BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,EastieinBama
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 08:16 PM

He's a Brit on Eastenders, a British soap.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,DW
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 10:16 AM

How can he be a brit? When was the last time you saw a gecko in England? He has to be an Aussie!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Dede
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 03:12 PM

Probably because in India and most of South-East Asia, the British influence
reined for years. They latched on to the Chinese belief that no home would
be protected unless there was at least one resident Gekko (also called
Tak-Tak's) in the house, and a "herd" of Gekko insured good fortune for all
who came under the roof. House warming gifts often were tiny Gekko's.
So, obviously Gekko's should have a British accent rather than speak a non-
universal language. Today's Ceico's Gekko is a voice obviously born
within the "sound of the Bells". The dialogue is right in keeping!

They are however, usually transparent, eventually taking on the color
of their environment. And there is NOTHING like having one of the little
suction footed, gummy cold guys unexpectedly drop onto oneself while sipping a drink
or reading a book.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: fumblefingers
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 12:32 AM

The lizard is a pom. Londonish working class.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 10:43 AM

I'm an Englishman living in Indiana.

The gekko's voice has an East London regional accent and is not considered classy or educated by Englishmen. It's almost Cockney but not quite.

Cute yes, classy, no!

Americans often have trouble differentiating between the English, Australian and South African "accents". Naturally, we don't!

Everywhere I go here I'm told they love my "accent".

Of course I point out we invented the language therefore YOU have the accent!

The classic neutral English voice is considered by most Americans to sound educated and intelligent.

Which is why it is often used in commercials here.

This doesn't mean we ARE more intelligent or educated, we just sound it!

I socialise in town with two types of people, the tradesmen, consisting of builders, wreckers, electricians, truckers etc and the professional classes consisting of lawyers, judges, senators, the mayor, president and professors of Wabash college etc and they all say the same thing.

I've discovered the difference between American men and American women.

The women love listening to me speak and the men can't understand a word I'm saying! ;-)

Michael of http://www.worldofantiques.net

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 05:45 PM

for some reason, the usual suspects have not bothered to claim the 200th post here...so...I'll do it for them. 200!

I think it's funny hearing Aussies & Brits debate what kind of accent it is. To my American ear, it sounds like it is 'supposed' to be Aussie, but with a neutral ring...like a Brit who has lived in Oz for awhile.

(and I really DON'T understand why an Aussie or English accent is supposed to sell things like insurance or internet service better. Or why they so often choose English narrators for nature programs.[unless, of course, it is a totally English produced show.]
Has anyone seen that silly commercial where the fellow in the suit with the VERY English accent, carrying a laptop computer, wades thru ponds or crawls in ditches 'hunting for the internet' and proclaim "it can't hide anymore" since he got his wireless card from AT&T? Why? He seems a perfect idiot to me.

'ol Bill the curmudgeon

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 07:06 PM

trust me -- that is NOT an Australian accent...

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 12:39 PM

I take it the Dave Kelly referred to from time to time is not the veteran Blues Band guitarist, and brother of the late and much lamented Jo-Ann Kelly, a wonderful acoustic blues artiste?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: haddocker
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 09:27 AM

The Geiko Gekko is a Brit for the same reason that many companies that conduct some sort of sales pitch are using our British kin, particularly in America. They speak proper English and speak it clearly.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Smooky the Boar
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 10:51 PM

I thought it was that charming Ian fellow from GlobalTrekker. How about a nice glass of watt-uh! I wonder what Brits call that regional accent-- not quite Cockney, but sort of blue-collar Man-United knees-bent-running-about advancing-behavior lingo

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Winger
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 04:58 PM

I fought it was David Beck'am doin' that voice. Stone me, you'd think they could 'ave got an upper class geezer to show the Yanks how classy the Brits really are. Or are they just extracting the urine?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: mg
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 11:38 PM

I always thought he sounded Australian..assumed he was..sounds just like the Australian man I work with. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,rockin'gekko1
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 02:39 PM

I dont care what any of you say, he is sooooooo absolutly adorable!!! I love him so much! He's my fave auto insurance icon!!! P.S. i love his cute little brittish accent!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Lazarus
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 01:26 PM

My beef with this is the fact that GEICO stands for Government Employees Insurance COrporation.
Since we won the war against England 231 years ago, why would a spokesman for the Government Employees Insurance COrporation be speaking a mish mash of British speak?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: HouseCat
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 11:28 AM

Personally, I love the lizard. Anybody seen the Wrigley's commercial with the stick of gum that sounds like he's from Aberdeenshire?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,..
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 02:37 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Wood

Gecko.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Trevor Thomas
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 11:36 AM

I've no idea why they decided to give the lizard an English accent. Or why they changed it from 'BBC' English to Estuary or 'Mockney'. I was perplexed when I saw it in Florida earlier this year. Perhaps it's just to make it different from all the other animated lizards on the television?

In the UK there is an advert for an insurance company which uses an animated mouse with an American accent. Why they imagine people are likely to buy things because talking animals with foreign accents tell them to is something I've not been able to find an explanation for.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 11:20 PM

I think it sounds just like the guy who plays Max on Eastenders.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,guest kristy
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:19 AM

Here is another link....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Wood

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,guest kristy
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:14 AM

Here is the link, and he is impersonating Cockney.
http://www.tvacres.com/adanimals_geicogecko.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,guest kristy
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:11 AM

I just found a website that says it is an english actor named Jake Wood. Go figure. I thought for sure it was the guy from Extreme Makeover, Home Edition.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 01:50 PM

please,what are you guys thinking Australian!

Us australians originated from the area, But Take a listen to Nicole kidman, heath ledger or even Kylie do they sound like a gecko !
Dont think so.
Buy the way was the Budweiser Frog from Paris?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Mark
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 02:33 AM

My first reaction was that the character (and accent) was a parody of Michael Cane in Alfie.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,catlin
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 05:35 AM

Yo qiero Taco Bell. 'Cause Americans like talking animals with an accent.

Besides, I thought he was Australian.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Trixibelle
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 05:15 AM

Someone told me the Gekko is Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits. hmmmmm? He deffo has the east end accent.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,H Booth
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 06:06 PM

Just found a clip from the british soap called Eastenders it has Jake wood talking (if you select the clip) he is the character called mAX you can tell straight away that it is him talking. I hope this clears up any confusion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/eastenders/episodes/episode_content/episode20060714.shtml

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,H Booth
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 05:49 PM

Well Being a Brit myself i can assure you that the Gecko is infact a cockney. The refference about Pie and Chips in one advert should help solidate it for anyone that thinks he is not a brit. chips in the UK are actually chunky fries and you eat it with a hot meat pie and buy it from a chip shop. yummy.
Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 09:49 PM

Just checked on Seatown's logic. I think you nailed it with Jake Wood. I was just guessing with Ricky...

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Brentwood Bruce
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 09:35 PM

I really think it's Ricky Gervais now.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,GUEST, SeaTown
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 02:58 AM

Dave kelly was one of the voices, but the current on is Jake wood. Here's proof

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,The idea is to make it stand out
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 12:30 PM

As for the dialect, it sounds like Birmingham or Liverpool. It's
a creative bit and it works. The choice of a lower class
dialect British is also a good idea

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Richmond, VA
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 06:18 PM

I think I've got it - the new Geico gekko's voice must be provided by Marc Warren, the actor who plays Danny Blue on the AMC show "Hustle." Wed nights at 10. Great show! And it sounds just like him.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Anonymous American
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 03:55 PM

Having trouble identifying that annoying accent has nothing to do with being American. I'm American and I've never mistaken that accent for Aussie or anything else.

BTW, the new Gekko stinks. I hate that accent and the thought of pie and chips makes me want to vomit.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Bob Lee, Bloomfield Hills, Mi. USA
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 06:51 PM

My Goodness,
He's a Brit, A Cockney, has anybody heard of Bow Bells?.
Listen to this Lit'ul fella, mee muvver(mother) fink(think) abaart it. The Aussies, (ozzies)Should sound so articulate as out little Cockney Icon.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 01:56 PM

and...

it WAS David Kelly, but apparently at some point in the post Kelsey Grammer era, but is not now...

"Voice of Geico Gecko Updated
Kelsey Grammar, of Frasier fame, provided the voice for the first ad. From there on the British accent was provided by Dave Kelly. For the most recent Geico Gecko campaign the accent is Cockney. There's some debate about who the actor now is. I believe it would be impossible to pick the actor from the accent as a 'voice' can be developed to suit the demands."

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 01:54 PM

It's CLEARLY Cockney... only proving once again that Americans have zero ear for English accents. (not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but it's a fact)

He sounds as much Australian as Bush does.. that is, not at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Bonnie
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 08:13 AM

Our favorite Gekko's voice is none other than Kelsey Grammer's, of "Fraxier" and "Cheers" fame.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Slag
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:46 AM

OK Dave's Wife! Maybe you can help me. I heard from someone some time back that today's English Accentis a fairly recent phenomena. Three hundred years or so ago the accent was much less flavored by the Cockney. It was the Eton kids who took up the Cockney in parody and it stuck! I don't know if this is true but it sounds plausable and it also explains why the northern counties have a more understandable (if that's the right word), less "Cockney-fied" sound. Your views??

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 11:41 AM

I vote for Estuary English no that I've read all the posts and watched the commercials a few more times. I'm willing to stake my reputation as somebody with a degree in Linguistics (among others mind you, so I can afford to lose one reputation!)

I don't feel his dialect can be labelled cockney because he doesn't substitute a glottal stop for certain intervocalic consonants. it's other things too including his vowels, but I can't explain. To my ear, he's not as far along the spectrum as Cockney is when compared to EE.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 08:04 AM

A cockney is defined as as one born within the sound of the Bow Bells- the Wren church of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside. If that accent is a real cockney, I will eat those bells.

The accent has been borrowed, in a softened form across much of London, and the south east of england, and is often referred to as Estury English ,as the other main element in is from the Thames esury, i.e. parts of the Kent and Essex coasts.

I identify the accent in the adverts I saw as someone trying, quite sucessfully, to take on a understandable, but definite Estury English accent. They were almost certainly not brought up speaking witht hat accent though. It's just not quite right.

Ebbie, I can differentiate about 8-10 US regional accents, with varying degrees of precision. The people I've got to know those accents from have mainly been from the Coasts, so I get much less precise in the middle.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 01:59 AM

The Geico Gecko is a Cockney geeza, innit. Cockney being the accent of North London, or London in general. Similar to Cockney Rhyming sland. E.g. You're in a Barney.

Barney = Barney Rubble (Flintstones) = Rubble = Trouble.

You're in some trouble.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Slag
Date: 25 Jun 06 - 10:21 PM

Ok. I hurriedly scanned the entries so if some of this is redundant, what can I say, mate? Ain't no geckos in England but they are in Aussie Land. There ain't no GEICO in either of those countries.HMMM? But there ain't no Budweiser in either of those countries either.

The East End accents of which "Cockney" is the most recognizable were exported all over the world during the hayday of the British Empire. Theirs was the language and accent of the dock workers and seamen and the Austrailian accent was very much influenced by the same as this was one of the last colonies of Great Brittan. And because it was a penal colony it got the dregs of the Home Island and THEIR accent.

Now, what do I make of all this? An Aussie once asked me if I knew why American beer was like making love in a canoe. I said I didn't know. I had no idea why American beer was like making love in a canoe. He said "Because it's fucking close to water, Mate!" So there you have it. The squamish little gecko out does the Bud-lapping Old World Chameleons and we all rest a little easier knowing that we have an insurance company that we'd have to sue to get our due.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From:
Date: 25 Jun 06 - 09:33 PM

i was just about to post to the effect that there really should be no debate - the gekko has a cockney accent. but i see dafydd, above, already cleared that one up. he's right. there simply is no debate.

the amusing thing, as far as the "americans associate english accents with class" thought, is that a cockney accent is about as far from posh, oxbridge, queen's english as you can get.

all that said...whoever made the gekko a cockney is a genius, and the ads are tremendous.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Barb
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 04:58 PM

I don't know why he's a Brit, but the voice of the Gecko is a man named Dave Kelly. This should settle the argument once and for all. It plainly says that he is the voice of the animated Geico gecko.


http://davekelly.co.uk/contact_dave_kelly.shtml

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,GUESTr
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 11:18 AM

Nowhere on that Kelly Willet site does he say he's the gecko's voice. He says he is the voice of Geico, but nothing about the gecko.

Anyone think it could be one of the lads from Lock, Stock...? I'd have to watch it again to decide which one, but surely those guys--at least three of them--have a Cockney accent, right?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,mmg
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 08:11 PM

definitely marc warren...no doubt

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST, Ebbie
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 04:24 PM

I'm one of those Americans who don't know the defining differences between most British accents. I like accents but I don't hear British people often enough. To be fair, though, how many UKers are able to identify - or even notice - the many different accents in the US? Do you know the difference between a Maine accent and a Massachusetts one? The difference between a Kentucky accent and a North Carolina one? Or even a Kansas one and one from Alabama? Some of our states have several working accents cheek by jowl to each other. In Virginia, I knew a husband and wife who had very different accents. Came from different regions of the state.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Curious in FL
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 01:17 AM

Omigod! I thought I was the only person on earth pondering the secrets of the advertsing universe. OK, this is the answer!! The guy playing Gekko is a gentleman that I watched many times on PBS. He plays on a show called "Globe Trekker". The 1st time I saw him he was eating some foreign beasts balls!! This was before Fear Factor...And yes, being a typical typecast Brit, rotten teeth. I just want to confirm the voice on Lowes hardware commercials. I think it is Gene Hackman?! Pls tell me... Thanks everyone!

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,LAPAT
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 11:35 AM

My mom is from Wales, I have a sister that lives in North England(Norfolk) and her husband is Cockney. I also have cousins and an aunt that live in Australia. Visited them several years ago in Oz, visited my sister a couple of years ago in Norfolk. Just from what I know(i may not know all the diff accents but..) I know the Gecko isnt Aussie. He sounds alot like my brother in law, but mostly their kids. The kids aren't Cockney, but they talk like that, you know, the pronounce their "th" as "f". and pie is "poi" and all that. I love the Gecko, think he is cute... love the accent...like to hear something different on TV.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 23 May 06 - 11:21 PM

Wow, I'm ashamed to know this, but... As I remember it, when Geico first started airing the gecko commercials a few years back, he did have ad "Australian" type accent. Which I always assumed was to appeal to fans of the then-popular Steve-Irwin-beats-the-shit-out-of-wildlife shows. They soon changed his accent to a generic BBC one. Then, more recently, his accent was changed to the current Cockn... er, "Estuary" accent.

Wikipedia says that the accent was always British...

"In the first commercial, where people kept calling the gecko as a wrong number for GEICO, the gecko was given a high-class British accent because it would be unexpected, according to The Martin Agency's Steve Bassett. In current commercials the gecko's accent is more working-class, to further "humanize" him and make him "more accessible and someone you enjoy listening to, some bloke you want to get to know."

...but I do seem to remember the early commercials with the "Aussie" accent. Whatever.

---Lepus Rex