The Substitute

[Guest]

Even though I come from England, when I first saw the episode "The Substitute," I instantly thought I recognised something slightly odd about "the substitute" teacher's accent. I did a web search the other day and it turns out the actor who played the part is an Englishman himself. I am curious whether you Americans noticed anything odd about his accent. Did it sound fake to you? Did you even notice?

[Nostradamus]

Yes, Roger Rees didn't play down his accent much for that role, but Americans are used to a fairly diverse culture, so it probably didn't make much difference. Incidentally, Mid-Western Americans, not Englishman, supposedly pronounce the language closest to its dictionary listings and thus are considered the only modern English speakers without a significant accent. Of course, with the trend of increasingly global communications and entertainment, it is likely that future generations will have rather muddled or blended accents.

[Natasha (candygirl)]

I didn't think anything of his accent because I knew him previously from Cheers.

[MyLifeIsBrians]

I did`nt notice but looking back on it I can tell.