Role reversalIn “Tales From the Casting Couch,”...

Role reversal

In “Tales From the Casting Couch,” a new book by Michael Viner and Terrie Maxine Frankle, actor Richard Devin recalls auditioning for a casting director named Jon. Devin told the director that he was temporarily working as a waiter, which he said was an ideal job: short hours, cash at the end of the shift, flexibility . . .

Devin heard nothing after the audition. Several weeks later, he and his agent were seated in a restaurant when he saw Jon walking toward him. What luck, Devin thought--having his agent along when he encounters the casting director.

Devin was about to shake Jon’s hand when the latter spoke:

“Hi,” he said. “My name is Jon and I’ll be your waiter.”

HARMONY AND DISCORD: When we read that presidential aspirant (and perspirant) Vladimir Zhirinovsky put a hammerlock on a female delegate in Russia’s Parliament, we wondered if the young democracy had been studying the tactics of the feudin’ and fussin’ city councils of Southern California.

Let’s roll the tape, fight fans:

* 1995: Pasadena City Council member Isaac Richard slugs the brother of a council candidate, breaking his nose. During his stay in office, Richard is censored by the council three times for cursing and threatening council members and other city officials.

* 1994: Diamond Bar City Councilman Gary Miller hurls colleague Clair Harmony across a conference table during a dispute. In separate incidents, Harmony is slugged in the chest by colleague Gary Werner and accused of slamming his body against colleague Phyllis Papen.

* 1993: Bell Gardens Mayor Josefina Macias, angered by what she considers sexist comments, attempts to slap Councilman Frank Duran and then throws a chair at him. Afterward Duran says: “You know how women are.”

* 1991: Hawaiian Gardens City Council members Lennie Wagner and Kathleen Navejas duke it out. Navejas later claims she was kicked by Wagner; Wagner claims she was punched by Navejas. Each says the other spilled coffee on her.

THE WORD FROM AN M.D. (MATTRESS DEALER): Linda Hamilton of Inglewood snapped a shot of a sign that makes what some might call an unscientific claim (see photo). After all, a bad back could be caused by several factors.

DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS: After the grilling of LAPD and coroner’s office personnel in the Simpson trial, law enforcement pronouncements seem more guarded. For instance, an L.A. police officer said he couldn’t “officially confirm” the death of a suspected armed robber who had bee shot by police.

The officer added: “But they’re going to have to hold a funeral for him.”

miscelLAny A colleague heard a traffic reporter for XTRA all-sports radio make three references to a traffic jam on the Golden State Freeway in Burbank near “Vertigo.” Guess that explains why an asphalt truck lost its balance and overturned there.