I don't know if you remember that famous story that went around when Hugh Laurie supposedly auditioned for House and the director or casting director goes "we need a good all-American actor" and Hugh Laurie did the voice he did on House and the director was like "finally, an all American actor".
I'm calling it that that story is bullcrap.
- He does what all British actors do when they try to do an American accent....they sort of mumble talk. See Idris Elba in the Wire for example.
That's all Hugh Laurie did throughout that show, is talk in this voice that doesn't project or speak boldly, but do this low sort of grumble voice. It's like a person who can't hit certain notes in singing so sort of half does it at those parts of the song.
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No one talks like the director or casting director in that story. "Finally, an all American midwestern type actor"
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No one was aware of Hugh Laurie? I know he wasn't a star or well known over here, but these were Hollywood people and not one person on the set goes "hey, that's a guy who was co-star in a fairly popular British TV show and someone who appeared in other popular British TV shows.
You're telling me no one at all knew who he was or was a watcher of British TV...in Hollywood?!? I could understand if this was some random small town, but this was a Hollywood production. I've worked at regular jobs where Americans are really into British TV shows and culture, much less Hollywood.
Anyways, I have just wanted to get that off my chest. That's one of those things that makes for a good story, but seems like such bullcrap on any analysis. It's like those "and then everyone clapped" stories.
Just finished re-watching the Black Adder series last night.
Story is probably BS, but I'd rather accept Hugh Laurie as an "all-American" actor than just about any of the freaks that Hollywood churns out today.
Just curious, how would you rate it from best to least good?
As I'd put Blackadder goes forth the best, then 3, 2 then 1. It was one of the rare series that got better with each season.
The last season was the best.
I find the very first one, set in medieval times, to be barely watchable. It worked much better as they shifted Blackadder to being smarter and Baldric to being dumber.
Rowan just had the sharper wit and attitude for it plus it was better instead of being the dumb noble being the one just underneath the ones in power so he could both try to profit/survive.
And Tony was a lot better playing the dim-witted character than the smart servant.
Probably the same way I'd rate it. The chars changed a lot from s1 to 2. Especially baldrick
I'd probably go 2-4 co-equal, then 3 and 1. I liked the extra edge that the Elizabethan Blackadder character had.
Plus the Tom Baker episode. "You have a woman's <x>!"
Nothing against your choice, but has you co equal got anything to do with the fact they where ther series with Rik Mayall lol
1 is basically a different show.
4,2,3,1
1 was a different show.
It was filmed on location in a castle with a single camera. It had large casts, lots of extras and animals. It was more like a movie production. Rowan said they were specifically trying to get away from the standard sitcom production and that they bit off more than they could chew.
2-4 were filmed on a 3-stage set. Blackadder's quarters, the queen's/prince's/general's quarters, and the set of the week. It had no extras or animals, was shot on multiple cameras, and was filmed in front of a live audience. It became a standard sitcom setup.
Also, as a bit of trivia: in the title scene for series 4, Melchik and Darling were supposed to be on horses, but Stephen Fry's horse kept panicking when the band started playing. They tried multiple times but the horse bolted every time the horns started. So they stood on that little box instead.
Eh, doesn't seem that far-fetched. He does sound exactly like an American when a lot of foreign actors tend to dip into their natural accent while playing Americans.
A brief check and it seems like kiddy diddler Bryan Singer did the initial casting for the show, so it's possible the idiot didn't know who Hugh Laurie was.
I've seen interviews with Laurie where he revealed that the producers were concerned about his accent before his audition, which I think proves that they knew who he was and how he talked normally. I've watched the whole series and there are plenty of examples of Laurie speaking loudly and clearly in what sounds to me like a flawless (if bland) American accent.
I kept hoping they'd have House call someone a "thicky" but they never did.
Opinion rejected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o4DIwW-ivU&t=227s
A lot of the stories actors tell are bullshit. They play pretend for a living.
From my collection:
Alec Guinness claims he met James Dean who showed him his car, to which he predicted his death in response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-nptoFE1Js
Andre Royo claims that while method acting as "Bubbles" on The Wire, a junky came up to him and gave him heroin saying "you need this more than me" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Royo#Career
Disagree entirely. He speaks with a tone for most of the show that is incredibly aggressive. Its the clear sign he is forcefully dictating all the words consciously instead of just speaking. Which does add a lot of characterization on top of just being an American Accent.
I've got plenty gripes about the show, but his ability to do an American accent is probably one of the most impressive about it. Because it doesn't sound natural, but sounds exactly like the character should. And it shows just how many of them do do that half-assed performance.
The executive producer the story revolves around was Bryan Singer, who would have been 37, 38 tops, at the time given the show came out 20 years ago now and he's currently 58 and turning 59 in September.
Considering casting and production time for the November airing of the pilot you have a late 30s American producer who was best known at the time for producing the first two X-Men movies, Star Trek Nemesis, and various other full production movies, projects significantly different from Laurie's usual line of work. House MD was Singer's very first television project, so his complete lack of awareness about Laurie is very likely.
I believe this story. I'm half English and half American, and have split my entire life between Britain and America.
To me, no British actor does a more convincing, true American accent than Laurie. It's seamless, and he never falls into the trap of over-flattening the vowels that even Shakespearean actors (Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham-Carter) typically do when playing American.
Despite having grown up with Laurie as a comedy actor with a plummy accent, I never once questioned his House character as anything but American. Perfect pitch, as they say.
Describe that. Because I have no idea what this phrase means.
It's basically a very traditional upper-class British accent, the kind of which is now slowly being eradicated in the "New Britain".
Is that like Received Pronunciation?
Yes, it's the RP "cut glass" accent, with added oomph. Jacob Rees-Mogg has quite a plummy accent. You can find his (very good) show most nights on GB News' YouTube channel.
"Plummy" is a bit of an insult. People who are considered "Plummy" never call themselves that, nor do they ever call themselves "Posh"
A truly plummy accent is the father's accent in this Country House rescue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNbS8u5Pl5E
Thanks for the awesome explanation!
My pleasure.
A bit of Fry and Laurie
Mystery
When I first watched House as a teenager I had no idea he was British.
As an American, his accent was pretty believable.
He played the dad in the Stuart Little movies, and I didn't realize it was the same guy until years later. He's a talented actor, so I could buy the story. The whole point of acting is deceit, after all....
He's not well-known over here (continent), but then again, I don't know anyone who has the kind of encyclopedic knowledge of celebrities, actors, and shows as is common in the US. Hell, the biggest crisis for Old Yeller was that mastermind and great political thinker George Clooney came out against him.
Wasn't he that guy that told Rachel that it sounded to him like "They were on a break" on the plane to London when she spoiled Ross's wedding?
Enough people watched that show at the time.
I like the bit where you don't even know who this is about.
And you don't even know the story but sperg about it anyway.
A story you don't appear to have any of the important details about.