was at Disneyland in 1960. Then he went onto write jokes for the Smothers Brothers.

The poor bastard didn't learn to stay away from Martin Short and now they are so busy together finishing each other's careers.

As Marty describes Steve, "Most guys play the guitar to meet chicks, Steve plays the banjo which does not have near the same attraction."

That didn't keep Steve from being a frequent guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

One of his first films to hit it big was in 1986 with Marty Short and Chevy Chase in "The Three Amigo's."

Then in the following year, Steve hit it big again with John Candy in one of my favorites, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

Steve got hot and would go onto host, Saturday Night Live 16 times.

Some of his segments on SNL were unforgetable. Here he is with Dan Akroyd, as two Wild and Crazy Guys.

Steve also had success on SNL with his parody of the song "Walk like an Egyptian" latching onto the King Tut phenomenon.

From The Jerk in 1979 to Father of the Bride in 1991 to Only Murders in the Building in 2021, Steve Martin has been making us laugh for 60 years.

Steve has a long list of accolades from his 5 Grammy's to an Emmy Award for his comedy on the Smothers Brothers Show, a Screen Actor's Guild award and an Honorary Academy Award.

Steve has also won the Mark Twain Award for Humor and been celebrated by the Kennedy Center Honors. At 79, he continues to perform with his band - the Steel Canyon Rangers and also with Martin Short.

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Miracle at the 11th Hour

It was late 1980's, I was doing weekend sports in Richmond at the ABC affiliate with my colleague Lou Charlip. We had worked together for 5 years, but our work together was coming to an end.

It was the winter of 1987 and our Sports Director, Ken Strayhorn left for a better job in New Orleans. I was asked to do the Monday to Friday sports and Lou covered the weekend. Most of the people in town thought I would get the main job, but that would never happen.

The reason is - I did not care for the station's General Manager. Ben was a tall, southpaw from Columbus who I saw chewing out his secretary so badly in the hallway that she started crying. I lost all respect for him after that.

Ben was a big Ohio State fan who liked to walk through the newsroom so when he did - I pushed the envelope saying how bout those Buckeyes after they lost a game. We glared at each other.

Probably wasn't the smartest move, but I couldn't stand him. One night in March of 88, we covered a VCU game in the NCAA Tournament down in Greensboro. We drove back to Richmond after the game, then we were up all night doing a report. Ben walks in to work and says Good Morning to me. I say nothing. He says, don't you say Good Morning, I said not to you. Should have kept my mouth shut.

He yells at me to come to his office. As soon as I sit down, he starts ripping me. I can fire you right now. This time, I kept my mouth shut but did not apologize. He said get out and I left. That's why I was never getting the main job. The station hired a replacement for Kenny and I would go back to the weekend. To make matters worse, Lou was leaving.

While I was so happy for Lou as he was going to the Baseball Network, it was depressing because I'd have to work with a new photographer. Lou was such a good producer, reporter, cameraman and anchor. He could do it all. It was a big loss for the department and a bigger loss for me.

With my chin up, I soldered on. The planning was in the works for a send off party for Lou. My depression was rising as his last day approached.

I was home during the week with a rare day off when the phone rang. I pick up and a guy says, is this Sal? I say yes. He says Sal, I'm Lou, the news director at WTKR in Norfolk. We are prepared to hire you as our Sports Director. In shock, I genuflected and asked Lou if he wouldn't mind repeating what he just said.

I heard about the position which was making the rounds quietly as the station was replacing 2 of their anchors - one in news and the other in sports. I had applied for the position a while back but had never heard anything and thought I was out of contention for the role.

As Lou was explaining the details, I was having an out of body experience. Is this real? Did I just get a new job? Was someone pranking me?

As you might expect, no one gets hired in TV or most anywhere else without an in-person interview. So WTKR in Norfolk was hiring me off a videotape of my work. That's so crazy, it's a damn miracle.

My first question for the Norfolk new director was, Why me? He said they had looked at 65 applicants and selected me. I said, you are OK to bring me aboard without an in person interview, he said we did our homework. We talked to 5 people who know you pretty well.

Now my curiosity was up. Both Richmond and Norfolk covered Williamsburg, so we got to know their crews and vice versa when we went to William & Mary or the Anheuser Busch golf tournament at Kingsmill.

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(Michael Jordan interview at Curtis Strange Pro Am)

When I asked what they heard about me, Lou said a few people said I was ready to move up from the weekend to the Monday to Friday main gig. That my shows were well done and we covered sports really well in Richmond. He also liked that I was working in state and new all the contacts to cover sports in Virginia.

It was all flattering but still hard to believe until he said we need you here in Early April for some promotional shots with the team. I was starting on April 15th with Michele Harvey, the new female co-anchor who was coming up from a station in Columbus, Georgia.

When the conversation with the news director ended and we agreed to meet in early April, I was still in shock. I called my buddy, Lou Charlip and when I told him, he couldn't believe the story either. They would add me to the going away party.

My depression was gone as both of us would resign on the same day. Lou went in first and resigned and I went in a half-hour later and did the same thing. The news department had one helluva party for us.

While I loved working in Richmond, it was time for move on. I was ready to lead a 4 person sports department in Norfolk. We had a weekend guy, a photographer and an intern. I had to anchor the 6 and 11pm shows Monday to Friday and plot our sports coverage. We had all the tools, live trucks, a chopper and a satellite truck.

It still boggles my mind that WTKR TV in Norfolk hired me off a video tape without an interview. That never happens, "Do you believe in Miracles?"

Couldn't resist the great Al Michaels line from the Lake Placid Olympics when the US Hockey team upset the Russians and won the Gold Medal.

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Footnote on WTKR-TV

Coming later this year - WTKR TV in Norfolk is celebrating 75 years of broadcasting in Hampton Roads. It will be a great celebration for the Norfolk - Virginia Beach - Hampton communities.

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Cinema Lou

We are delighted at the SALections to have Cinema Lou share his thoughts with us as a Special Contributor.

Cinema Lou

April is an exciting month, the weather warms up, flowers bloom, holiday celebrations and of course, we all love April Fools Day. Well, even if we don’t love and appreciate April Fools Day, it’s a good time to look back at some of the movies that “fooled” us, or threw us for a curve with a shocking or surprise ending.

Top of the list for me is the great 1999 film written and directed by M Night Shyamalan and starring Bruce Willis, The Sixth Sense. For me, the ending was a total shock. I had no idea it was coming. If you haven’t seen it, you need to. Shamalayan made it his trademark to do movies with shocking twists and turns and none are as great as The Sixth Sense, there are some good ones work streaming- The Visit, The Village and Unbreakable among them.

One of my all time favorite twist endings is the classic, Psycho. A horror movie with a twist I did not see coming.

There are so many others and sometimes television provides shocking twists and turns. Even a comedy like Newhart had one of the greatest endings that turned the tables.

Think about the movies you’ve seen. What’s the best twist and turn that would make an April Fools memory?

And perhaps the biggest surprise in a movie was the shocking reveal in The Crying Game. If you haven’t seen the movie, make sure you’re prepared for the shocker. That’s a January to December fools, not just April.
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FAVORITE DISHES

Crispy Chicken Parmesan

My cousin Patty was a phenomenal cook. She had so many talents and cooking was definitely a passion for her. We will be using her special dish (below) as a logo for this category in Patty’s honor.

Crispy Chicken Parmesan

A delicious crispy chicken parmesan takes about 30 minutes to cook and 10 minutes of prep time. You will want to pick up some thin chicken cutlets.

To bread the cutlets whisk a couple eggs, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl. Let the cutlets sit in the egg wash for a few minutes. You can also let the marinate overnight by putting some plastic wrap over the bowl.

When the chicken is ready for cooking mix some panko bread crumbs, garlic and parmesan cheese in a separate bowl.

Sauteed the cutlets in a pan with olive oil, garlic and seasoning for 10 to 15 minutes putting the gravy on top of the cutlets and then covering them with parmesan cheese. Cover the lid and let them simmer.

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Preheat your over to 400 and the cutlets will spend 15 minutes in the oven to get crispy and golden brown. Spray your pan beforehand to prevent the cutlets from sticking.

Chicken Cutlets go great with a vegetable and a big salad. You can also have a small portion of pasta or go with mashed potatoes and a vegetable.

An easy meal to prepare and serve for yourself or a family dinner.

Mangia bene, ridi spesso, ama molto!

(Eat well, laugh often, love a lot)

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LOVE SONGS

Sade - I Couldn't Love You More

Sade has some many love songs you can put 15 to 20 of them on a loop and have a special playlist for a night with your partner enjoying, Kiss of Life, No Ordinary Love, Is It a Crime, Smooth Operator & Your Love is King to name just a few.

Off the Love Deluxe album from 1992, I Couldn't Love you More is a great song to start with on your playlist. It has a rhythm and is so melodic with two chords C and G major that work so beautifully together.

Here is the sensational Sade with....

I Couldn't Love your More.

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GRATITUDE

As we head into April, what are you grateful for and why?

GIVING THANKS

So what sprinkles your donuts as we move into April?

Are you grateful for the new season, fresh air, baseball and your family and friends?

Are you grateful for our Pets since it's National Pet Month. How about a good laugh as it's also National Humor Month. And how about a soft pretzels with mustard as we also celebrate National Soft Pretzel month.

Let's make a conscious decision to make EVERY DAY SPECIAL with our loved ones. Our time is precious and we are here for just a few moments, so let's make those moments count.

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TREASURE

In this segment we look at an artist and why they stand out. We are starting with one of the best there is and he is an absolute treasure.

None other than - BILLY JOEL.

If you are looking for a song that captures the fear and doubt when you are trying to find the right words to tell someone you Love them.

This song captures that perfectly and you also get Toots...

LEAVE A TENDER MOMENT ALONE

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He has so many great songs. This is one he doesn't play very often, but captures what it's like being on the road - driving the Pennsylvania Turnpike while having that special person with you all the time.

The guitars at the beginning of this are such a nice touch from the piano man.

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You're my HOME

So where do you go from here. He has so many fantastic songs - Just the Way You Are, She's Always a Woman, A Matter of Trust, Honesty, She's Got a Way, Uptown Girl, NY State of Mind, Hey Girl which would all be terrific choices.

How about the incredibly vivid.... Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - the story or Brenda and Eddie and a bottle of red & a bottle white. A sweet sax solo at the beginning.

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Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

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THANK YOU – GRAZIE – MERCI – OBRIGADO

That wraps up the April Edition of the SALections.

Before we close it out, we have one last item - what we could all use a little tax advice as you get your return done thanks to Tom Cotter.

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The SALections is proud to sponsor the Fabulous South Philly String Band. The SPSB became special in our family as my Uncle Rocco played accordion in the band for 30 years. We have fond memories of the parade when it began on Broad and Oregon.

The SALections sponsors the South Philly String Band in honor of Rocco Filoso!

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Special thanks to Barb Berlin, a great friend and my former weekend news anchor & work wife in Richmond for her amazing proofreading skills. Thank you Barb!

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#SALections April 2025

#SteveMartin, #CinemaLou, #Miracle, #TomFoolery #CrispyChickenParm #Sade, #SouthPhillyStringBand, #SurpriseEndings, #TomCotter, #Sade, #AprilFools #Treasure, #BillyJoel, #LeaveaTenderMomentAlone

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#SALections

#Humor, #Confessions, #SaxSolos, #Concerts, #CinemaLou, #Gratitude, #GivingThanks, #PlacestoVisit, #Concerts, #Secrets #BarbBerlin, #Heroes, #OldPhotos, #Gratitude, #DayTrips, #Promises, #FavoriteDishes, #MomentsThatTakeOurBreathAway

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