@lilactime - about that episode of Top Gear, I doubt that Clarkson et al were telling the whole truth. For starters, I'm not sure the "factual" and "entertainment" distinction exists outside of bureaucratic red tape. Meaning I really doubt they have any specific rules and conditions that have to be guarded regarding content. The USA allows foreign pornos to shoot in the states - they're not going to block an internationally popular UK-based TV show.
Also, American government is not a single unified entity. Law enforcement is primarily carried out by local and state police. National-level involvement is a major bureaucratic hassle. Meaning that when Clarkson says they got pulled over by the State Department for being "too entertaining," there is no way that's even remotely true. The State Department doesn't have patrol cars and they have no direct authority over local and state police. The Top Gear guys were pulled over for normal traffic violations (speeding, reckless driving, that thing with setting off car alarms) and they asked the officers play along with the "We're too entertaining" bit for the cameras. Because if Clarkson had really flicked off a police officer, he would've been quickly slammed to the ground, and spent 24 hours in jail.
(Besides, national-level law enforcement isn't even carried out by the State Department - that's the Department of Justice and the FBI.)
Back on-topic - I remember watching that episode and also cringing at Zoe Boyle's accent. Even when I watch the episode now, I have to fast forward through her parts or I end up laughing. It really is atrocious - like a British person attempting an Irish brogue mixed with a Texan drawl while swallowing marbles. Thing is, she's acted as an American on more than one instance - I've seen that awful imitation twice myself. I'm guessing that most Brits simply can't perceive the mistakes?
I've heard plenty bad imitations of American accents by British actors. The weak attempt by Sophie Winkleman in the very first episode of Lewis was far from convincing. Even Hugh Laurie's near-flawless version has its lapses. It strikes me that there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of American actors in England looking for a job, which makes me think perhaps the casting directors can't really hear the difference, either.
In my opinion, an American accent is relatively easy, because the country is so large that our accents have a very broad scope. Only a true expert could hear the difference between, say, an Illinois and a Wyoming accent - even in Brooklyn, most people don't have the much-popularized exaggerated accent that you see in movies. Partly, it's because television and radio has standardized American English, and partly, it's because the continuing influx of immigrants maintains a broad range of acceptable variation. Once you master the North American rhotic R, you could pretty much live anywhere without most people noticing. Conversely, if you don't master that "R" pronunciation, it's really, painfully obvious.
In my experience, the key to it is the pronunciation of "world." If you can pronounce "world" like an American, you're set.
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greenegg
12 years ago
I rather doubt there are hundreds, let alone thousands, of American actors in the UK looking for work, given the visa and work restrictions. The reverse is also true. We have an actor friend from the UK who cannot break through the Equity restrictions upon foreign performers, even in regional theatres.
Aside from that, these are TV series (UK and American) with a limited budget. I've always found the range of accents quaint. They never distract me from enjoying the program, on either side of the Atlantic.
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