Doctor Who in American Accents

[23skidoo]

If you want to hear more of Matt Smith doing an American accent, make sure to pick up the Doctor Who audio book, The Runaway Train, which is now available in a box set with Ring of Steel read by Arthur Darvill. It's one of a couple of sets released in North America a few weeks ago (Runaway Train's been out in the UK since I think last fall). The story is set during the Civil War and you get to hear Matt test drive his cowboy voices.

Alex

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Forgive me, but what is with the common British perception that all Americans have southern accents? American accents are as numerous and varied as British ones.

 

[ITL]

Forgive me, but what is with the common British perception that all Americans have southern accents? American accents are as numerous and varied as British ones.

We know how varied they are. A southern one is easier to do - even if we do mangle it right up.

 

[Brikar99]

Arthur was the best, sounded like some friends from the North Shore around Gloucester, Mass.

I agree. Get Arthur a role in The Fighter sequel

Just don't let them go near Lynn.

 

[Brent]

Forgive me, but what is with the common British perception that all Americans have southern accents? American accents are as numerous and varied as British ones.

We are all cowboys, with stetsons, and muscle cars, and horses, and we eat hamburgers and hotdogs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and we are all fat, and uneducated, and speak with a southern draw, and we all have oil rigs in our back yards, didn't you know that?

 

[Davros]

Who remembers the American accent of the star ship captain from Tomb of the Cybermen?

 

[Cutter John]

Who remembers the American accent of the star ship captain from Tomb of the Cybermen?

I do! I do!

LOL!

There was also a pretty dire one in Claws of Axos.

And lets not forget The Gunfighters.

 

[WillsBabe]

Forgive me, but what is with the common British perception that all Americans have southern accents? American accents are as numerous and varied as British ones.

I don't believe that it is a common perception. I think one of the most recognisable accents is a New York accent (of which in itself I expect British people realise there are many).

 

[Captaindemotion]

Forgive me, but what is with the common British perception that all Americans have southern accents? American accents are as numerous and varied as British ones.

We are all cowboys, with stetsons, and muscle cars, and horses, and we eat hamburgers and hotdogs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and we are all fat, and uneducated, and speak with a southern draw, and we all have oil rigs in our back yards, didn't you know that?

Plus you don't get irony and don't have passports.

 

[captcalhoun]

and you thought electing W. Bush was a good idea, TWICE.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ To be fair, they only elected him once.

 

[Sindatur]

and you thought electing W. Bush was a good idea, TWICE.

Eh...that's OK, the rest of the World thought it was a good idea electing Obama, and even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize days after he took office. Egg all over their face now, considering Pres. Obama has done nothing to roll back Pres. Bush' wars, and, in fact, has even stepped the wars up

 

[Satyrquaze]

^ To be fair, they only elected him once.

Agreed.

 

[scotpens]

Forgive me, but what is with the common British perception that all Americans have southern accents? American accents are as numerous and varied as British ones.

We know how varied they are. A southern one is easier to do - even if we do mangle it right up.

Many English actors find an American Southern accent easier to do because Southerners mute their postvocalic R's. When English actors attempt a generic American accent, a lot of them overdo the R and sound more like they're from Cornwall or Devon.

And while America certainly has a variety of accents, we don't have a tenth as many regional accents as there are in the UK. How many distinct accents can be heard in the North of England alone? I've even heard it claimed that there's a difference between a North Leeds and a South Leeds accent!

 

[ITL]

^ I don't know Leeds, but it's probably true! Where I'm from (South Yorkshire) every town has it's own differences as far as accents are concerned. I lived in North Yorkshire for a while - VERY different from my accent.

 

[Cutter John]

Y'know I've always wanted to talk to an expert and find out why such a relatively small country has so many darn regional accents.

I don't really ascribe any malicious intent as far as accents and behavior goes. I just figure a show creator has maybe a minute to get across to the audience that 'This person is from _______.' Unfortunately the easiest way to do that is to fall back on tired old stereotypes.

 

[IndyJones]

and you thought electing W. Bush was a good idea, TWICE.

Eh...that's OK, the rest of the World thought it was a good idea electing Obama, and even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize days after he took office. Egg all over their face now, considering Pres. Obama has done nothing to roll back Pres. Bush' wars, and, in fact, has even stepped the wars up

Ignoring that he is doing exactly what he campaigned on in Iraq and Afghanistan, we actually are drawing down in Iraq.

 

[Sindatur]

and you thought electing W. Bush was a good idea, TWICE.

Eh...that's OK, the rest of the World thought it was a good idea electing Obama, and even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize days after he took office. Egg all over their face now, considering Pres. Obama has done nothing to roll back Pres. Bush' wars, and, in fact, has even stepped the wars up

Ignoring that he is doing exactly what he campaigned on in Iraq and Afghanistan, we actually are drawing down in Iraq.

This is inappropriate, and I'll debate politics no more in this thread, but Guantanamo hasn't closed, The liberals didn't get their civil trials,we've got CIA in Libya, showing the rebels how to strategically overthrow Ghadaffi (These rebels, of course, when we demonize Iran for supporting them are, Hamas). I don't support Pres Bush, nor Pres. Obama, just sayin' Pres. Obama is the same clown, with a little more makeup (And, if we don't wise up, the next President will have even more makeup)

So...about those accents and Stereotypes Cutter John, I absolutely agree.

I've also been thinking lately a lot about how hard a Season 1 is for multi-year Arc show is, S1 Universe and character building is tough to do while still providing individual episode excitement. I think that's the key, is being able to build your arc and characters in a seemingly episode based 1st season, where every episode brings excitement, and you keep people from thinking too much about the arc. You to the end of S1, and it simply appears from a few Finale episode revelations.

 

[Anachronus]

^ To be fair, they only elected him once.

Agreed.

Makes you wonder what would have happened if the Gore Campaign had not taken it to the courts.

 

[Gov Kodos]

^ To be fair, they only elected him once.

Agreed.

Makes you wonder what would have happened if the Gore Campaign had not taken it to the courts.

Lets not get into politics. At the time Katherine Harris (Florida's Election Official at the time) had certified the election in favor of George Bush. Gore campaign insisted that she should allow them to do recounts in disputed areas. The argument rested on whether she had to allow recounts or if such were at her own discretion. If it hadn't gone to the courts, Bush would have been given the victory in the Florida election.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Harris#2000_US_presidential_election
Now, could we take US politics out of this, please.