One of the things I noticed when I watched last week's pilot of The Riches was that Eddie Izzard was struggling to maintain an American accent of any kind, much less the southern accent that his character, Wayne Malloy, is likely to have.But when I watched last night's episode (Brett and I are trading off reviews on this show), I noticed that Izzard's accent had smoothed out, and his British didn't seep out as much as it did in the first episode. This is no small feat; doing an accurate American accent is extremely difficult for Brits, as the many tiny differences between how each country speaks English are tough to keep track of. The effort to make the leap has sunk many accomplished British actors; even ones who do a reasonable job, like Emma Thompson, let their native accents leak through every so often.
For Izzard to have made such a big improvement between episodes, he would have needed to put in a lot of effort. Normally, there's a pretty big time gap between when a pilot and the second episode is shot, but in the case of this series, that time gap doesn't seem all that big (the kids don't seem to be jarringly older than the were in the pilot), so it makes me wonder: did Eddie undergo intense vocal training between episodes? Or did he just "get it" and lock it in quickly?
Anyway, seeing good actors like Izzard struggle with an American accent really makes you appreciate what actors like Hugh Laurie and Minnie Driver can do with their voices. Laurie's job is especially hard: he has to maintain an American accent and a limp. For that, he should win an Emmy every year.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-20-2007 @ 1:32PM
Curt said...
Really though, the British accent and a southern accent are usually quite adaptable, meaning someone from the South will have the easiest time doing a Brit accent and vice versa.
My guess is there wasn't a lot of time from when he got the role to the filming of the pilot.
As for the kids, I don't know about the two boys, but the girl playing the daughter is in her 20's so she wouldn't look too much older if there had been a lot of time between the pilot and the 2nd.
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3-20-2007 @ 1:56PM
Design said...
One thing to remember about the southern accent, is that it came from the British, the area of Virginia, Tenn, NC, SC, Northern Miss, Northern Ala and Northern Ga. is were a lot of the Scot Irish settled when they came to America.
The Travelers are descended from the people in the story.
So now that Wayne Malloy has left the clan and settled in Boca, he's going to have to sharpen his accept as his character to fit in. Which I think will make it easier for Izzard.
Minnie Driver has it down packed, I'd swear she sound just like one of my Dad's sisters.
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3-20-2007 @ 2:07PM
Nathan said...
One of the worst shows for fake american accents is Torchwood and the new Doctor Who. I guess the domestic audiences don't notice, but it's jarring, even to a Canadian like myself.
That being said, actors like Hugh Laurie and Minnie driver have the accent nailed.
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3-20-2007 @ 2:24PM
Alex S. said...
American accents in Torchwood? ... If you're talking about John Barrowman, you might want to know that he grew up in America.
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3-20-2007 @ 2:46PM
Frank said...
Inaccurate accents irriate me beyond belief.
I hate that Sophia Curtis character on CSI, because she is clearly british in origin and it is never addressed. Either she needs to get a better voice coach or her British mother needs to visit her in Vegas.
Can this be turned into a full post about television characters with the best fake accents (House) and those with worst (Det. Curtis)?
(I've had this same discussion about movies, where bad accents also run rampant. Nicholas Cage features prominently...)
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3-20-2007 @ 2:48PM
robox said...
Izzard's accent didn't bother me in either episode, but the accents of several of the American characters in "Slings and Arrows" are really bad.
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3-20-2007 @ 4:09PM
Dante said...
Torchwood? Are you talking about the actor that play Cpt. Harkness? He's American.
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3-20-2007 @ 4:23PM
John said...
I haven't been able to figure out what freaks me out more. Izzard's or Laurie's american accent, having been so used to their normal voice. Probably Laurie, just because I have more experience with him from Blackadder, but, otoh, I don't watch House and I' will keep watching Riches....
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3-20-2007 @ 4:43PM
Corie said...
There's an interview available on Eddie's site (http://www.eddieizzard.com) that discusses what he went through to maintain the accent. According to what I read he kept his vocal coach on hand at all times so he could try and master the accent.
Haven't watched the second episode yet... need to go do that since Eddie is always good time well wasted (http://www.timeww.com/2007/03/06/eddie-izzard/).
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3-20-2007 @ 5:10PM
Rogphi said...
Im An Englishman In NY. Eddies accent is not so good
sorry! but he makes up for it with charisma and acting Chops. Plus This makes up for all the horrible British accents I hear all the time. Imean Fair is Fair right?
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3-20-2007 @ 5:17PM
Mr.E said...
True John Barrowman grew up in the U.S. but he definitely has picked up some British pronunciations which can be jolting to American ears Estrogen with a long ee instead of eh from the first Torchwod episode is perhaps the most glaring example I can think of off hand.
Rent or buy Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie to see how truly talented he is with the American accent, and of course to enjoy a great series ;)
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3-20-2007 @ 5:18PM
erroneous_nick said...
I laughed when I read your post Rogphi because it made me think of Dick Van Dyke's accent in Mary Poppins. Nothing can make up for that!
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3-20-2007 @ 6:56PM
trachein said...
Design:
The Malloys have not settled in Boca. They are in Louisana, Baton Rouge I believe.
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3-20-2007 @ 6:58PM
ohgrl said...
Izzard's OK--his accent was good in My Super Ex-Girlfriend. If you weren't familiar with him, you'd be fooled.
Emily Procter on CSI Miami, now there's someone who can't hide their roots. Give it up girl, let that drawl loose!
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3-20-2007 @ 10:01PM
JD said...
trachein
In the letter with the keys, I could have swore I read Boca Raton. I watched it today but deleted from TiVO. For the house and golf course...got to be Boca. But we'll see.
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3-20-2007 @ 10:36PM
erroneous_nick said...
It's definitely Baton Rouge. Since that's my home town it's what got me to check out the show in the first place. The pilot was actually shot in New Orleans, but production on the series after that moved to California.
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3-20-2007 @ 11:27PM
JD said...
I just saw a preview, where the cars had Florida tags????
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3-21-2007 @ 1:11AM
erroneous_nick said...
If you saw Florida tags, it could have something to do with the side story about their extended, traveling family that Wayne stole the cash from. Perhaps some of them were in Florida or something like that. Not having seen the preview you refer to I can only guess.
The quickest synopsis that gives the supposed setting for the show that I can find in a hurry before I retire to my bed is on wikipedia at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riches
Here's a clip from the synopsis:
"Choosing not to return to their clan camp, they instead adopt the Riches' identity in suburban Baton Rouge, Louisiana and live as buffers, as they call mundane, law abiding people."
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3-21-2007 @ 9:08AM
Rogphi said...
"I laughed when I read your post Rogphi because it made me think of Dick Van Dyke's accent in Mary Poppins. Nothing can make up for that!"
Nick, THANK YOU! you are right Nothing can Make up for that But Eddie Is definately on the right track here! Thanks Eddie!
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3-21-2007 @ 11:27AM
JD said...
Watched second episode this morning, the security guard said, the biggest and best in Louisiana. They're moving FROM Tampa.
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