Are you talking about a Geordi accent? While working in London I once heard someone speaking with one and thought he was Scottish, and was quickly corrected for my error. Some Scots accents are lovely, rather lilting, esp. by women. As for the Liverpool accent, I do think of the Beatles; theirs were sing-songy. So … when they want to make a character sound uneducated on telly (do you still say that? Or is it all “TV” now?), what is the default accent? Yorkshire? Here, it’s either the kind of Southern accent from my part of the South, or maybe a Brooklyn accent.

Scott B. out.

P.S. We may have to break down and take this to email!

http://www.kellymonteith.com/Pippa_Page_%26_Kelly_Monteith,_BBC_Series,_Squeaky_Vinyl_Pants.html

I LIKE THIS ONE!

Yes, now that you mention it the Aussies and Kiwis do seem to do accents well. Wonder why that is? Their accent is very individual and quite recognisable. And clearly quite easy to shake off!

I know what you mean about some accents being nicer than others. The scouse accent (Liverpool) I find very harsh. Interestingly I heard somebody on the radio the other day saying its not the gentle accent that it was in The Beatles day. Its evolved and taken on a far harder edge.
The accent they have on the Scottish borders I find beautiful to listen to. So gentle and unthreatening.

I think you will struggle to find any Monteith on YouTube. Find his website. He did have some stuff on there a couple of years back. In fact I think i’ll go and take a look now. ;-)

Laurie sounds quite good to me, believe it or not. I don’t catch the usual “tells” that he’s faking an American accent. What often gives Brit actors away in British productions is the writing. There are certain phrases that Americans don’t say … unless they’ve been living among British-Engish speakers for a while. Laurie sounds … irascible, and it works to hide any small flaws in the accent. His accent is very region-free, though. “Flat” I call it.

Depp’s a talented guy, though I’m not a huge fan, for whatever reason. He does have a pretty good knack for accents and distinct character voices. The slew of Aussies and Kiwis currently littering Hollywood seem to have a good ear for American accents — Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, Karl Urban etc.

I’d bet there are more distinct accents in the British Isles that there are in America. Not sure why that is. I’m surprised TV hasn’t had the same homogenizing effect there as it seems to have had here. I like hearing regional accents. Makes life interesting. Some are more pleasant than others though! :-)

So … we seem to have our own chat forum here, Buzz! Pretty cool! :-)

Scott B. out.

I do squirm when some actors, Brits or Americans take a stab at the others accents. Except for one actor- Johnny Depp. He is sensational at accents. What a talent he is.
Does that guy in House, Hugh Laurie, sound good to Americans? Because he sounds awful to me!

I’ve driven the length of England- and into Scotland- and the way the accents change is quite remarkable for what is small country. Fascinating!

Accents are indeed interesting. I wish there were a website with video-audio demonstrating and identifying all the regional British accents. I do some advertising work for a girl from Manchester, a very distinct accent. My wife and I watch a fair amount of British TV, and I can catch the differences, but can’t identify the locations/influences, other than some sounding more rural, others more posh. It’s funny to watch some shows and hear British actors doing an American accent. The best ones can do it flawlessly, but often the TV actors overdo the harsh “r” — and the “attitude.” Of course your actors usually do much more convincing American accents than ours do Brit accents. Our actors always either do Prince Charles or Johnny Rotten (both badly). :-D

Scott B. out.