Yeah, Baby! YEAH!

I haven't written a lot about Dick Van Dyke recently, seeing as his longtime girlfriend Michelle Triola died this year, and it didn't feel right. I'm certainly not making fun of him with this blog -- I'm making fun of hack writers who fall back on the cliché of complaining about his bad cockney accent. And lately, he's been dealing with his grief in typical Dick Van Dyke fashion; he's getting out there and doing things, and just generally being the kind of optimistic guy I hope to be when I'm in my mid-80s.

So... after a suitable respectful period, it's time re-open the ministry's doors.

The Telegraph, December , 2009, Yeah, baby, yeah. It's international talk with a fake British accent day by Derek Nisbet

Dick van Dyke and Austin Powers have a lot to answer for. Two New York expats have designated December 17 International talk with a fake British accent day....

Everyone (even the Brits) is invited to adopt a fake accent for the event and may find themselves tested on the day by fiendish tongue twisters. You could mimic other famous "fakers", such as Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins or Austin Powers. “Fakers” will be recorded for posterity and members will get a chance to listen, vote, comment and discuss their efforts online.

Fry's English Delight

D.V.D.'s accent received a mention on Stephen Fry's wonderful radio show.

It'll only be available for streaming for about a week.

Ach, Hoot Mon, Ah'm in Yer Internets, Makin' Foon of Dick Van Dyke's Cockney!

The Scotsman, March 15, 2009, Album review: Peter Doherty | Grace/Wastelands by Peter Doherty

And cor blimey mate, the 'Sweet By And By' will have you suspecting Randy Newman has entered the room in the guise of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.

MEMO TO D.V.D.: "Um, Dick... They Actually Haven't Forgiven You."

Hollywood Today, February 18th, 2009, Mary Poppins Still Delights by Gabrielle Pantera

Another challenge for Van Dyke was the accent. “I was trying my best to do Cockney,” says Van Dyke. “In some scenes I almost get it and in other scenes it isn’t there at all. It’s amazing how the British forgave me for my bad accent.”

The Campaign Gains Traction

"...most will never be bothered by it...'

This was obviously written by an American...

Mary Poppins: 45th Anniversary Edition DVD Review, ultimatedisney.com, January 29, 2009.

Dick Van Dyke claims as much screentime and though his challenged Cockney accent is a frequent source of ridicule, most will never be bothered by it. He's far too charismatic in providing some of the piece's heart and soul to notice what may be off-key diction.

*****

I was sorely tempted by this a couple weeks ago, but $15 seemed a bit much:



Sadly, it's not a talking doll.

DVD in Reverse!

The cliché has expanded lately -- now Brits compare fellow Brits doing American accents to Dick Van Dyke, an American, trying and failing to do a Cockney accent.

I am an American, and I do a pretty fair impression of a Brit trying and failing to do an American accent -- I wonder what they would make of that?

****

Den of Geek, January 13, 2009, Demons episode 2 review by Gemma Reilly

There is bad blood between Simeon and Galvin - or ‘the colonial’ as the old zombie calls him, voice dripping with that typical Wilson disdain – and the origins of their mutual dislike will no doubt be revealed in a later episode. For now, Simeon warns Luke that Galvin cannot be trusted.

He’s probably right. That accent was decidedly shifty last week, but now it’s like Dick Van Dyke in reverse. Glenister’s vowels appear to be enjoying a whistlestop tour of the US; one minute he’s having a crack at generic Noo Joizey, the next he’s all ‘hey-howdy-hey, ma’am, looks like y’all could use some help’. It’s distracting and entirely pointless; why does Galvin need to be American in the first place?

They've Been Out for Revenge All Along!

Another example of mentioning D.V.D.'s bad cockney accent when talking about an English actor's bad American accent.

This is Leicestershire, January 05, 2009, TV review: Demons by Jeremy Clay

Well, it’s taken a while, but it’s finally happened. We’ve had our revenge for Dick Van Dyke.

So take a bow Philip Glenister. Actually, on second thoughts, don’t.

In Demons (7.20pm, Saturday), ITV’s bold but backfiring attempt to create a British Buffy, Glenister used an American accent so ropey you half expected to hear the director shout “Cut!” every time he opened his gob.

That shout never came. Perhaps everyone realised he was doing a splendid job of drawing attention away from Demons’ many shortcomings.