Local man seeks ‘Apprentice’ spot
John Mischief didn't have a problem standing out during auditions for Donald Trump's "The Apprentice."
For one thing, there's the name. And it didn't hurt that he was the only person among the 250 hopefuls who had on a fancy suit and three facial piercings: nose septum, lip and chin.
But he's convinced he aced his audition, in part, for a question that came out of left field.
Here's how it went behind closed doors Thursday in auditions and callbacks for "The Apprentice":
Groups of nine sat around a table at Trump International Hotel and, after introducing themselves to the casting director, gave a 30-second blurb on how they were affected by the recession.
When it was his turn, he explained he was the executive editor of "Sinner," a local online lifestyle magazine.
That's when he got interrupted by the female casting director.
"So where can I go shopping?" she asked.
Mischief thought it was part of the process, "maybe to throw me off track."
Without missing a beat, he responded, "Patty's Closet."
The casting director wrote his response on her forearm in ink and apologized for delaying the auditions. "Sorry about that. I need something to do on my day off," she said.
That got him on her radar, he said, and during the debate segment he let his personality flow.
"We were asked to talk about politics, the health care reform, the state of politics in Washington, D.C. They wanted people speaking up, people who were animated and had an opinion," said Mischief, whose real last name is Heaukulani. He's gone by Mischief for about three years, since being part of a startup entertainment Web site called We Are Mischief.
Expressing his opinion comes easy, said Mischief , a native of Hawaii and the father of three. He also works in the accounting department at Southern Wines and Spirits.
One of his remarks during the debate portion, he said, was "the Republicans are cutting their own throat with this Tea Party movement."
Three hours later, Mischief was having a birthday party for his son, Bash, at Chuck E. Cheese on Eastern Avenue when his cell phone rang. It was a callback for Friday.
He went to the 62nd floor of the Trump International Hotel on Friday and sat down in front of a camera and talked about what skills he would bring to the table if chosen to run a business for Trump.
"They said they were looking for characters as well," he said.
Those called back on Friday were told they would be needed in May, June and July if they were among the 16 finalists.
UNLV SURPRISE
The family name didn't score points for Danny Tarkanian with Republican students at UNLV during a recent caucus.
Vegas Confidential has learned the GOP students will announce the results of the College Republicans' March 24 caucus on Monday, including the surprising result that Tarkanian got just one vote from the 15 students.
Matthew Jarzen, president of the College Republicans, confirmed that Sue Lowden, the front-runner in the U.S. Senate race, won the caucus with 10 votes. Sharron Angle received four.
Tarkanian played basketball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for his famous father, Jerry, who coached UNLV to the NCAA championship 20 years ago. Tarkanian "came in and spoke and came out with a lot of support," Jarzen said. "But as time went on, his support waned."
The students are announcing their endorsements on April 20.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
An announcement that headliner magician Lance Burton will be leaving the Monte Carlo is expected early next week, according to KVBC-TV, Channel 3 entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs, who reported the development on her Twitter site Saturday night.
SIGHTINGS
Evander Holyfield and Roberto Duran, among a handful of celebrities at the Bernard Hopkins-Roy Jones Jr. fight at Mandalay Bay on Saturday. ... At the Palms on Friday: a slimmed-down Barry Bonds, kissing a brunette as he walked to a table at N9NE steakhouse; music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, hosting a birthday party in the Hardwood Suite for his son Christian's 12th birthday. The kids shot baskets and played Wii games.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Can't Apple invent something that will wait in line for me?" From David Letterman's Top Ten Things To Ask Yourself Before Waiting In Line For The iPad.
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
