The Custom of The Country

[trickypixie]

No, 5'10" with chocolate brown eyes framed by beautiful long lashes (he hates them, but I love long lashes on men!). At least we know we're not dealing with some sort of long lost twin situation, hahahaha!

Just look at Hugo's shark grin in my sig. How can you resist?

[greeneyedgirl]

Lol okay, I am sold on Hugo!!

Mine has very long lashes too, and he's awfully good at fluttering them in my direction! ;D

[beckettologist]

Don't forget to listen to Episode 2: The Custom of the Country

Get ready to hate Undine even more.

[greeneyedgirl]

I listened...she's vile, but sadly she does represent a fair amount of the female population, who are still out to manipulate and marry a man with the fattest wallet. I have an aquaintance with just such a leech...

Fortunately Tom makes for another compelling liisten. Again, sounding rather wonderful to me, but I will leave genuine comment to out N.American contingent.

[beckettologist]

Jan 10, 2010 15:48:53 GMT -5 greeneyedgirl said:

I listened...she's vile, but sadly she does represent a fair amount of the female population, who are still out to manipulate and marry a man with the fattest wallet. I have an aquaintance with just such a leech...

Fortunately Tom makes for another compelling liisten. Again, sounding rather wonderful to me, but I will leave genuine comment to out N.American contingent.

I agree with all of that. I think he is pretty consistent in this. It still bugs me. I want to say "don't ask him to talk like that!"

Have any of you heard him in Bridezillas (a horrible show)? He does American (and snide to boot) accent in that too. It fits well though. It is like he is mocking the show which is jsut what it deserves. He only did one or maybe two episodes in Season 1.
I hate reality TV.

[greeneyedgirl]

I had read that he did a voiceover, and had seen it at Amazon, but it shoulded so ghastly I gave it a miss.

[beckettologist]

Listening to the final episode of this as I type this…I am reassessing it. At least Tom's voice in it. As much as I would rather hear him do any accent than American, I think he is doing a great job of Elmer.

[greeneyedgirl]

Agreed. I guess they make a good match, both mercenary!!

The accent was growing on me somewhat today...

[sobriquet]

I gotta hand it to Tom, all my life I've cringed at the name 'Elmer' (Elmer J. Fudd the cartoon character, and Elmer Dinkley, the country bumpkin stereotype that Bill Hicks used in his acts), but after listening to the third episode, I would jump Elmer Moffatt's bones in a heartbeat.... jus' sayin'... Great job, Tom!

[trickypixie]

It's true, accent aside, he is great as the character.

On an unrelated note: I've been listening to these at work while I write ads and every time two characters would kiss I would sort of dissolve into silent giggles. The ones in the second episode sounded especially spitty. Anyone else find the sound of kissing in this a little funny? Perhaps I'm just an immature schoolgirl at heart.

[greeneyedgirl]

lol spitty kisses...eek!!! The ones today sounded fairly convincing...but that may just have been my imagination running away with itself.

[sobriquet]

Me, too! I burst out laughing when they kiss, it sounds so obvious and unrealistic. I swear! They were making the sounds for the ones today by kissing the backs of their own hands or something. TOO FUNNY!

[trickypixie]

Hey all, not to beat a dead horse, but I found this great article on accents in the theatre today, and thought I would share:

artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/theater-talkback-with-charles-isherwood-the-accents-the-thing/

The comments are particularly good, as well!

[Redwine]

One more on this interesting topic. Thanks to littledavy for pointing this interesting article out, which examines the difficulties in capturing what is called "the" American accent, even for excellent actors. ("The" accent?)

entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article3862754.ece

teaser:

“It's difficult not to stereotype when it comes to America,” explains Mary Howland, an accent coach at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). “A lot of it is perceptual. There's an idea of Americans as brash, enthusiastic and confident. Going into an accent that is very enthusiastic, they tend to go too far.” Once an actor has the accent between their teeth, they seem to have an urge to shake it all about.

"American as a Cricket Bat", indeed!
your all-American NorthWest Coast Hollanderian representative,
redwine

[beckettologist]

Jul 20, 2010 13:23:19 GMT -5 Redwine said:

One more on this interesting topic. Thanks to littledavy for pointing this interesting article out, which examines the difficulties in capturing what is called "the" American accent, even for excellent actors. ("The" accent?)

entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article3862754.ece

teaser:

“It's difficult not to stereotype when it comes to America,” explains Mary Howland, an accent coach at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). “A lot of it is perceptual. There's an idea of Americans as brash, enthusiastic and confident. Going into an accent that is very enthusiastic, they tend to go too far.” Once an actor has the accent between their teeth, they seem to have an urge to shake it all about.

"American as a Cricket Bat", indeed!
your all-American NorthWest Coast Hollanderian representative,
redwine

Thinking about Tom's "American" accent after reading this...I think he tries too hard.
Thanks for posting it. That was very interesting!