Michael E. Knight (Martin) talked about Martin's accent!

[TonksIsHere]

Michael Fairman did a Zoom interview with Michael E. Knight & he talked about the accent! I'm so glad. Anyway, what he said:

MEK talked about Martin's accent. He runs lines while he's walking his dog. The legalese has a cadence to it that came out of his mouth as a Southern accent & MEK asked Frank (Valentini) if it was okay. Said yes but don't take it too far. So they decided he had spent time in his youth in oh-he-couldn't-think what city it was right then. Began, though, as a highbrow Virginian accent & has since devolved. MF asked him if it was hard & he kind guffawed & said Well Yes to be consistent! As if anyone would ASK if the accent was hard! He also said he kept a mental line of Dixie in his head to help him keep up the accent.

He also said that he very much enjoyed playing Ted Orsini but that he didn't think he was very good at it. Here's why: He said he would watch David Canary & think OH if I could only do that. Obviously comparing himself to Adam & Stuart, David Canary's long-time, permanent residence identical twins.

[Pamcho]

That was a fun interview. He is exactly what you would hope he's like. I've noticed he has (thankfully) toned down the accent a bit.

[TonksIsHere]

That was a fun interview. He is exactly what you would hope he's like. I've noticed he has (thankfully) toned down the accent a bit.

Yeah, he is fun & real & he of course has a dog, always. I wonder if he's still a gamer.

[OLTL'69]

It is a great interview they deleted. the post with the link but it is worth looking for

[Dakotacat]

Southern accents are very varied. In fact, just in my state of Georgia, we have around 23 and can usually tell what area someone is from by their accent. And a Texan sounds NOTHING like a Georgian and each southern state has it's own variety of accents and "sayings". Bless her heart is NOT a compliment. If a southerner ever says to you, "Bless your heart" when you tell them something, they think you are an idiot. Lol But we often say, "Bless your heart" to children and cute animals. And in those cases, we are asking God to bless them.
So actually, no matter how heavy or light Michael Knight makes his accent, there is probably someone in the south who speaks that way. But I really wish Martin would use the "Bless your/her/his heart" at times...maybe to Valentin. Lol

[Dixie_Amazon]

The occasional "Bless your heart." would be awesome!

Then there are New Orleans accents that are totally different. Some of the attempts on TV are hilarious!

[TonksIsHere]

Southern accents are very varied. In fact, just in my state of Georgia, we have around 23 and can usually tell what area someone is from by their accent. And a Texan sounds NOTHING like a Georgian and each southern state has it's own variety of accents and "sayings". Bless her heart is NOT a compliment. If a southerner ever says to you, "Bless your heart" when you tell them something, they think you are an idiot. Lol But we often say, "Bless your heart" to children and cute animals. And in those cases, we are asking God to bless them.
So actually, no matter how heavy or light Michael Knight makes his accent, there is probably someone in the south who speaks that way. But I really wish Martin would use the "Bless your/her/his heart" at times...maybe to Valentin. Lol

As if Texas is a part of the South! Texas & Florida, not Southern states, not Southern culture, no way, no how. Unless it's some part of the state that isn't like the rest of the state, then, maybe. And, mountains always produce their own accent.

And, saying, "Well, bless your heart." doesn't necessarily mean stupidity! Could be some other basis for insult, like obnoxiousness or rudeness. "Well, bless your heart" has an implied second statement, which is, "Aren't you special?" When it comes to stupidity, there is this persistent belief that a Southern accent marks one as stupid. I tell you whose Southern accent is driving me crazy & that's Clive on DOOL.

[JaeBianca]

Northern Florida, along the Georgia and Alabama borders especially, embraces Southern culture (including a fondness for Confederate flags). East Texas, along the Louisiana and Arkansas borders also embraces Southern culture. I have this on good authority from friends who grew up in these regions.

[Dakotacat]

Of course Texas and absolutely Florida have southern cultures. I've lived in both states and the culture there is like Georgia's in most regards. Clyde's accent sounds like someone from Tennessee. I've lived there, too. "Bless her heart" is absolutely an insult unless you're talking about children or animals.

The fondness for Confederate flags is just honoring the country of the Confederacy and the soldiers who fought. Although my great grandmother was Grant's great niece, I also had relatives who fought for the south.

[regalbeagle]

I wouldn't say that Florida isn't a part of the South.

North Florida is more like Georgia than it is like Miami and the Florida panhandle is as Southern as Alabama.

As for Texas, it would be more recognized as part of the South if Texans weren't so invested in being treated as their own thing.

[MrsValentine]

Great interview. I have met MEK (fan events) and he is that guy. So friendly, naturally funny and warm and affectionate with his fans. He’s a true delight.

[TonksIsHere]

Dakotacat commented
Of course Texas and absolutely Florida have southern cultures. I've lived in both states and the culture there is like Georgia's in most regards. Clyde's accent sounds like someone from Tennessee. I've lived there, too. "Bless her heart" is absolutely an insult unless you're talking about children or animals.

The fondness for Confederate flags is just honoring the country of the Confederacy and the soldiers who fought. Although my great grandmother was Grant's great niece, I also had relatives who fought for the south.

Texas, the whole state, and Florida, the whole state, are not in the opinion of many Southern in culture or accent or anything. There are parts of both which are Southern. But, I indicated that in my post. And, this is a long-standing disagreement between & among some people. So, I have my view & you have yours & that's okay.

And, of course, I said that "Well, bless your heart." is an insult, just not that it automatically is about stupidity. It can be, as I said, about rudeness or obnoxiousness, etc., etc. And, people can say versions of that & not be making an insult at all. People say "God bless you." and "Have a blessed day." etc. & those are not insults.

There are people who brandish the Confederate flag because they are racists. It is possible to be a Southerner born & raised & know that the Confederate battle flag belongs in museums & that in the face of systemic racism there is no excuse for it to be displayed as a current symbol. It has its place, in the past.

Oh, and I was told Clyde is supposed to be from Missouri. For what it's worth.

JaeBianca commented
Northern Florida, along the Georgia and Alabama borders especially, embraces Southern culture (including a fondness for Confederate flags). East Texas, along the Louisiana and Arkansas borders also embraces Southern culture. I have this on good authority from friends who grew up in these regions.

Yes, those are the areas in TX & FL that I alluded to in my post where they are not like the rest of TX/FL, they are instead like LA or AL/GA. Thank you for delineating them.

[Dakotacat]

You do know that free blacks also fought for the south and that some blacks here also show the
Confederate flag on their homes and vehicles? My grandson's best friend is black and has the Stars and Bars on his truck. A black man was killed in a car wreck a few years ago who had a Confederate flag on his truck. And the "so called" Confederate flag was one of many battle flags used during the war. The Stars and Bars was the official flag of the confederacy and looked nothing like the flag shown on the Dukes of Hazzard or other movies about the civil war. There are so many things spread about that war that weren't true. I have lived in the deep south most of my life. In school we were taught a lot of history about the war and there are many museums about the war. I live about 40 miles from Andersonville.

[rhondalynnra]

Huge Michael E. Knight fan. LOVED him as Tad but I just have issues with the accent as Martin. I think he is playing the part so well and I see some of Tad coming through Being a South Carolina girl forever, you can tell when accents are faked and the person is trying too hard. He has toned it down a bit but at first i was like OMG please NO! Bless his heart!

[TonksIsHere]

Huge Michael E. Knight fan. LOVED him as Tad but I just have issues with the accent as Martin. I think he is playing the part so well and I see some of Tad coming through Being a South Carolina girl forever, you can tell when accents are faked and the person is trying too hard. He has toned it down a bit but at first i was like OMG please NO! Bless his heart!

I have bad Southern accents as my Number 1 pet peeve. I give MEK passing marks but that's just me, I guess. And, I've lived in MS, AL, GA, SC, TN, LA & Brooklyn.

[LoveStories]

I so agree about the bad Southern accents. I can almost always pick out a fake one right away, even though there are loads and loads of different Southern accents just in the area where I was raised alone (NE Alabama / NW Georgia). A quick Wikipedia search on the actor's birthplace usually confirms my suspicions. MEK was born in Princeton, NJ according to Wiki.

Martin’s current accent is not one of the worst attempts I have ever heard, but it doesn't ring as authentic to me.

Also, I can almost always pick up on a true deep Southern accent no matter where the person is from, even when the person is trying to hide it. Again, Wiki proves me right quite often.

[PinkDiamond]

I LOVE Martin...but I HATE that phony accent.... wish they would just have it him drop it and talk normal

[believeinme246]

I could have accepted it if it was how he came onto the show, but he didn't start using it until his third episode, or so, and that was rather jarring.

[Dakotacat]

I have a good friend from Adel, Georgia who is a character actor. Of course he usually plays southern roles and the critiques often say his accent sounds fake.