WANTED: FUNNY PEOPLE; ABC SHOW PLANS AUDITIONS IN AREA

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Polish up those old jokes and cleverest talents: America's Funniest People is coming to town.

The ABC television program, which features people performing antics and jokes, will be taping Feb. 17 at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau.

Producers for the show will also be taping in Paducah and Carbondale during their four-day visit to the area.

Tess Jones, a researcher for "America's Funniest People," said everyone with a funny joke, impression or talent who would like to audition for the show will be taped.

Taping begins Feb. 17 at 12:30 p.m. and is scheduled through 4:30 p.m. at the mall. "If we need to stay longer to get everyone, we will," said Jones.

On Feb. 15, the crew will be taping at SIU-Carbondale. On Feb. 16, they will be taping at Kentucky Oaks Mall in Paducah. And on Feb. 18, they will film at University Mall in Carbondale.

Jones said next weekend marks the last location shoot for this season.

In addition to filming in this area, crews will be collecting jokes, skits and pranks at 10 other locations across the country next weekend.

Jones said Cape Girardeau was selected because the Paducah-Cape Girardeau-Marion/Harrisburg television market was one which had not been featured.

"We've had real good success with smaller markets," she continued. "We have visited the big markets like New Orleans and Portland, but people tend to be very enthusiastic in the smaller markets.

"They really turn out and usually are very eager to do something for our cameras. Whether it is just to get on television or for the $10,000 prize, I don't know."

Jones said show researchers contacted the local ABC affiliate, WSIL-Channel 3. The local station recommended locations for shoots.

"The reason we do malls a lot is because it is wintertime. Malls are indoors. And malls also have good flow of traffic."

Jones explained that although everyone will be taped, not every person will be featured on the show.

"We call them auditions because not everyone we tape at the mall will be on television. But everyone who comes down to do something for the camera will be taped," she said.

"The tapes get flown back here to the studio in Hollywood and will be screened by the producers.

"Stuff could be used as soon as two weeks or as far away as months or even next season, if we are picked up again," she said.

"There is no guarantee when or if it will be aired. But we do hang on to all the material."

The antics will be filmed on a Sony Hi-8 hand-held video camera.

"We use 8 millimeter film, but the camera is like a little, home-video camera. It tends not to intimidate people but it is broadcast quality."

Jones added that since the crews travel so much, the small camera is very portable.

"We are always looking for funny, clean jokes usually under 30 seconds," Jones recommended.

She advised that almost anything, jokes, skits, songs should be short.

"We have people who do physical comedy, people who bring props do funny skits or do things to songs," Jones said.

"We especially like rap songs with original lyrics and funny themes," she said.

She suggested people interested in auditioning watch the show, which airs on Sunday nights. "If it has been on the show, we probably won't use it again," Jones said. "We are always looking for something different."