Three Rivers - news, links, discussion - part 9 **SPOILERS**

[Phoenix]

... I am glad you brought up the accent---is he trying to sound like he's from PA, or is that a lot of Aussie seeping through? I am hearing a lot more of what I think is his accent than I did in ML. Can't quite figure out if he's trying to sound like an authentic Pittsburghian (??) or if it's his natural accent, or maybe the voices in my head making me hear things.

Fleur, I don't hear any Aussie seeping through - as a matter of fact, Alex is losing his Aussie accent, even when he's apparently relaxed in interviews. Having said that, I have no idea what folks from Pittsburgh sound like.

[aolver]

FLEUR....I'm hearing the Oz accent too. And never heard a flicker of it in ML. Weird....

[Moonlightsonata]

Just my opinion but I think Alex is trying so hard to get the medical lingo that he is letting his Oz accent slip in sometimes. While Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are about 200 miles apart, I don't think Pittsburgh people sound like that. I have to agree I don't remember hearing the Oz accent at all in Moonlight - Alex's voice was like velvet in that show - not really hearing that as much either. Again the medical stuff is probably hard enough to get used to.

[wpgrace]

I do not hear an Aussie accent... he sounds kinda the same to me. Still a lovely, warm voice. That makes me sigh.

And I think he's doing great with the terms. He always, even in ML, pronounces some words slowly. I think that's just his version of American. And the longer the word, the more slowly but surely he sometimes went, even as Mick. Think egalitarian.

[PNWgal]

Hell, I'm not trying to battle an accent and I still have to slow down for words like "egalitarian".

I can't imagine trying to wrap my tongue around some of those medical terms and try to sound like I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Pittsburgh when the nearest I'd maybe gotten to the city before then was watching the Steelers play football on TV. Besides, it's kinda cute when he slips.

I personally don't care if he invokes a fake French accent and wears a clown costume instead of scrubs...he's still heaven to listen to.

[mwj01]

The only sort of slip or "off" accent I've noticed really is during the rugby scene when he was leaving. I don't see how someone could listen to when he said, "it's pretty much Hail Mary time for my patient" in the last ep and not think velvety.

[redwinter101]

You guys really need to stop saying "Alex" and "velvet" together. Please. I can't take too much more. *swoons*

Red

[starbucksjunkie]

I heard the Oz accent peep through a few times in ML ("terrible scrames and bloodshed..."), but like Pgal, I thought it was cute.

And I once heard an interview with Hugh Laurie in which he described dealing with the accent and the medical terms "like we're all playing tennis, and everyone's got a racket, and I've got a fish." It's probably much harder than it looks.

[allegrita]

I absolutely ADORE Hugh Laurie. And much as I like House, I think he's absolutely wasted on a drama. That man is just screamingly funny!!!

Oh, we're talking about Three Rivers, huh? Um....

I got nothin'. Oh, except for this:

[darkstarrising]

I've only heard a little bit a an Aussie accent come through when he was winded after playing rugby and when he was chewing out Ryan in the last episode....

It's got to be tough speaking in an accent that isn't your own, wrap your tongue around a foreign language (medical terms) and when you're flippin' angry.....and he was very convincing when he was yelling at Ryan...

But I'll go with P'gal...I don't care what accent he affects, just so long as I get to listen..

[wpgrace]

You guys really need to stop saying "Alex" and "velvet" together. Please. I can't take too much more. *swoons*

Red

Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet...

And the line that TOTALLY killed me... in that first ep, talking to Kuol... low low Alex voice... "But I will do my best."

[redwinter101]

Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet...

If anyone wants to know who killed me, it was Grace, 'k?

Red

[wpgrace]

Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet Alex velvet...

If anyone wants to know who killed me, it was Grace, 'k?

Red

But what a way to go, Red... WHAT a way to go!!!!

[Overdamoon]

OMG. Trapper John--with that cutie Gregory...was it Harrison? Whew, that is dating me way too much as well!

Whose character was named...Gonzo. Small world.

Lucky

Cue the Twilight Zone music!
(brilliant memory, btw, lucky)

OMG!!! I don't remember ever following any medical show before TR but I do remember Gregory Harrison!!! Haven't seen his name mentioned in ages! Where is he now? And his character's name back then was Gonzo? We're talking about Three Rivers.

Boy, do I feel dated.

[HotMicks]

Oh, you all are killing me here ... between the photo and the velvet voice, I'm .

As to the accent, I'm actually amazed at how well Alex does stick the American pronunciation. No matter how hard you try, I just figure it's probably impossible to be conscious about it EVERY SECOND of EVERY DAY. I have a lot of friends who originated somewhere else (mostly Europe) and have been here in the States for a number of years now. They slip in and out of their accent almost without noticing it, sometimes just with certain words. I even do it with American dialects, since I've lived in New York, PA, New Jersey, Kentucky and now Calif (talk about an ODD mix of sounds!).