Brits are more American than Americans

Hugh Laurie sounds more American than I do

When I was a kid back in New York, a British kid named Steven Volz joined our 6th grade class.  He was the first kid I every met who didn't sound like a gangster.  My own parents had such chain-smoking, thick NY accents, they sounded like they were out of Central Casting.

A few decades ago, the only English people on television were butlers or nannies.  Now, they're neighbors, bosses and boyfriends.


In short, the British (and Aussies) are taking over American television and The Promo Code wants to know why.

Have you ever thought why there are so many Brits playing Brits and Brits playing Americans?

I've got a lot of English blood flowing through my veins.  My grandparents left London in the 1920's and emigrated to New York and never looked back.  Their cockles would be warmed if they could be around to see so many of their countrymen...playing Americans.

Like many of you, I'm a big television fan.  I watch way too much of it.  I'm engrossed in the new fall season and I really like a few shows, like The Crazy Ones and Mom on CBS, but really like Super Fun Night on ABC.  That got me thinking about today's topic.

Aussie Rebel Wilson can live in my neighborhood anytime

Super Fun Night stars the great Rebel Wilson (Australian playing an American), her English co-workers Matt Lucas (who played her brother in Bridesmaids) and Richard Royce.

It seems like at least 50% of all American television shows either have a British or Australian character or an actor "playing American."

I live in Portland, Oregon and have lived all around the country, but must say that in my personal and professional life, if I meet one person a year from GB, Australia or New Zealand, it's a lot.

But if you watch any American show on network or cable, you'll be led to believe that they're all around us, like popcorn.

I love Brits, Kiwis and Aussies.  Whenever I've met and gotten to know them, a lot of alcohol was consumed and I ended up up doing things I would later regret.

How many shows can this man host?  Seriously.

Need some examples?  British or Austalian characters appear in The Mindy Project, Sleepy Hollow, Once Upon a Time, The Neighbors, Super Nanny, The Following, ALL 500 Gordon Ramsay shows, The X Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, 60 Minutes, Young and the Restless, Elementary, The Talk, Smash, Hannibal, The Borgias and The Office.

For Brits or Aussies playing American, how about House (two characters), Grey's Anatomy, Body of Proof, Hawaii Five-O, The Americans, The Good Wife, The Mentalist, Unforgettable, Chicago Fire, Do No Harm and the upcoming Dracula.  Those are only from the shows I actually watch!

Many Brits were in an uproar when Renee Zellweger played Bridget Jones.  How about when Hugh Jackman played Wolverine?  Did we get upset?  Nooooo!

A few years ago, I played an English character in The Norman Chronicles and I'm pretty sure my attempt at an English accent caused the death of Laurence Olivier.  Mine was still better than Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.  Worst...English...accent...ever!

We love you, Dick, but stop talking!

Accents are tough.  Gwyneth Paltrow was great in Shakespeare in Love and Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson hit it out of the park in The Other Boleyn Girl but Brits and Aussies seem to know how to sound like us better.

So, I need to know--why do so many British actors (beautifully) act like they're from Cleveland?  Is there a lack of work in Great Britain or Australia... or is the American accent merely so cute and adorably easy to duplicate that they're laughing all the way to the bank?


It's almost as if they want their country back.

They can sound like us, but they're smart enough to not want to become members of our Congress.

Smart.  Very smart.

--Rich Brase
rich@richideas.net
(503) 201-6158

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