» ACTOR: James Marsters Options

[Grom]

But here's an interesting thing to remember. Spike's accent was fake. He adopted it to make himself more badass, and to distance himself from the upper-class wimp (but a very nice one) he was as a human. I think the adopted accent became natural for him after using it constantly for a hundred years, but it wasn't the accent he grew up speaking with. So, really, if you think JM's Spike accent was a little off, you could always fanwank that being the reason why.

To me that also explained why the accent would vary. Sometimes when he was trying to be a badass, it would be more cockney but then in more serious or emotional moments, it could sound very posh. Now most likely it was Marsters having a bit of a problem controlling the accent but I always thought it wound up working very well with Spike's/ William's backstory and the fact he was trying to mask who he really was. The slips were like William peeking through. It's a fanwank but not as much as was required by other things at the end of Buffy's run.

[hermione]

I'd guess that the accent's variation really had a lot to do with JM. He really didn't have an accent coach , or whatever; he just winged it. He's got something of an ear, I guess, but without professional help, he was bound to stumble.
Nevertheless, I do recall reading a director or writer commentary on one of the episodes, possibly Lies My Parents told Me where through flashbacks we see William and newly turned William, and Spike. Apparently there were intentional sublte differences in the accents JM used to signal the change from human to vamp. Now, it may be that none of those was actually an "authentic" accent, but I do recall that at least on one occasion he made a conscious attempt to vary the accent depending on "who" he was portraying.

I appreciated the accent, and accepted it because it never seemed fake or wrong to me. I'm an American, and I know nothing about British accents, but I can still sometimes pick out an American actor who's doing an especially BAD British accent. THAT is distracting! At least with JM there seemed to be, for me as one of the uninitiated, a sort of patina of accuracy to the accent.
But, more important-----yeaaaahh, it was six kinds of sexy!

I remember an article in the Guardian this year listed him in the top ten of best accents.

beezor Are you referring to JM? Maybe the ranking was based on reputation!

Now that I think of it, I did read a comment by the guy who played Pavane in the Ats episode Hellbound. He said he thought JM was an English actor until he met him. Go figure. Then again, maybe he was just blowing smoke up JM's "arse".

TOPIC: Sleester Hunter I like your "pitch" idea in general, but in the name of all that is holy, why would you pair up JM, in a "Marsters and Servant" relationship, with Danny Bonaduce? Surely there's a tastier "has-been" whom we can impress into service for him? Ooooh, I know--Nicky Brendon! Spander all the way.
(Qualification: It goes without saying that I don't think either JM or NB are "has-been". Just playing along.

[Sleestak Hunter]

TOPIC: Sleester Hunter I like your "pitch" idea in general, but in the name of all that is holy, why would you pair up JM, in a "Marsters and Servant" relationship, with Danny Bonaduce? Surely there's a tastier "has-been" whom we can impress into service for him?

I'm pretty sure someone else in The Pitch thread (or maybe it was in the JM thread at Fametracker) suggested Mr Bonaduce. Originally I was going to cast Tony Head. But, I didn't want it to be "too Buffy". Then I got the brilliant idea to make the butler a has-been actor, too. Enter the Bonaduce.

(the tuxedo'd body of Bonaduce in the pic is actually JM's. It was from a publicity photo from that cable TV movie he did where he played a jewel thief).

Ooooh, I know--Nicky Brendon!

Well, he's currently playing a chef on some silly show about, well, chefs. So, he's kinda disqualified because he's working. For the time being. I fully expect the chef show to be "sent back to the kitchen" soon. But, again- "too Buffy".

(Qualification: It goes without saying that I don't think either JM or NB are "has-been". Just playing along.

Duly noted! Of course JM ain't a has-been. But, y'know, the soundbite just works so well! ; )

TOPIC: It's time to play Marrrrsters' Trivia! Woo!

What is James Marsters' middle name?

BONUS! Check out these pics from JM's high school yearbook!

This post has been edited by Sleestak Hunter: Nov 1, 2005 @ 6:53 pm.

[Bend Over]

I like your "pitch" idea in general, but in the name of all that is holy, why would you pair up JM, in a "Marsters and Servant" relationship, with Danny Bonaduce?

Actually that might not be such a bad idea. The way they're both so hyperactive and talkative, they'd probably become best friends or something. Kindred spirits those two.

Duly noted! Of course JM ain't a has-been.

Well, some would say he's a never-was-been.

BONUS! Check out these pics from JM's high school yearbook!

Haha, poor guy. But look at him now? He's even got barely legal girls like myself lusting after him, so it's all good. And also, I bet underneath all that bad hair and clothing, he still had a cute face.

ETA:

Spander all the way.

No, come on, you can do better than that. Crossover pairing...Spike/Krycek baby! Mmmm, Nicholas Lea. I don't know about now, but back when he was on The X-Files, he certainly was tasty then. Much tastier than NB has ever been, IMO.

This post has been edited by Bend Over: Nov 1, 2005 @ 7:43 pm.

[beezor]

Basically the guy made a top ten list of actors who he believed were best at using non-native accents. James Marsters was number three. Since he made an ordered list, I'm assuming his ranking was based on his personal opinion. He also had a ten worst list.

[Sleestak Hunter]

Duly noted! Of course JM ain't a has-been.

Well, some would say he's a never-was-been.

Look, don't be draggin' reality into this.. ; )

BONUS! Check out these pics from JM's high school yearbook!

Haha, poor guy. But look at him now? He's even got barely legal girls like myself lusting after him, so it's all good.

Rumor has it The Marsters likes 'em young. Like the song says: "Take your passion/And make it happen" ; )

And we still want to know: What is JM's middle name?

[Bend Over]

Rumor has it The Marsters likes 'em young.

I'll ogle and squee over how too darn pretty he can look at times. But still, old man cooties, eww, I don't want to touch. LOL.

[hermione]

SH Answer: Wesley

Bend Over How about Rod Rowland? --SAAB (& one X-files and one Angel episode) crossover.

Also, baby, check out the photos from this weekend ( his London appearances). He's looking better than ever, what with the hair growing out and curling. MMM. No old man cooties there, dear.

This post has been edited by hermione: Nov 1, 2005 @ 9:44 pm.

[Cyb]

BONUS! Check out these pics from JM's high school yearbook!

Why... WHY did I click on that link? He was like the bastard lovechild of Carrot Top and Napolean Dynamite! Well... good for him for growing up hot and finding a barber who's not shy with the shears.

[Stance]

TOPIC: So, awhile back- I had created a thread called "The Pitch" where we took turns "pitching" make-believe TV shows to each other. I came up with one wherein James Marsters plays an out-of-work (or barely working) genre actor whose shunned by Hollywood but adored by TV fans. His eccentric rich uncle (also played by Marsters) dies and leaves him a butler- played by Danny Bonaduce. I think Marsters and Servant had potential, y'know?

The idea is too ... un-self-awarely ironic. It has the same aura of ' desperately lame' that Pauly Shore suggesting an elaborate parody of everybody who bought lesure suits would.

We'd need something a bit more biting.

BONUS! Check out these pics from JM's high school yearbook!

LOL! What now, they caught him during a tribute to Simon and Garfunkle?

Well, some would say he's a never-was-been.

Indeed. In the less obscure but less endearing world of A-list Hollywood buffs, mentions of 'Marsters', 'Nick Brendon', 'Amy Aker' and whathaveyou will be met with blank stares.

This post has been edited by Stance: Nov 2, 2005 @ 1:37 am.

[hermione]

LOL! What now, they caught him during a tribute to Simon and Garfunkle?

Stance LMAO. Wow, nobody laughed at Garfunkel back then. Or now. In fact, Art's still a hottie. An old hottie who lost a lot of his hair , but a hottie.

Well, some would say he's a never-was-been.

Indeed. In the less obscure but less endearing world of A-list Hollywood buffs, mentions of 'Marsters', 'Nick Brendon', 'Amy Aker' and whathaveyou will be met with blank stares.

You mean in the A-list world of Jessica Simpson, or say, Freddie Prinze, Jr.?

This post has been edited by hermione: Nov 2, 2005 @ 8:47 am.

[Sleestak Hunter]

Congrats to hermione for scoring big in the opening round of Marrrrsters' Trivia.

The idea is too ... un-self-awarely ironic. It has the same aura of ' desperately lame' that Pauly Shore suggesting an elaborate parody of everybody who bought lesure suits would.

We'd need something a bit more biting.

I think I just got "served". You go, Stance! I'll try to be more "self-aware" in the future.

That reminds me of my childhood: when I was a kid back in West Virginia- and we're talking the early 70s, here (yes, I have old man cooties)- I was on a Little League team with a kid named Chip. His father sold leisure suits. Chip would come to practice in a leisure suit. Swear. To. God. He'd be out there in center field- baseball cap, sunglasses and a brown leisure suit. Amazing. Good player, too.

I wore one once when I was a kid when I went to a cousin's wedding. Green, it was. Lime-ish green. (shudder). I'm sorry, world.

ETA: OH! TOPIC!

Indeed. In the less obscure but less endearing world of A-list Hollywood buffs, mentions of 'Marsters', 'Nick Brendon', 'Amy Aker' and whathaveyou will be met with blank stares.

You mean in the A-list world of Jessica Simpson, or say, Freddie Prinze, Jr.?

LOL! hermione rules. Yeah, maybe being on the B-List isn't so bad after all....

This post has been edited by Sleestak Hunter: Nov 2, 2005 @ 11:52 am.

[megan]

Broadway Lestat
http://38.114.160.250/shows/show.asp?key=18&subkey=407
Based on the novels by: Music by:
Anne Rice Sir Elton John

Lyrics by: Book by:
Bernie Taupin Linda Woolverton

Directed by:
Robert Jess Roth

LESTAT, one of Anne Rice's most celebrated literary characters, is being brought to the stage by the illustrious team of Sir Elton John (music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics) in their first-ever collaboration on a Broadway production. LESTAT is the lush and rich story of a man who escapes the tyranny of his oppressive family only to have his life taken from him. Thrust into the seductive and sensual world of an immortal vampire, Lestat tries to reconcile his innate sense of good with his primal need to exist. Based on characters and incidents from Ms. Rice's best-selling novels, "Interview with the Vampire" and "The Vampire Lestat," the musical’s book is by Linda Woolverton and Robert Jess Roth will direct.

Dec. 17 - Jan 29
Tues - Sat eves at 8pm
Wed, Sat & Sun mats at 2pm
View calendar for additional performances and times.

Curran Theatre - San Fransisco

Tickets: $30 - $90

[hermione]

LESTAT is the lush and rich story of a man who escapes the tyranny of his oppressive family only to have his life taken from him. Thrust into the seductive and sensual world of an immortal vampire, Lestat tries to reconcile his innate sense of good with his primal need to exist.

megan This sounds a little like late-canon Spike!

I have never heard of this musical. I wonder who is starring in it, and why the producers didn't ask JM to do it. Perhaps after it's a big Broadway hit, he'll can do another California production of it!

Seriously though, and ON TOPIC, it does sound like a platter that could be used to serve up some ham. Actually, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were pretty darn hammy in the movie version of Interview....

[megan]

Well the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice were the basis for the vampire mythology running thru BTVS and Spike = Lestat basically.