Actor Chazz Palminteri called in to "The Brian Lehrer Show" Friday to bicker with Mayor Bill de Blasio about an Italian-American saint and deny he called first lady Chirlane McCray racist. WNYC listeners got more than they bargained for during the roughly 10-minute sparring match that started with the Bronx-born actor demanding the city build a statue of Mother Frances Cabrini.

Cabrini — the patron saint of immigrants who founded several hospitals and orphanages — is not among the seven women set to be honored with new sculptures through the city's She Built NYC initiative despite receiving more nominations than any other figure. "I saw the other names that were being brought up and (they are) very accomplished women and they deserve a statute, absolutely," said Palminteri, who's best known as the author and star of "A Bronx Tale."