Blah blah blah. This is the thread to talk about your favorite or least favorite TV voices for actors/actress/TV personalites. The voices that make your heart melt, the voices that sex you up, or the voices that make you want to jam a pair of scissors in your ears.

Worst voice? Rita Crosby. Nothing against her as a journalist, but GOD. Her show is more watchable than Nancy Grace's but I can only stand maybe five minutes of it. Not to say Nancy Grace's voice is better.

Will Arnett (GOB on Arrested Development) has the sexiest voice of all time. I love when his voice gets really deep and dramatic...with club sauce.

Also, I don't know if it was her real voice, but Jennifer Finnigan's stupid baby voice on the short-lived Committed almost made me stop watching the show. She sounded like a three-year-old with a cold.

From TWC, I like Jim Cantore's voice and from The History Channel, I like Josh Bernstien, the host of "Digging for the Truth."

And, from "24", I love Keifer Sutherland's voice.

Something about Christian Kane's voice does me in. I don't even LIKE Close to Home, but I watch it anyway just for my fleeting moments of Kane-induced rapture.

Will Arnett's voice bothers me sometimes. It can get really gravelly.

Wentworth Miller has a pretty smooth voice. Members of the First Church call it Polished Oak. When he was at Princeton, he sang with their a capella group the Tigertones, and has a solo on "Blues in the Night" on their 1994 disc "Bachelor Days." Polished Oak indeed.

Hugh Laurie has a lovely voice on House, and has a beautiful speaking voice in interviews. Very, very different than the voice he used in his more comedic stuff in the UK.

Some of my favorite voices, currently, are Naveen Andrews on "Lost" [I'm told by the knowledgable that it's an execrable Iraqi accent, but I find I don't care as soon as he opens his mouth; his voice makes him soo sexy], Victor Garber on "Alias", Phil Keoghan of "Amazing Race", Felicity Huffman on "Desperate Housewives", Jill Hennessy on "Crossing Jordan"...

My all-time favorite tv voice is probably Jason Gedrick's. I would pay to have him read the phone book out loud to me.

I love her to death as an actress but Diane Farr's voice seriously bugs. It's so high-pitched that it'd make a dog flinch!

Ditto for the blond gal from The West Wing, either her real name or the character's name is Kristen Chenoworth (or something similar).

I work in a field where voices are important to my ear and I prefer them to have a lower pitch.

Off the top of my head:

Alexis Denisof, when he's using his British voice, is just, ohhhhh. Makes me melt completely, and then I have to spend five minutes cursing the fact that he married Alyson Hannigan, whose voice isn't the only thing about her that angries up my blood.

William Petersen's, on CSI. I don't know why, I just like his voice. It fits the character well, and he can pull off sounding intelligent and authoritative without regressing into the portentous, sunglasses-of-justice voice that Horatio Whatsisname uses on Miami that always makes me want to punch him in the face, hard.

The British voiceover narrator for Mythbusters. It's weird, in the US/Canada they seem to have a different guy doing voiceover narration (he has an American accent, and he's ok, nothing special) and the same shows on the other side of the Atlantic feature a British guy with an incredibly charming voice narrating. No idea who he is, but I love his voice. Also the voice of whoever narrates National Geographic's 'Air Crash Investigation' - scarring show, but again, the narrator's voice is riveting.

Actually, a lot of the NatGeo voiceover people are incredible, and they're not all anonymous, either. There was a documentary about lions that was really, really awesome, just wonderful, compelling television, and Jeremy Irons was narrating (possibly because he was Scar in the Lion King, I don't know). I've seen him in dozens of movies and he never sounded like that, it was entrancing, and he managed to make the tone and timbre of his voice match the mood and setting of the documentary perfectly. John Rhys-Davies used to host and narrate an archaeology program a few years ago and he used his non-Gimli voice, all deep and rich and resonant. One of my all-time favourite voices. Mark Hamill narrated one about the Panama canal and his voice is great too, when it's not Joker-psychotic or Luke-whiny it's a surprisingly powerful and expressive.

This is such an awesome thread!

There are two voices that, without fail, make me laugh uncontrolably: The goofy-sincerity of Adam West's voice and the just plain goofiness of Garry Marshall's voice.

Adam West's voice and William Shatner's, too. In fact, they're quite similar.

My personal favorite? Avery "Captain Benjamin Sisko" Brooks. His bizarre modulation, his utter badassedness, and just a hint of Barry White.

Goran Visnjic, in English and especially in Croatian, on ER. The tenor of his voice is evocative and smoky (although not velvety deep, like Kiefer's). For me, though, it's just such a treat to hear his exotic and unusual (at least on U.S. television) accent amidst the same-old, same-old American chorus.

For some reason, when I saw the title of this thread, I immediatly thought of Julianna Margulies, from her Carol Hathaway role on er for the best voice. Her voice is so calming and caring, perfect for the character.

To me it's a tie between Keith "Holtz the Vampire Slayer" Szarabajka and James "Uncle Shredder" Avery. Both have this wonderful, almost purr-like quality to their voices that make them instantly recognizable when they guest appear on other shows.

Keith Szarabajka does have a great deep voice. If you listen to the commentary on the Profit DVDs, the producer Dave Greenwalt (who also made Angel) talks about the competitions between Keith and Adrian Pasdar as to who could have the gravelly-er line readings on the show.

Ian McShane has a great timbre to his voice on Deadwood and Kevin McKidd's voice always projects a sense of dignity and honor no matter what he's doing on Rome that befits his character perfectly.

One of the worst TV voices is the woman that plays Catalina in My Name is Earl. I've heard her in other shows so I know it's an accent she puts on but it just grates.

I love the voice of Ricardo Antonio Chavira. Soo . . . Velvety!

Worse? Fran Drescher.

In a different vein, I think Cartman from South Park has the most hilarious voice. Whoever voices him (Parker or Stone, I forget which) never fails to crack me up. He must practice that voice when he's constipated.

Eight words: "Is my Slayer too far gone to care?"

Why Joss didn't make him sing every line in that register for all seven seasons, I don't know.

I don't know if she ever shows up on TV in the US, but Mariella Frostrup has a voice that can make grown men melt. Myself included.

I was just coming over here to post about Giles. Singing or talking, I love his voice. So much that I even have recordings of him from musicals I've never seen or know anything about.

I'd also like to add David Anders' Sark, on "Alias", which is not only a sexy voice, but addis immeasurably to the character.

Bre on this season of America's Next Top Model has a great voice. Kiefer and Carlos Bernard on 24 both have very sexy voices, too.

I was just coming in here to post those two, but thanfully people much more well-spoken than I beat me to it.
Other voices I like? Robert Sean Leonard of House is one. It's very mellow and smooth, probably from his years on stage. I also like Jon Stewart's voice, although I'm not really sure why. Probably because he can do so much with it.

Voice that bugs? David Caruso. So breathy, and his speech patterns are truly bizarre.

Patrick Stewart has a terrific deep, commanding voice. Look at his voiceover for the recent X3 trailer.

Kurtwood Smith has the perfect voice for biting humour.

Victor Garber has such a sexy voice. When he's being sarcastic or totally cold? I melt.

And for some reason I love John Spencer's voice. I don't find it hot or anything, I just like it. I can't say the same thing about the voice of the actress who plays Annabeth on TWW. It bugs.

Word on Goran Visnjic and Hugh Laurie.

Like Elen I absolutely second both of these.

I would also like to add Michael Rosenbaum - especially as Lex, but he has such a great range of voices that he's used in all of his work.

Also George Clooney, just as himself.

As far as Debra Jo Rupp, ( Kitty Foreman on That 70's Show ) her voice is perfect for the character but a little goes a long way. I thought that she also did the voice of the mother on Family Guy ( Don't watch the show but I see promos often enough ) but I checked and it's actually a guy doing a woman's voice ( vocal drag ? ).

A shout-out to all the Simpsons cast who have truly brought these characters to life, especially Dan Castellaneta. When I bought the season six DVD set it came in a box shaped like Homer's head, but there's a number you can call if you want a box to match the previous sets. When you call the number you get a recording of Homer explaining how to get the substitue box and it's so much fun to think that Homer is talking to you, even via a recording.

Nope. Alex Borstein (who does the voice) is a woman.

Are we forgetting Shrieky Jessica Parker and her squeals? And my all time worst voice for television - Paige Davis from Trading Spaces who never got that if you're wearing a microphone you don't have to yell to the balcony!

Keith David, who does the occasional PBS documentary. Like butter, that man's voice. Like butter!

Sorry roasty goodness ( and Alex Borstein, wherever you are ) -- saw the name "Alex" and thought "dude".

I continue to be amazed by Hank Azaria's range. With the shear number of Simpsons voices that he does, if anything (god forbid) ever happened to him, they's have to shut down the entire show.

Stephen Colbert. He can switch from dead serious to ridiculous in the blink of an eye and alot of it is the tone of his voice. He can sing to.

Worst? Fran Drescher. Forever and ever.
Best? So many-I enjoy David Ogden Stiers' tony Boston accent on MASH-and his normal speaking voice when he narrates American Experience on PBS is so pleasing.

My absolute favorite voice in the world belongs to Alan Rickman. There are not sufficient words in the English language to describe that voice (and what it does to me).

Patrick Stewart and David McCallum are two others who can make me all tingly by just speaking.

Okay, she's not a TV regular, but "apple crumb cake" lady is my vote for one of the worst TV voices of all time.

Keifer Sutherland owns this thread as far as I'm concerned. That man's voice has been making me melt for decades.


I love Alexis' voice once he lost his geekiness and got all broody. And gods beneath us, Hannigan's voice makes me gag. I love Anthony Head's voice as well. And James Marsters, but only when he's playing Spike.


Word! I adore McShane's voice. In fact, I have an Al Swearengen wav playing for my windows log-off. Keith Carradine's voice on Deadwood was quite sexy as well. Oh, and definitely Powers Booth. Dude's voice is awesome.

McKidd has such a rich, deep tone to his voice. And also from Rome: Ray Stevenson. I could listen to that man all day. His voice is beyond sexy!

Clancy Brown's voice is so rich and swoonworthy.

Kristin Kruek gets a vote for most irritating. The lisp just drives me up the wall. Oh, and speaking of lisps: Ric Flair. Enough said.

And although he's not really a TV actor, Jeremy Irons has the sexiest, coolest voice on the planet.

So glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.
Kaley Cuoco has an awful voice. It's all lispy and squeaky and oh G-d do I hate her.

Andreas Katsulas who played G'kar on Babylon 5 (and numerous other things....but I can't think of them) has an amzing voice! He's one of those guys I would could listen to even if he was reading the phone book! James Earl Jones and Patrick Stewart are a few others who's voices just make me melt!

My very favorite has to be Avery Brooks. That man's voice melts me like no other (shhhhh don't tell mr hands). Another one that come to mine is Joshua Jackson, but I don't know why. Maybe it's just because he is oh so pretty!

Makes me weak in the knees. He could tell me "I loathe you" and I would melt.
I also like the voice of Tim Curry.

Maurice LaMarche. The Brain. ("YES!")

Also, Goliath on Gargoyles (although it always bugged me that Hudson was the only one of them to have a Scottish accent).

I always enjoyed hearing Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce on Frasier; they both had such refined, elegant speech.

I love how Hugh Laurie's House voice reflects his character--scratchy, at times hard to understand, yet somehow pleasing. I think though, someone so beautiful should have a much more velvety voice.

I fell in love with Jesse L. Martin's voice hearing him sing the "Seasons of Love" video. I vote for his as one of the best out there today.

I'll echo the Avery Brooks love. Mmm. Smooth.

I hate Ellen Pompeo's (Meredith on Grey's Anatomy) voice. It's one of those "little girl" whispery voices that always irritates me.

Kiefer's velvet! Definitely wins by a mile.

Terror Mom from 24 (Shohreh Aghdashloo) had an incredibly enticing voice as well.

Janice's whiny voice and laugh from Friends and Mikayla Gordon from AI are up there with Fran Drescher for the worst TV voices.

And that was really an impression of Orson Welles, the man who may hold the title of the single best voice from radio, television, and film.

It's not a nomination, but a friend and I have coined the phrase "Ear Candy" to describe exactly this topic. I'm tickled to see there are other people out there as obsessiv.... er.. I mean, as observant and devoted as we are.

Oh mercy I love his voice, too, as my very worn out copy of Sense & Sensibility shows.

One of my least favorite voices right now belongs to Liz (Luke's sister) on Gilmore Girls. I like the character and the actress but the voice grates.

The worst voices belong to Mischa Barton (The OC) and Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls).
Mischa has a very monotonous voice, I just hear her and get all sleepy. That girl can bore even herself to death with that voice and weird talk.
And Alexis has such an ANNOYING voice!

It's my new favorite thread!

I'm going to start with a few already mentioned:

Robert Sean Leonard: He has an incredibly rich tone and when he delivers his lines it always seems like he's thinking while he's talking.

Maurice LaMarche: I liked him on Pinky and the Brain but I was really impressed when I found out that he voiced Jeremy on The Critic.

David Ogden Stiers: His voice never impressed me on MASH but I like him as Jumba on Lilo & Stitch.

Stephen Colbert: His diction (usually) is perfect. He can ramble on about the stupidest things authoritatively.

Andre Braugher: No one can deliver a line like Braugher. He's got this great Shakespearean tone that allowed to make those wonderful Homicide speeches.

Yeardley "Lisa Simpson" Smith: She has such a sweet voice that is totally unique.

Can we include writer and producers? Because I love the voice of David X. Cohen. I could listen to that man for hours and never get tired of it. (I know this because I have.) I even listened to The Simpsons episode commentaries with him on them before I listened to the other episodes.

Same with Billy West; aside from his voice work I've come to really enjoy his plain speaking voice.

There are more, but I can't think of them right now.