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Do you think the BBC even bothered to find an American Actor?


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Old 09-08-2016, 20:21
dazza89
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So Sharon revealed tonight that because Mark went to an English school he has a British accent, a way of getting them around the accent issue everyone would be talking about. I suppose after Vicky I can understand them not wanting any dodgy American accents stinking up the place but what do we think? Did EE even consider bringing in an American actor or did they solely just want English?, I personally feel having an actual American on the square would have been different but it seems considering Mark's links to the two of the shows most famous families they wanted to play it safe and go English.
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Old 09-08-2016, 20:25
VGKid
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I think they wanted to play it safe but also wanted to avoid Mark Jr sticking out any more than he needs to - he'd always be the American Mitchell rather than his own character
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Old 09-08-2016, 20:26
Scrabbler
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It's very convenient i

But I see why they went for an English actor, especially as there is more chance of the actor sticking around.
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Old 09-08-2016, 20:35
Louise_Hart
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Yes its certainly not a contrived way of avoiding the accent issue AT ALL(roll eyes)
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Old 09-08-2016, 20:51
kitkat1971
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I did roll my eyes at such an explanation, clearly dealing with the issue before the return after the Vikki debacle but I'm not sure it's a bad move.

It certainly widens their casting choices, not having to find somebody that is either American or can do an American accent convincingly and long term.

The fact is, no matter how good his accent was, or how good the character was, the accent would be the thing that stuck ut about him and was the primary talking point. And people would complain that it wasn't good enough - it's inevitable.

Even authentic accents sound odd when they are the only ones on a show. I've noticed it with some British actors on US shows - i know the actor is British because i've seen them in British shows, often from when they were very young but if i didn't, i would swear that they were Americans putting in a British accent because they don't sound right. Warren De Rosa who was Rob in Hollyoaks for the first 4 years springs to mind, check bout his episode of 'Charmed'.
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Old 09-08-2016, 20:54
0...0
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Gits could have put Hugh Laurie up for it!
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:00
Scrabbler
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I did roll my eyes at such an explanation, clearly dealing with the issue before the return after the Vikki debacle but I'm not sure it's a bad move.

It certainly widens their casting choices, not having to find somebody that is either American or can do an American accent convincingly and long term.

The fact is, no matter how good his accent was, or how good the character was, the accent would be the thing that stuck ut about him and was the primary talking point. And people would complain that it wasn't good enough - it's inevitable.

Even authentic accents sound odd when they are the only ones on a show. I've noticed it with some British actors on US shows - i know the actor is British because i've seen them in British shows, often from when they were very young but if i didn't, i would swear that they were Americans putting in a British accent because they don't sound right. Warren De Rosa who was Rob in Hollyoaks for the first 4 years springs to mind, check bout his episode of 'Charmed'.
It's true Daphne in Frasier, Emily in Friends, Geoffrey in Fresh Prince all stood out a mile off. Their accents never seemed quite right yet were played by British actors

That said, there are some British actors who have been really good at portraying American accents. Hugh Laurie does spring to mind.
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:00
McGillicuddy
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I know he's a little old, but PJ Brennan would have been perfect for this part! He looks younger than he is and is actually y'know, American.
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:21
Louise_Hart
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I know he's a little old, but PJ Brennan would have been perfect for this part! He looks younger than he is and is actually y'know, American.
Ex HO stars always fail Badly in EE
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:38
kitkat1971
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It's true Daphne in Frasier, Emily in Friends, Geoffrey in Fresh Prince all stood out a mile off. Their accents never seemed quite right yet were played by British actors

That said, there are some British actors who have been really good at portraying American accents. Hugh Laurie does spring to mind.
Yes, even though they were speaking as they do in real life. Helen Baxendale on Cold Feet or Cardiac Arrest or Marple sounds the same as she did on Friends, she wasn't playing up the British accent (although her lines were pretty dreadful in their attempt to be 'English') but it sounded stilted and put on. I think Joan Collins probably only got away with it on Dynasty because she has the old 'Rank' posh voice which American understood and the British knew as a 'type' - plus of course it was a camp show amyway.

Yes, a lot of Englush actors have perfected the accent but i'd lay odds there were some Internet people complaining in America if they knew he was English. Alexis Denisof is an example of an American that perfected the English accent, it not seeming out of place with Tony Head n Buffy, but he's a tad old for Mark Fowler Jnr!
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:50
sorcha_healy27
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I missed tonight. Is pj Brennan the guy out of Hollyoaks? He's dreadful
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:54
kitkat1971
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I know he's a little old, but PJ Brennan would have been perfect for this part! He looks younger than he is and is actually y'know, American.
That's a good example who i did always feel stuck out, and not in a good way, on HO due to the accent - even though it was authentic.

I'm sure there are English actors that can do a convincing American accent working in the UK, it shouldn't be any harder than a Southerner doing a Northern accent (or vice versa) which hundreds of actors successfully do constantly.

But i think it is the scrutiny it would receive from, well people. Like us on Soap forums which would make it really horrible for any young actor to take on.
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:55
soap-lea
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I very much doubt it
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Old 09-08-2016, 21:56
kitkat1971
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I missed tonight. Is pj Brennan the guy out of Hollyoaks? He's dreadful
He was Doug, The love of Ste's life for about 2 weeks who died a little under 3 years ago.

He hasn't been cast in EE though, it was just hypothetical.
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Old 09-08-2016, 22:23
vald
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It would have had to have been the right American accent...it's a big country with a whole variety of accents. This is a safe way round it and gives them far more choice when it comes to actors. I'm glad they've done it this way.
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Old 09-08-2016, 22:38
0...0
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Can someone please do the Vicky Fowler accent joke. Please.
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Old 09-08-2016, 22:40
Adrian_Ward1
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I think they may play it safe
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Old 10-08-2016, 00:00
San Fran Sara
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Yes its certainly not a contrived way of avoiding the accent issue AT ALL(roll eyes)
See I have been in the states a few months and while I have not lost my accent friends have noticed at times I do sound like an american, a child living in the states regardless of going to a British school will pick up the American accent of the area they live in through American friends, interaction with Americans socially etc, it's just not believable someone could live in the states for years not pick up the accent unless they are closeted from all things American and only interact with British ex pats etc.

The later is disregarded because it's totally unbelievable.

The person who made this choice has to think viewers are pretty dumb not to question the background of someone living in the states for years but not having the accent.
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Old 10-08-2016, 00:13
kitkat1971
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See I have been in the states a few months and while I have not lost my accent friends have noticed at times I do sound like an american, a child living in the states regardless of going to a British school will pick up the American accent of the area they live in through American friends, interaction with Americans socially etc, it's just not believable someone could live in the states for years not pick up the accent unless they are closeted from all things American and only interact with British ex pats etc.

The later is disregarded because it's totally unbelievable.
I do find it a little hard to believe that somebody that has liived there from birth, and with an American 'father' (I assume Michelle's husband is American, correct me if i'm wrong) wouldn't pick up an accent at all, or at least have a bit of a hybrid accent if in contact with both Americans and Brits.

But, i know quite a few people that have moved when they were children from one part of the country or world to another and it is fairly evenly split as to whether they kept their original accent or not. On very good friend who left Scotland when she was 8 lost it and 'became' Essex very quickly, it was almost a deliberate, instinctive, survival technique as she was being bullied for 'talking funny' and wanted to blend in more. Her parents still have very strong Glaswegian accents though, bearly 40 years later.

My cousins moved from the Noth East to Herefordshire when they were aged between 17 and 8 (4 kids) and never lost their Tesside accents - still have them despite having been in London or Herts, again for nearly 40 years.

I have an Australian friend who has lived here for 20 years and is still very much Australian to my ears although she is told she's lost it a bit when she goes home.

So, it does depend on whether people want to retain their original accent or blend in more, perhaps how often they go home or speak to their family that are still from their original home (say on the phone each day), the accent of the people they are living with (parents as the main ones, especially for a child) as well as who they mix with at School or work.

I never had a problem with Little April in Emmerdale having a Northern accent when she'd lived in Essex until she was 4 because her Mum retained her Yorkshire accent. And that is who a child of that age would have spent the most time with.

ETA. Yes it is of course an SOR If he sounds completely English but I think they just got their fingers burnt so badly with Vikki's American accent being crap and then just losing it overnight and becoming London because they knew it wasn't working that they are scared to ever try an accent again, even if it isn't very believable.

Note Ben and Steven both don't have (and never did have) South African or New Zealand accents despite having spent years in those countries, formative years at that. You wouldn't guess Courtney had spent most of her life in Portugal either would you - she sounds London and you have to accept that is due to Grant being the adult she spent the most time with, probably went to an English speaking School and watched a lot of British TV.
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Old 10-08-2016, 00:17
jimbo23
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Ok tonight was like a band aid lol / plaster ripped off mark jr is now going yo be English / Cockney/? ///// tomorrowX which is that j product !!! The wheels are in motion and grants only back For? What? 3?weeks?
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Old 10-08-2016, 00:19
Scorpio2
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Why not have an American accent on the show? It would be different.
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Old 10-08-2016, 00:51
San Fran Sara
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I do find it a little hard to believe that somebody that has liived there from birth, and with an American 'father' (I assume Michelle's husband is American, correct me if i'm wrong) wouldn't pick up an accent at all, or at least have a bit of a hybrid accent if in contact with both Americans and Brits.

But, i know quite a few people that have moved when they were children from one part of the country or world to another and it is fairly evenly split as to whether they kept their original accent or not. On very good friend who left Scotland when she was 8 lost it and 'became' Essex very quickly, it was almost a deliberate, instinctive, survival technique as she was being bullied for 'talking funny' and wanted to blend in more. Her parents still have very strong Glaswegian accents though, bearly 40 years later.

My cousins moved from the Noth East to Herefordshire when they were aged between 17 and 8 (4 kids) and never lost their Tesside accents - still have them despite having been in London or Herts, again for nearly 40 years.

I have an Australian friend who has lived here for 20 years and is still very much Australian to my ears although she is told she's lost it a bit when she goes home.

So, it does depend on whether people want to retain their original accent or blend in more, perhaps how often they go home or speak to their family that are still from their original home (say on the phone each day), the accent of the people they are living with (parents as the main ones, especially for a child) as well as who they mix with at School or work.

I never had a problem with Little April in Emmerdale having a Northern accent when she'd lived in Essex until she was 4 because her Mum retained her Yorkshire accent. And that is who a child of that age would have spent the most time with.

ETA. Yes it is of course an SOR If he sounds completely English but I think they just got their fingers burnt so badly with Vikki's American accent being crap and then just losing it overnight and becoming London because they knew it wasn't working that they are scared to ever try an accent again, even if it isn't very believable.

Note Ben and Steven both don't have (and never did have) South African or New Zealand accents despite having spent years in those countries, formative years at that. You wouldn't guess Courtney had spent most of her life in Portugal either would you - she sounds London and you have to accept that is due to Grant being the adult she spent the most time with, probably went to an English speaking School and watched a lot of British TV.
Thanks for the post very informative, see I never watched EE much in its earlier days so I literally had no idea that the child had been in America since birth so on that aspect alone I find his English accent totally unbelievable but as you said the whole Vikki debacle was an accent misfire and the producers likely want the focus not on the accent but the character this time, sadly by doing this they have yet again put the subject of the accent back at the top of the debate.
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Old 10-08-2016, 01:18
gentleguy
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Can someone please do the Vicky Fowler accent joke. Please.
her accent was awfull, she had a mixed american cockney accent basically lool, and after a few weeks she ended up sounding completely english

i dont understand why they cant put an american in it or a person who can put on a good american accent. also isnt it only the elite who send their kids to international school? did michelle become rich?
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Old 10-08-2016, 01:21
gentleguy
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Thanks for the post very informative, see I never watched EE much in its earlier days so I literally had no idea that the child had been in America since birth so on that aspect alone I find his English accent totally unbelievable but as you said the whole Vikki debacle was an accent misfire and the producers likely want the focus not on the accent but the character this time, sadly by doing this they have yet again put the subject of the accent back at the top of the debate.
i still find that story unbelivable, i personally dont belive any child born and raised in america there whole life would sound english,america isnt spain, they dont have little england towns, yes they have international schools but evan at that these schools usually have kids of all nationalities not just british and in reality virtually all british people who imigrate to america will send their kids to normal american schools as many american schools have good standards in the first place. people who immigrate to third worldn countries are more likely to send their kids to international schools.
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Old 10-08-2016, 01:23
Scorpio2
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her accent was awfull, she had a mixed american cockney accent basically lool, and after a few weeks she ended up sounding completely english

i dont understand why they cant put an american in it or a person who can put on a good american accent. also isnt it only the elite who send their kids to international school? did michelle become rich?
You can pick up on accents very quickly.
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