So, You Think You're Funny! Annie McKnight, of Columbus, Ga., Michael Washington, of Washington, DC, and Dr. Ken Jeong, formerly of Greensboro, take spotlight during a backstage session with area media. Sharon Brooks Hodge Many people share something in common - a secret desire to be a stand-up comic. During the day, they're professionals, students, mothers and fathers. But give them a microphone and an audience and they transform.    On Aug. 27, about 140 people thought they might be funny enough to be on television. However, none were selected to join Arnez J on Black Entertainment Television's ComicView. The cast and crew from ComicView visited Durham for two days looking for talent and taping new shows for the upcoming season.     So, what does it take to make it onto BET?     "Well," said BET's Tosha Whitten-Griggs, "You have to be funny."     Ask a black person to name someone who's funny. More often than not, Arnez J, the host of ComicView, comes to mind. For some, he's the funniest man on television.     "I used to be a flight attendant for an airline," Arnez told reporters.     They waited for the punchline. Even when he wasn't cracking a joke, Arnez J drew laughs. He insists that it hasn't always been that way.     " I got booed my first time up on stage," the comedian recalled. But he kept returning to the stage and over time refined his unique style.
"I don’t use a lot of vulgarity. It works for some people, but that's not my style," Arnez said. "I use a lot of body language and animation."     In the upcoming season, BET will showcase the network's "up-close-and-personal connection with its viewers" through a Black Star Power Tour. Durham was the most recent stop on this 8-city road show. In addition to looking for talent, Durham residents were invited to attend taping of BET's most watched programs, 106th & Park, ComicView and the Bobby Jones Gospel Hour.     According to BET corporate communications representatives at the event's central command center, no local comedian's will find fame and fortune at the end of this rainbow. But two young rappers, are singing a different tune.     Ashley Dunston and Rajal Wisdom were called back to make an appearance on 106th& Park. The show featuring their performance will air November 18 - 24. Residents of Greensboro and Durham may recognize one of the comedians who will appear on ComicView. Although no comedians who auditioned during the Aug. 27 open call, one of the scheduled comedians making his first ComicView appearance has Tar Heel ties.	"I use a lot of body language and animation." Backstage, local media interact with the BET crew. Outside, hundreds of people stood in line waiting to see ComicView. All of the free tickets were reserved log before the taping began.
Ken Jeong grew up in Greensboro and attended Duke Medical School in Durham. That's right, in between punch lines, Jeong practices internal medicine in Los Angeles.     "It was a lot of fun," said Jeong, who wasn't intimidated by the predominantly African-American audience.     "Funny is universal," Jeong said.