TV

Something I've noticed in the nearly 4 years I've lived here is that this country has something in abundance that no other country has nearly as many of. Americans. That may seem funny to you, but really, there are lots of them here.

So, why is it that for the new FOX TV series House they were unable to find an American actor to take the lead role? Don't get me wrong, I love Hugh Laurie. He's a fine actor,and I know him best for his comedic appearances with Stephen Fry. But one thing he's not is American.

Now, in principle, I do not object to him appearing in an American TV series, but why does he have an American accent? If it were so important to the plot to have an American doctor, how come the casting director was unable to find a suitable American actor? As I said, America is really not short of Americans.

It's not even a good American accent, in my opinion. Admittedly, that could be coloured by my knowledge of what he really sounds like, so maybe he sounds American to Americans. However, given how bad most Americans' attempts at British accents are, I rather doubt it.

It's a shame really, as the series seems to be promising, but the accent is just so distracting I find it hard to concentrate on the plot.