MEL GIBSON: PRACTICAL JOKER

No more visitors to the set or you’re FIRED, Mel Gibson barked at his exercise trainer on the flick “Signs” — who’d been leaving guest passes for kids at a high school where he coached. Mel called the teens a distraction, so the shaken trainer promised he’d keep all kids away. But the next day, he was HORRIFIED when his school’s entire marching band high-stepped onto the set, blowing their hearts out! Freaked, the trainer stammered, “I didn’t ask them here. . . I SWEAR!” Mel burst into laughter — and admitted HE’D invited the 76 Trombones as a gag!