Brits imitating a American Accent for entertainment

My British hubby does a funny old Jewish man accent.  He also does a perfect Herbert (from Family Guy--the pervert old man character) imitation.

Herbert's my favourite character! 

My husband's version of doing an American accent is to just say typically American words in his very proper British accent. "Dude" and "dawg" feature prominently.

When the guys mock my accent at the office, they sound like they are out of Goodfellas, or something.  It's not that strong, but it's either go with a strong NY accent, or they go with a strong southern accent!  Generally, they are all pretty awful! 

I wouldn't think to mock the accents at the office, simply because I can't do a good one, and if you can't do it right, why do it at all?

I think Gary Oldman drops the accent pretty well.  I mean, True Romance?  I barely had any idea that was Gary Oldman to begin with!

Herbert's my favourite character! 

When the guys mock my accent at the office, they sound like they are out of Goodfellas, or something.  It's not that strong, but it's either go with a strong NY accent, or they go with a strong southern accent!  Generally, they are all pretty awful! 

I wouldn't think to mock the accents at the office, simply because I can't do a good one, and if you can't do it right, why do it at all?

I'm not a fan of people mocking my accent unless they are a good friend of mine.  A few months back the bank teller at the bank I use almost every day I am at work mocked me (and not in a nice way) and thought I couldn't hear.  What a total dumb@ss jerk!  I was really upset (I am always pleasant and polite when to everyone in there) and was so tempted to report him to the manager, but I didn't. 

Well, the guys are my friends, so I don't mind it.  But I've never had strangers mock it, most people just ask where I'm from.

Well, the guys are my friends, so I don't mind it.  But I've never had strangers mock it, most people just ask where I'm from.

Same here which is why I was so taken aback by this jerk's behaviour.  Guess I just wanted to vent about it here.  Most people are so nice and just curious about me.

Yeah, my BF's attempt at an American accent is almost consistently a "Yeeeee-Haw!" followed by him making a motion like he's about to lasso a steer.  He watched a lot of cowboy movies as a kid.  

That or a Sopranos-based "fugetaboutit".

He's got a limited repertoire.  

ETA: And I can't even try at a Scottish accent, it's just a physical impossibility!

In the Brits-doing-bad-American-Accents, I saw a local production of the musical Titanic (not based on the movie) and the American accents were absolutely awful!

Hey- a bunch of my friends were in that show!   (Assuming you're talking about the Opera Company show) I was unfortunately away in the US for work when that was on and didn't get to see it- but knowing my friends, I can imagine their American accents were pretty bad 

I had a giggle and thought of this thread last night when we saw History of the Big Bands- Darius Campbell (way too cheezy for my liking, I never knew who he was, but everyone was saying he was like a Simon Cowell prodigy for being on some show -who knows, I don't watch that kind of stuff) is from Glasgow and he tried hard to put on an American accent- not too bad, but it would just slip sometimes and something Wegie would come out - it was quite funny

DS has been watching all the "Doc Martin" series and keeps doing a Cornish accent. I guess that's allowed since he's British but it's a far cry from his native Yorkshire.

DS has been watching all the "Doc Martin" series and keeps doing a Cornish accent. I guess that's allowed since he's British but it's a far cry from his native Yorkshire.

My Cornish husband says those are all very bad accents - more just an amalgamation of various West Country accents, but not really Cornish. Of course, I can't tell at all.

Hey- a bunch of my friends were in that show!   (Assuming you're talking about the Opera Company show) I was unfortunately away in the US for work when that was on and didn't get to see it- but knowing my friends, I can imagine their American accents were pretty bad 

It was a nice production, shame you missed it.

It was a nice production, shame you missed it.

I know, I was really sad.  I like the Titanic musical as well- I saw it on Broadway when it first came out 

I thought that Helena Bonhem Carter (can’t spell) was pretty good in fight club.  Also the guy who plays Chuck on Gossip Girl is English, I had no idea until I was watching an interview on YouTube.  Also, no one mentioned Robert Patinson (still can’t spell) from Twilight.  When he messes up his accent you can just look at his sparkly skin.

Also, isn’t Johnny Depp American?  If he is, his accents in Sweeny Todd and Alice in Wonderland were pretty good.

My bf’s American accent consists solely of saying “go cougars” very loudly!  However, I have trained him to say Maryland like a local. 

If anyone saw the very short-lived Dresden Files, Paul Blackthorne (British) does a convincing Midwestern accent while playing against Terrence Mann (American) with a fairly posh (though I've no idea how convincing a Brit would find it) English accent.

My Cornish husband says those are all very bad accents - more just an amalgamation of various West Country accents, but not really Cornish. Of course, I can't tell at all.

I'm not up on the Cornish accent, but I've grown up in the West Country and with some of the actors, it's obvious that the Cornish accent isn't their natural one and that they come from other areas of the UK !

On the other hand, I was quite surprised when I heard Ian McNeice's (Burt Large's) natural accent... he's got a really posh accent in real life and used to be part of the Royal Shakespeare Company!

On the other hand, I was quite surprised when I heard Ian McNeice's (Burt Large's) natural accent... he's got a really posh accent in real life and used to be part of the Royal Shakespeare Company!

Didn't he play Winston Churchill on one of the Dr. Who episodes?