'Obnoxious Boss' a BU LAW alum

A Boston University School of Law alumnus is playing the ultimate prank on 12 Ivy League hot shots - in front of a national audience.

FOX's new reality show, "My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss," which airs Sundays at 9 p.m., features billionaire mogul N. Paul Todd, who has invited 12 business wannabes to compete for a leading position in his Chicago-based company, IOCOR, and a cash prize of $250,000 by performing ridiculous stunts.

But as the show's slogan says, "the Con is on," and the only thing real in the show is the cash prize.

Todd is actually an actor who goes by the pseudonym "William August," and in reality is August Caimi, a 1983 School of Law graduate.

Caimi completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University in 1979 where he graduated cum laude with a double honors concentration in government and economics.

Besides his career as an actor, Caimi is also a general business attorney.

Caimi actually lived in a building on Buswell Street with his current wife of 23 years and said he worked as a janitor, taking care of the building in return for free rent.

When Caimi wasn't busy fulfilling his position as janitor, he would go for runs along the Charles River.

"My favorite part of BU was the urban environment and the campus is in the middle of a great city," he said.

But looking back, Caimi said his first impression of BU was shocking.

"I was immediately intimidated by Professor Rykman, who was a really tough professor," said Caimi. "I would also like to meet up with him and get even with him, now that I am the obnoxious boss."

"My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss," is a spoof of NBC's show "The Apprentice," which also features contestants getting the boot from the boardroom. But instead of Donald Trump's infamous line "you're fired," Todd uses "get the hell out of my office."

Caimi said his experience at BU helped him prepare for his role as Todd and his acting career in general.

"I was ready to play a role of a venture capitalist, as I played in the show, since I had all the language and background skills," said Caimi.

Caimi said his new fame has caused some old friends from his days at BU to reappear in his life.

"This bum called me out of nowhere, Bruce Albert, one of my good friends in law school, and told me that I was more obnoxious in real life," said Caimi.

With the false role of a billionaire, Caimi said many perks came along with the gig.

"My favorite part of filming the show was being a real billionaire 24 hours a day," said Caimi. "Limousines, security guards, women throwing themselves at me - which never has happened before - you name it and I had it."

But the similarities end there. While contestants on "The Apprentice" were busy organizing the Jessica Simpson concert or selling real estate, the contestants vying for the leading position of IOCOR sell hot bowls of soup on a hot July day and engage in paintball fights on the street.

Another catch of the show is that unbeknownst to the contestants, Todd actually isn't making the real decisions of whom to cut Another boss is , and the trick will be revealed at the end of the show.

A fan of Caimi, School of Management junior Patrick Deschamps is an admirer of the new FOX hit.

"I didn't realize that he was a BU alum," Deschamps said. "That's awesome because I love that show. That guy is my hero. Doing that stuff with a straight face makes it so funny; I don't know how he does it."

Ashley Mansour, College of General Studies freshman, said she is enthused about the show.

"To see a BU alum as the star of a TV show makes it that much more interesting," Mansour said. "I am excited to see how the show will progress."

But some students may have already seen Caimi, under the pseudonym William August, in small parts in other films such as last summer's hit "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."

He also plays a dysfunctional father in "Benjamin Splits," which was recently accepted to the Sundance Film Festival. Caimi has appeared in a number of television shows, including NBC's "American Dreams."

He said he is currently working on "Bittersweet Place," an independent film that will be released next year, in which he plays a businessman.

Caimi said he just can't seem to stop acting.

"I just don't have a choice," he said. "I just have to do it [acting], it is like breathing."