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

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Rolo
Date: 23 May 06 - 01:57 AM

As many have said before, his accent is estuary English. Is an accent widely spoken in southeast England along the Thames river (which includes London) and its estuary. It draws alot from cockney but is not as "strong" and is more easily understood by other english speakers. This accent is a working class accent also identified with those of little education. But lately it has become "trendy" among the young and those (politicians, tv personalities) who wish to appeal to the working class or the "common man". It is unfortunate because it is displacing RP (standard, educated, BBC) English. Just like the Gekko, when he first spoke he did so in a delightful RP english, now he speaks estuary. Personally I find it low class and anyone who spoke it shifty and untrustworthy, especially an insurance salesman.
And I don't know how anyone thought it was an aussie accent.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: CapriUni
Date: 22 May 06 - 12:21 AM

How come Frazier's Daphne is from Manchester, but her brother Simon sounds Cockney. Whassup with that?

I don't know... call me cynical (Cyndi for short?), but it may be because many American audiences don't know the difference between British accents, and, if they do, don't care enough to annoy the television networks about it....

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Remarque
Date: 21 May 06 - 07:49 PM

Will everyone just read Daffydduck's post. Please.

OTOH, I have a question:

How come Frazier's Daphne is from Manchester, but her brother Simon sounds Cockney. Whassup with that?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 May 06 - 11:49 AM

I think the voice sounds just like the English construction worker from Liverpool who's part of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition team. Sunday nights, ABC, 7 or 8pm till 9. Give a listen, it's unmistakeable...anniecat

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Anonny Mouse
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:59 PM

A woman's voice? Definitely NOT. Just heard another Gecko commercial with el-Gecko speaking like he was on the Leno, or Letterman show. This is NO woman's voice. You guys gotta be better detectives than THAT??? Really! IT IS A MAN'S VOICE FOR SURE. Yes, sorry, I'm yelling!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 May 06 - 11:00 AM

I count about 15 different 'guesses', of which 4 are claimed to be correct, and one disclaimer direct from one of those.

Seems Geico is having fun not telling.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Flip Bustle
Date: 17 May 06 - 10:23 AM

I am delighted, love the accent and text. I want a movable toy

replica. Also a dvd would be great !

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,helper
Date: 15 May 06 - 11:35 PM

The voice of the Gekko is Voice-Over artist Marilyn O'Kane.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,seerialmom, USA
Date: 14 May 06 - 12:43 PM

While I was doing a search for the latest Geico Gecko voice, being sure I'd heard it before (it sounds a lot like Jamie Oliver, the Naked Chef) I stumbled on a site where the person claims he's been the voice of the Geico Gecko since 2002. The name is Kelly Willet. The search I used was "geico voice" on Google. Kelly's site is here: http://kellywillett.voice123.com/ .

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,wes plieman
Date: 11 May 06 - 09:31 AM

you are cool, i love your threads.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 06 - 07:19 PM

I vote for Ian Wright from Globe Trekker. This means nothing, but it is played a lot when Globe Trekker is on TV....

Ian's is a Sulfolk accent. Are there any Brits out there that can say if the Gecko's English corrolates with that area?

Ian admits his English not all that good... fits with the Gekco?

GRGirl

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Dafydd
Date: 01 May 06 - 12:13 AM

Okay as an Englishman (yeah that makes me British too), I have to laugh a little at some of these crazy guesses that the guy's voice is australian, Luton (which is a Totally different accent!), Maiden Head, and all these other silly guesses. There's many different accents in the UK...I'd say 20 to 50 distinct regional accents. Each accent 'blurs' with others in the surrounding areas, as well as with societies within the area. For example There's usually the 'posh' (clearer spoken) version of an accent, the towny version (very colloquial, full of word fusions, missed syllabals etc), and everything inbetween.

In short though: His Accent IS Cockney! To me it's like someone trying to argue if a guy is speaking English or Dutch, so I really hope you all will quit arguing over it because there's simply no discussion in that!

As to Who this guy is, that's harder to say. The trouble is that a lot of the guesses people have made are guys with cockney accents, and any accent other than your own is harder to distinguish. I personally think that if the guy were particularly famous, it'd be common knowledge who he is.

Oh and the guy who thought it was Eddie Izzard is INSANE! May as well be Whitney Houston!


Daf

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 03:32 PM

Callum Blue! It sounds like Callum Blue to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: taansend
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 09:27 PM

The Lizard has a London accent. He sounds just like me! There's about 10 million English with this accent (or a wannabe version we call Mockney).

The reason that the Aussie accent so so similar is that the British Government tried to get rid of the unwashed hordes back in the 18th Century and the majority were from London. They were sent down on unwarranted or trumped up charges. Now, of course, Australia is a wonderful country full of some of the best people in the world.

Aussies and Londoners share many similarities although they are better looking but we can drink more beer!!!

I've lived in the US for 10 years now and get asked everyday if I am an Aussie and every other day if I am Irish. Very rarely do people think I am English as Americans associate the upper class accent with the British people, which is probably spoken by less than 2% of us.

Sorry to go ona bout this but even my mother in law thought he was an Aussie and she has been hearing me talk for about 5 years now!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Sarie2304
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 10:50 PM

Definitely an English accent. I'm an American, but I went to university in East London. I wouldn't call it Cockney so much as a modern day East London accent. It's the way all the young (not posh) kids sounds these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Blue Cat
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 07:20 PM

He sounds like the beaver in Cronicles of Narnia.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,saulgoldie
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 04:43 PM

More importantly, why do they spend so much on advertising? Mom always said that when they advertise, imagine that what they say is the opposite of what is.

I personally have dealt with Geico twice when their clients hit me, and they spent lots of energy fighting me even though their clients were clearly in the wrong and were, indeed, cited. I would never insure with them. When I see the gecko, I always flip the channel. What a waste of resources!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Tracy
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 12:27 PM

Hello! The accent of the Geico Gekko is definitely Brit ! It is obvious as to why the accent was chosen! No one can deny that it gives the Gekko, a wonderful, and cute personality ! He sounds exactly like my brother Steve, who lives in Colchester Essex, England. Tracy.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 11:36 AM

Straight fromthe source. Still wondering if the gekko a brti or ausi? Check this out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geico

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:57 PM

I agree with the posters that believe it's Ed Sanders, from Extreme Makeover - Home Edition!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Guest /Ally
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 07:29 PM

I think the voice may be EDDIE IZZARD doing in a Micheal Caine voice
or Craig Ferguson .Well it could be?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Jules
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 06:43 PM

Probably wayyyy off base here, but could it be Adam Ant???

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 09:52 PM

Lizards      
         
Geico Gecko - Six-inch green computer-animated lizard seen on a series of successful Geico Car Insurance commercials at the beginning of the Millennium. In the earlier commercials, pesky phone callers were confusing the Gecko's phone book listing with the Geico Car Insurance Company. Speaking in a British accent (Dave Kelly), the irritated Gecko voiced his discontent with the intrusive consumers looking for cheaper insurance. Actor Kelsey Grammer supplied the original voice for the Geico Gecko in the first ad.

Later in the series of ad, the Gecko decides that if he can't beat 'em, he'll just try to join the company as an official mascot. At the Geico audition, the Gecko lizard meets the former Taco Bell Chihuahua mascot who steps out of forced retirement to also audition for the role of Geico mascot. When the dog sees the Geico lizard as potential competition, he says "Oh, great, a talking gecko."



The Geico Gecko character was created by the Martin Agency, a Richmond, Virginia based ad firm. The Gecko debuted in ads in 1999 for Geico, a Berkshire Hathaway-owned insurance company based in Washington, D.C. The tagline for the Geico commercials reads: "Fifteen minutes could save you 15 percent or more on car insurance."

TRIVIA NOTE: A follow-up of very funny 30-second Geico ads appeared in 2001. The series of three spots were called "Squirrel", "Car Pool" and "Wuxia." The "Squirrel spot (written by Joe Lawson and Raymond McKinney and art directed by Tye Harper) shows a couple of squirrels playing chicken on a country road that causes a car to swerve off the road and crash. Thrilled with their results, the giggling squirrels give each other a high-five for surviving the ordeal.

The "Car Pool" spot (created by copywriter Anne Marie Hite and art director Clairborne Riley) featured a plump working mother who apparently has no car insurance. As she arrives at her daughter's school on foot pretending to be a car, the mother honks an air horn while displaying a bumper sticker on her rear end that reads: "My child is an honor student. When a youthful bystander asks "Is that your mother?", the woman's mortified child claims not to know her.

And a spot called "Wuxia" (written by Joe Lawson and Raymond McKinney and Art Directed by Tye Harper) parodies the Ang Lee movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) as salesmen perform aerobatic martial arts moves while they process insurance paperwork. When a policy holder inquires "How does Geico process my claims so quickly?", an insurance man replies "Ancient martial arts secret from the Wuxia (an ancient text)."

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From:
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 02:14 PM

Dave: I know what an estuary is. What I would like to know is how does it apply to an accent. Is it a region in or near London? Does it refer to a particular river area? The reason I said a true cockney accent might be unintelligible to many Americans is because I was once preparing a production of Shaw's "Pygmalian" and we broguht in an authentic Cockney to teach some of the cast members and found that the accent was so thick that people in the audience had trouble understanding the actors. I've also read that when Stanley Holloway created the part of Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" he had to tone down his accent to get the words accross.
Americans in rural places who aren't used to hearing foreign accents often have trouble following them.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Minn-e-snow-ta
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 10:19 PM

anywho i'm so convinced it's not Callum it's more harsh, dusty like old accent, not crisp and young like. i don't think that makes sense anywho.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From:
Date: 28 Mar 06 - 07:13 PM

Please, someone who really knows...What is "estuary?" Where does it come from? Who speaks it? Who are some good examples?
Thank you, whoever.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Jack OH
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 01:19 PM

EE souns jus like Steven Gerrard off Liverpool, yeh?

And when I'm watching the English Premiere League Review on the soccer channel, many of the players being interviewed post-game, are difficult to understand for the first few sentences until I become acclimated to their particular accent.(be in Manc, Scounse, Cockney etc...)

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: NH Dave
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 05:45 PM

An estuary is the tidal area of a river or stream, brackish because of the tide action.

   Why would a chap with a Cockney accent be so unintelligible to an American? I only had difficulties understanding Arthur English when he went into really fast rhyming slang, as a gag I guess. Otherwise he always came across as a charming oldr gentleman.

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Tiea
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 05:17 PM

http://www.tvacres.com/adanimals_geicogecko.htm   has info on it, and it is Dave Kelly doing the voice.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 01:09 AM

Sir Geoduck, I was pretty sure it was Marc Warren from Hustle, until I found the answer here.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From:
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 10:46 AM

It sounded like a modified Cockney accent to me. A true Cockney would be nearly unintelligible to most Americans. So what exactly is "estuary" anyway and where does it come from? Something to do with the mouth of a river? The ads are effective, though. I switched from Allstate to Geico.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Cece
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 10:25 AM

I will put everyone out of the misery. The voice is that of Callum Blue out of London, England.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 09:52 AM

Yes he is in Hustle Katlaughing.
Didn't realise it got U.S. Airtime.
"To err is human,to really foul things up requires a computer.":-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 09:34 AM

That's kewl, but we can hear him, already, every Sat. night on USA AMC network in Hustle; that is the one he is in, right?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 09:13 AM

For what it's worth - It has been announced that Marc Warren is to guest star in at least 1 episode of the next season of Doctor Who.
This season begins its U.K. run on April 15th & will later be shown on the SciFi Channel in the U.S.
This will enable Americans to listen to the voice at greater length.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 04:20 AM

ichard Steven Horvitz has also been the voice of the GEICO gecko in a commercial involving a family in a car, singing the well known 70's tune "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas.

And, I am convinced, now, after listening more carefully, that is not Aussie, as you others have said, too. Does sounda bit like the guy in HUSTLE and the other guy in GLOBE TREKKER, I agree.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 12:50 PM

Just watched an episode of Hustle last night. I swear that Marc Warren is the voice.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Guest, Danni
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 09:24 PM

The new Geico ads are driving me crazy. I can't seem to peg the voice in the ads. I am almost convinced that it is the voice of Callum Blue. I have been to the website of the company Geico used to revamp the 2006 ads, and they have not given the name of the new lizard voice. I am totally stumped...probably need to get a life

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Sandy Andina
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 04:28 PM

Sure sounds like Globe Trekker's Ian Wright to me!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Christine
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 01:18 AM

Will the real voice please stand up and admit to it and put us all out of our misery. WHO ARE YOU????

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,john G. Craig
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 06:35 PM

Def. aBrit accent from around London probably cockney (no-way aussie). Reminds me of spivs selling stolen clobber on street corners, with the gift of the gab. Clever advertising by Martin Agency of Richmond. It gets your attention because it amuses and entertains us. Product recognition a cert.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Sharon Fowler
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 09:11 PM

If it's not Callum Blue of the WB's new show "Related" then it's his twin brother. I order everyone here to watch the show next Monday at 9 PM!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Edna
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:54 PM

I also dislike the new voice. I'm sorry they replaced Dave Kelly. He did a much better job IMO.

And by the way...James Marsters (Spike from Buffy) was doing a North London accent he was taught by a guy he was doing a play with at the time. The London Guardian put his on the list of its most convincing British accents done by non-Brits a few years back. (Dick Van Dyke's Bert from Mary Poppins was on the list of worst).

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 03:21 PM

I do. I've been watching Hustle lately and I swear I think it's Marc.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 02:00 AM

ok i think its the voice of the guy from related us show anyone know a link to download the commercial?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Jonesey
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 10:44 PM

He's defo from somewhere around London but not in London itself. Somewhere like Crawley or New Malden. Not an Aussie.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 07:44 PM

I agree with the couple of you who do not like the new voice! They went from a high class gecko, who you might actually trust as knowing something, to a low class gecko who you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley....what's up with that???

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,tazcatsdad
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 07:01 AM

I don't have the world's greatest ear, but I really agree with the poster who thinks the voice belongs to the bloke from "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" -- Ed Sanders.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 11:02 AM

He sounds like that TV presenter, Simon, from Globe Trekker, or Lonely Planet.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From:
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:04 PM

I am absolutely sure the accent is British - not true cockney though but if anything a LUTON accent...You brits remeber the Luton Airport ads - Yes, afraid ter say oim a Lutonian but after 33 years 'ere oi've lost me touch a bit. But 'e still sounds just loik moi sister an nephews...an now wiv all this taulk abat poi n chips i'm gonna go foind a can of mushy peas an put the oven on. Boi

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Judy J.
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 01:26 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 12:05 AM

After Lyold's of Lodon realized the bite of the Chinese Dragon, they mutated from a Lion to a reptile. Darwin in reverse, it was a matter of survival.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:32 PM

I agree with a post that it is the husband of the oldest sister on WB's related...but it's driving me crazy. I have to know!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 06:52 PM

I'll have the duck with mango salsa.

Frankly, I'm disappointed that they have gone full-bore with the gecko and have only done two Caveman spots.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:34 PM

sounds totally like callum blue, but is it???

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:10 AM

Scales!
100

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Guest Christine
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:32 AM

A cockney who loves pie and chips especially free pie and chips - I love that ad and drive my husband mad with my version of free pie and chips - and yes I'm a Londoner living in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Rob in Pa
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 12:47 AM

I saw the exact same episode of frasier the other night, with Elvis Costello, and he did sound just like the Gecko. i rewound it an watched it like ten times. He sounded exactly like him.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Scotus (minus cookie)
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 08:03 PM

Hi Jacqui,

How often do we have to say it's estuary English before someone believes us?

Jack

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:41 PM

When I've figured out why Stewie on Family Guy has a fake Rex Harrison accent, then I'll get to work on the gecko thing.

Don't do nuthin' `til ya hear from me...

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Carol in Michigan
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 02:30 PM

Just the other night, Elvis Costello was on a Frasier rerun singing as a folk singer in their favorite coffee shop.........I swear I thought HE WAS the GEICO GECKO voice........he wasn't speaking in his "normal" voice, but he sounded EXACTLY like the gecko!!!! But if it is Dave Kelly, I'm glad to finally know the man behind the voice...........LOVE IT.............and the scripts he reads!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:14 AM

Dave Kelly posted on this very thread; he is no longer the voice. So it's still a mystery.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From:
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 11:43 AM

I thought he was Australian

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 03:55 PM

Oh, the original voice of the gekko was Kelsey Grammer, now it's David Kelly.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 03:53 PM

The bit Esteban is playing is from 'the tango flamenco'. It can be downloaded in numerous places.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Anonny Mouse
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 01:37 PM

Quote GUEST: question--"Does anyone know the song that Esteban is playing at the end of the geico commercial?"

No, but you'll notice it ain't one of HIS POS guitars he's playing! If you ever need a laff, go to a place called "Harmony Central" (dot com I think) and read reviews on the Esteban "hand-made" gits. I'll bet you wont see the Gecko playing one either. Someone actually threw his guitar into a tree after bashing it up pretty good and it became a bird house. LOL.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 09:43 PM

Sounds like the English guy in Home Edition Makeover?? He is one of the renovator guys...bald??

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 02:24 PM

Lizard?

Looks like an arborial amphibian to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,westernbuddha
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 02:15 PM

I have to go with those who think it's the voice of Ian Wright .the PBS Globetrekker and worldwide wanderer from ( I think, the lonely planet series?)

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Sir Geoduck
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 06:19 AM

Anybody think it's Marc Warren of "Hustle"?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: valvehouse
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 12:32 AM

The Geiko lizard used to have a different, more posh accent. It was much more refined. Then, at some point they gave him the low class Cockney accent. It makes him sound like a thug.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,jasperlily
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 11:02 PM

The gekko's accent is British. Specifically, it's Cockney. Specifically, a Cockney is one born within the sound of Bow Bells (bells of a specific church in London :)

I love the way he pronounces "inshoowance" - totally Cockney.

Does anybody know the name of The Voice? I whisks me right back to my younger days, growing up in England.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,question
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 07:12 PM

Does anyone know the song that Esteban is playing at the end of the geico commercial?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 11:35 PM

There is a difference between estuary, which is what the gecko is and cockney.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 10:47 PM

The Geiko lizard used to have a different British accent. It was much more refined. Then, at some point they gave him the low class Cockney accent.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,this guy claims to be the one
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 07:27 PM

This guy says hes the voice:

http://kellywillett.voice123.com/

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Bob Holmes
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 12:10 AM

The Gekko's accent is "Cockney" from London. It does not specifically represent someone who is well educated BUT street wise and of working class. Like the BBC television program EastEndeers Grant and Phil Mitchell or Dirty Den in the old days.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: John Hardly
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 11:26 AM

The gecko is an American. The accent is merely a sign that he is suffering from a reptile dysfunction.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 09:05 AM

In the UK there are fish and chip shops which, in addition to selling the traditional fried fish with what the USA calls french fries, also sells various pies, the most popular of which tends to be steak and kidney - a real British delicacy. Pies also come with chicken filling and sometimes vegetable filling.

In the West Country, Devon and Cornwall, for instance, they will stock the traditional pasties, made of a circle of pastry folded in half with fillings of meat and vegetables for the main part but which may also contain cheese and vegetable or chicken and vegetable.

Mostly these pies or pasties will have been mass produced and heated up in the shop before sale.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Anonny Mouse
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 01:05 AM

wow--this goofy little thread I started up 'cause of so many U.Kers here really had some legs! That little Gecko critter is really showing up a lot on TV it seems...and the "free pie and chips" is still my favorite of all of 'em. I guess my follow up question is who eats "pie" and "chips"(which I presume is 'taters). What kinda pie do you eat with fried taters? Fish pie? Is there such a thing? Or is "pie" another piece of Brit shorthand for some well-known example of cuisine? LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Ginni
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 12:34 AM

HA! I was wondering if was an Aussie or a Brit because he says some things that sound more British and others that sound more Australian (I lived in Oz for a while). So I did a google search and came up with this website. Glad to see others are just as confused and curious as I am about a silly commercial!
Ginni

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 05:23 PM

My mom agrees with u...i kinda do to

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 01:37 PM

I think the voice sounds like the oldest sisters husband on the wb tv show "related". any agree??

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,George
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 11:30 PM

I agree with LauraC that the voice sounds very much like Ian Wright, one of the hosts of PBS' Globe Trekker.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Guest Linda
Date: 10 Feb 06 - 09:18 PM

I have thought from the start that the voice was that of Charlie from Lost... Dominic Monaghan. May have spelled that incorrectly.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,beadie
Date: 10 Feb 06 - 02:57 PM

I rather thought that he was Bahamian.

. . . . .Rapaire:    If I were a reptile, I'd be offended that someone thought that I was English (as opposed to Scots, Irish or Welsh).

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 11:48 PM

Dave, I was hoping that it was you...just to get closure on the subject! Thanks for posting...by the way, before I noticed this thread I went to your website. Very good. Hope you get more voice overs in US. You have an awesome voice.
To me the new vox does sound like Ian Wright! That was my first thought. I'm still trying to confirm.
But I miss the more posh Gecko...he was funnier.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,LauraC
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 10:50 PM

The voice sounds to me like Ian Wright, one of the hosts on Globe Trekker travel program which is shown here in Houston on PBS.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,brit
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 10:31 AM

I am an English person who has been living in the US since August - the accent is definitely from London and would probably be classed as Cockney though it is NOT as strong as the majority you would hear (I used to live in East London when I was young and mine was very strong).

Regarding Charlie from Lost - he is actually from the town I am from just south of Manchester - he is fairly well spoken and though I know he's from this area he doesn't have a proper thick accent! If you want a Manc accent listen to the Gallagher brothers of Oasis.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 05:03 PM

Thanks, MMario! You've not only enlightened me but driven home my point: I didn't know what the gekko was talking about!!! Yeah, okay, I guess we're supposed to be amused that the reptiles to whom the gekko is speaking can't understand him, but if I can't understand him either, then I'm not amused, just confused.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Dave Kelly
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 04:57 PM

Hello!

Hope you don't mind me popping in here. A friend in Seattle told me that the Gecko ads were back on air. So, excitedly, I did a bit of a Googlebash.

I couldn't remember voicing anything Geckoish recently - and thanks to this e banter, the truth is out. I am sobbing with a massive tear, but I can deal with it. Cease with the tissues.

I miss being the Gecko. They were good times. Unfortunately, i'm a tinpot local radio DJ, and when it came to acting, I couldn't quite pull it off. The scripts were getting busier, and I think the Martin Agency creatives were running out of patience with my "i can't do this" style tantrems.

I'm actually a cockney / essex boy, and during the "stop calling" period, i acted posh. For an untrained brit bloke like me, "a mock posh" caricature is easier to "act in", than ones own accent.

So is it not ironic that a US vox is now doing a cockney delivery. It's probably not ironic actually, like every line in Alanis' tedious rant - not ironic - just a pisser! Did anyone tell her.

Right, back to the telly, I wonder if Shep Smiths eyes are any farther apart tonight...

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: MMario
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 03:50 PM

Sharon - that would be "meat pie and steak fries"

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,THE GERMAN.
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 03:40 PM

I DON'T MIND THAT HE IS A BRIT. MOST OF THE SEXIEST MEN IN THE WORLD ARE BRITISH. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO'S THE VOICE OF THE GEICO-GECKKO?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 03:22 PM

It sounds like a convict accent to me...

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 02:49 PM

Posh? Wiv that accent? Gissa break!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 02:10 PM

The "pie and chips" reference in one of the commercials puzzles me, not so much because it's not a common expression here in the U.S. (it means "pizza and French fries", right?), but because the advertising agency chose to include the phrase in an ad aimed at Americans who would be unfamiliar with the expression.

Perhaps the ad execs figured that, even if Americans interpreted the phrase as meaning "baked fruit pie and potato chips" (as they most likely would), the basic message would be the same when placed in the context of the gekko's discussion (i.e. "who doesn't like free food?"). But it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, if you'll pardon the pun, because I feel it alienates the listener -- makes him/her feel like an "outsider" unfamiliar with the vernacular -- and why in the world would an advertiser want to alienate its target audience???

I prefer the older series of Geico ads, like the one where the gekko was driving his car into the Employee of the Month parking space! That was cute. The current ads have very slick computer tricks and all that, but they leave me cold.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,mustang_dvs
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 10:26 PM

The initial Gecko commercial ("Stop Calling") was voiced by Kelsey Grammer (of "Cheers" and "Frasier" fame). The follow-on commercials used Dave Kelly, at first imitating Grammer, but eventually drifting away from that distinctive voice.

The voice for this new round of Gecko ads seems very similar to in accent and tone to the voice of Mackenzie Crook, who played 'Gareth Keenan' on the original, BBC version of "The Office."

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 07:39 AM

Scotus is right - the gecko is speaking estuary English, an accent that is becoming ever more common and is, to some degree, replacing the normal regional accents in the south eastern UK.

The accent would not, in the UK, be considered to be 'posh' - it has rather downmarket connotations, but tends to be the accent of choice of a number of television personalities, particularly, it seems, to those appearing on children's programmes, from the stuff I've watched with my grandson. As a result there has been a watering down of the regional accents, not to mention a drop in the standards of grammar.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 07:18 AM

Actually, we do better in British accents than just Cockney and BBC/Queen's English--we can also tell Scottish apart from these--though distinguishing among Scottish accents is, admittedly, beyond our ken.

But I, for one, love to hear any British accents--and that sure ain't so for American accents.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,bluestateslose
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 10:46 PM

I thought he was an Aussie, but I'll admit my ear can tell straight Geordie from Manchester from general South England and not much more than that.

For those who are perplexed by the American tendency to confuse all Brit accents beyond "posh" and "Cockney in Mary Poppins," remember that we can tell apart our own twenty-odd regional accents.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Iain Shovelin--Certified Essex Boy
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 10:11 PM

Tha Gecko's from dan my way in the Sarf of England where we all talk like that. I fink you all just like the dulcet tones that emanate from us Brits...Makes ya stop and check fings owt..know what I mean?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Scotus
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 10:35 AM

Actually, I'd say that the voice is speaking 'estuary English' which is the 'laddish' semi-cockney accent affected by young guys who jumped into the financial services industry during the height of the Thatcher 'me first' era of the 1980s. That would explain the connection between the accent and an insurance company IMHO!

Jack (who is Scottish BTW)

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 09:39 AM

I think the voice sounds a lot like Callum Blue.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Kaleea
Date: 05 Feb 06 - 06:22 PM

I distinctly remember hearing that voice on a recent episode of "Monsterpiece Theatre starring Alistair Cookie."

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Kathy King
Date: 04 Feb 06 - 09:15 PM

The voice has been bothering me every time I see that commercial. I think he sounds a bit like Charlie from the series "Lost". Not quiet Australian, but not quiet Masterpiece Theatre English. Northern England, but big city, like Manchester or Liverpool. Any views on that one?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Carolyn
Date: 04 Feb 06 - 09:15 PM

There is no way he is an Aussie, he is a Brit and speaks with a cockney accent, I am a Brit, I live in the US and just won a bet with my son who swore he was an Aussie. The voice is that of Dave Kelly by the way. The commercials are cute and funny and not insulting what-so-ever, love the "pie and chips!"

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Jan 06 - 12:35 PM

Is it possible that individual versions of the Gecko/Geico commercial are still playing? I am in Alaska - our styles lag behind and linger longer than those on the US east coast, for instance. (Question: Are your kids still wearing pants with the crotch down at the knees? Ours are. {{Second Question: When they pee, do the boys pull up the pants so they can get at the zipper, or do they pee over the top?}}

I am wondering whether we might be viewing an earlier version of the Gecko?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: open mike
Date: 30 Jan 06 - 12:18 PM

oz

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Jan 06 - 11:28 AM

Spaw, perhaps you'll find it profitable to get back into the production shed. I know so many Amish men with moustaches and so many others - both men and women - who can't seem to tune their instruments that I would like to gift them with this handy tool. I assume you discount for a case lot? Please advise soonest.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Jan 06 - 10:10 PM

LMAO......Prior to ever seeing this thread, Karen and I decided he was an Aussie but I figured it was because for the past few years we have had a love affair in the US with all things Australian......and Amish.

Many of you will remember the great success of the "Amish-Australian Pitchfork Moustache Tuner." I have only a few hundred thousand left so you need to order right away!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 Jan 06 - 12:17 PM

Jan says she's actually sick to death of being mistaken for Australian ( she's been in the US 5 years now). It's fairly evident that most Americans really can't tell English accents apart. The interesting thing is that her accent is not even close to Cockney. I can confirm as an American that to me Cockney and Australian do sound fairly similar. She can't understand why I can't tell the difference easily. I would bet that it boils down to the English accents most Americans would have heard--primarily in the movies---and that's Cockney and BBC/ Queen's English. So for Americans, if it's not one, it's likely the other--that's what most Americans would guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Jan 06 - 07:15 PM

Huh, the last one I saw I thought it was Australian.

We have lots of gekkoes in our house. They do chirp but more importantly they eat bugs. They are in the lawn too and you can see them fleeing when you walk. Fast little critters.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 28 Jan 06 - 06:35 PM

Basically, Jan does not think Estaban is a snake. Proof would be needed. Even people who do infomercials are innocent til proven guilty.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 28 Jan 06 - 06:28 PM

Jan, born in London, who has seen those commercials several times, confirms that the gecko's accent is, in fact, Cockney.

She's also seen the Estaban commercial quite a few times. Anonny Mouse is, unsurprisingly, oversimplifying. She says Estaban says his guitar is modelled on the Martin quoted, especially in appearance--but he makes no claims for quality of sound to compare with the Martin.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: CapriUni
Date: 28 Jan 06 - 01:13 PM

Ouch, that is a nasty accent, from nowhere on God's earth

Maybe that's the point....

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 28 Jan 06 - 07:52 AM

Ouch, that is a nasty accent, from nowhere on God's earth! Bit of cockney, Australian, South African, etc. The key, I think, is that he's an 'uptalker' - the voice goes up at the end of the phrase, unlike Brit actor Terry-Thomas who would say 'well hell-looow'

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 08:55 PM

"Geckos make a unique chirping sound, from which their name comes.

THE STORY OF THE GEKKO

"Gecko" is the common name for any of about 65 species of small lizards of the family Gekkonidae. They can be commonly found in tropical regions worldwide." From MMario's link

Seems that article can't even agree with itself.

And here an encyclop(a)edia weighs in- it has it both ways:

"Gekko gecko, commonly known as the Tokay Gecko, is a nocturnal arboreal gecko native to tropical Asia. They are abundant, ranging from northeast India and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia, to Indonesia and western New Guinea. Naturalized populations (introduced via the pet trade) are also found in Florida and Hawaii in the United States. Their native habitat is rainforest trees and cliffs, and they also frequently adapt to human habitations, roaming walls and ceilings at night in search of insect prey."

It goes on to say that the Tokay has an unusually louf voice but it doesn't mention its accent.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: ranger1
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 06:31 PM

My vote is for Cockney. Definitely not Aussie or Kiwi. And those weren't salamanders, those were anoles.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 06:21 PM

Yes Jeri, he does sound a bit like Spike, but I think his accent is a little too soft to be a true Cockney.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 04:23 PM

South African, perhaps?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 03:50 PM

The ads are rather cute, and they have changed the voice a couple of times. I don't watch enough to be sure whether I've seen the most recent ones.

The use of "English" accents in ads is fairly common in the US. Advertisers seem to think it makes their spokescritter/person sound "sophisticated." It also avoids "regionalizing" them, as would happen if they used a distinguishable "US regional" accent. The "proper Bostonian" (a. la. John Kennedy?) is unintelligible to some "deep south" residents, and makes some whole regions mad when they hear it. The real Nor' East accent, as from Maine, is unintelligible to almost everyone elsewhere. Large parts of the US immediately assume that any "southern" accent implies illiteracy (a. la. Lyndon?).

The use of a vaguely distinguishable "European English" accent is a compromise. In most cases it should not be offensive to those real speakers of some "Brit" or "Aussie" dialect; although the continued use in advertising could associate such inflections with always coming from someone who "says a lot without saying anything" ... (But it may be too late to object by now.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: MMario
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 03:22 PM

or not - see gekko

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 03:15 PM

Anybody who wants to look it up might want to spell it 'Gecko'.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From:
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 01:30 PM

My sister and I have a running argument as to who provides the voice over for the Geico Gekko. I say it's Ricky Gervais from the BBC's British The Office. She says absolutely not. Does anyone know?? Please email me at [e-mail].
Thanks, Sharon

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 07:51 PM

And, understandable?:->

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 07:12 PM

You did say class, didn't you Bill ?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:45 PM

Lots of American programs and ads seem to think a Brit accent of some sort lends class.....I don't know how they choose. Why not a Maine or Georgia accent?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:19 PM

Better Adam Ant lend his voice to a gecko than his name to a urinal.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 04:55 PM

According to a website HERE the voice is that of "Dave Kelly." Not sure if that is current, though. The article at that link has links to even more of the commericals; if you scroll down you'll see them.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 04:23 PM

He's Cockney, fer-cryin'-out-loud! He sounds like Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Australian would make sense, but he must have moved to London as a wee newt. I think the lizard who licks his eye ("forget the theatrics") is funny. I also think the commercials with the human dude were about as Christopher Guest-ish as a commercial could get. Unjustifiably serious.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 04:04 PM

Well, as of 4:00 P.M. it's ON (Fox news--don't go apoplectic!!). Maybe it IS Australian-although he has yet to say put some "shrimp on the barbie." (a dead giveaway to us non-Brits!). Anyway, Mr. Gekko is on a LOT--and even seems to replacing David Spade, the chub-guy, Esteban, etc. I find his Brit accent "comforting" whether high Brit, low Brit, whatever. Seems they've found a new Brit spokes-gekko for their ads. Y'all will have to get over it, I guess. HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 03:08 PM

My Rog said he reminds him of Les Barker, a bit, but I still think he's Aussie.

Some of their ads are available for viewing on this page, but I am not sure if any of them have the latest "voice" of the Gekko!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 10:03 AM

I too thought Aussie and just don't get it. Especially now that he is sending a plague of salamanders down on us to sell insurance.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: JennyO
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 08:51 AM

Haven't seen the commercials. Being an Aussie, I'm rather interested to hear him now - is there a link to it anywhere?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: MMario
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 08:43 AM

strikes me as an aussie voice - which would be more appropriate for a gekko then british - and some of the word choices scream stereotypical aussie as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 08:32 AM

Oh dear Paul, just couldn't resist it could you?

El Gioko ☺

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 07:18 AM

I thought El Gecko was a Geek?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 06:09 AM

Eating "British lizards" should help one do that.Perhaps he's Essex Man, via Mid Atlantic.This was used by D Js in the 60s.Bloody awful!

David

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:58 AM

It's always good to keep your vowels open.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:56 AM

Perhaps he's had a couple of other things clipped too!

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:46 AM

By the way - the voice of the Geico Gecko used to be deeper and more distinguished with a true upper class accent. Now he's a regular bloke with a sassy sort of voice. Clips his vowels too.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:43 AM

Not seen the ad.. but am annoyed to be called a gekko.... it's not even one of the British lizards.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:34 AM

He is not a proper 'gent' - his accent is not upper class by far. ANyone care to peg his peculiar accent?

He sounds kinda like Adam Ant. For all we know, Adam Ant IS doing the voice. I heard from some gal i know that he does work as a voice-over actor for cartoons.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:05 AM

Never heard him myself,but he could be from Earls Court-West London.Used to be known as Little Australia,for obvious reasons.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: gnomad
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 03:48 AM

I wouldn't worry too much about us Brits being offended by being compared to a lizard.   We might be puzzled, but lizard is pretty mild compared with some of the terms we have used about others.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 03:16 AM

ebbie, I'm with you...he sounds more Australian to me and I love the commercials. Very creative; I'll bet they've won few Clios with it.

He's even got his own blog.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 02:03 AM

OK. Y'all say he is British, so I'll accept that. May I ask from what district? It ain't the Queen's English.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: CapriUni
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 12:36 AM

When that series of commercials started, the gekko's voice was an imitation of Kelsey Grammer's Fraiser voice, when that show was at the top of the ratings. And then it changed all of a sudden. I think they were at risk of getting sued, maybe.

So they switched to another voice, and, I presume, they wanted one that the predominantly American audience would instantly identify as upper class and educated (such as the character of Fraiser Crane), while still being generic enough so that the lawyers couldn't come after them.

Hence, he's a now a Brit.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 11:19 PM

Ah yes--the Government Employees Ins. Co.-makes sense. British lizard-doesn't make sense. Wouldn't be offended if I was a British Lizard. GEICO has "Esteban" doing commercials--and he's a snake! LOL ("handbuilt, quality guitar just like a Martin D-41"-right).

Other commercials I think are really creative are the Capital One ones-no Brit gekko tho.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 11:09 PM

Geico was orginally the Government Employees Insurance COmpany and insured pretty much only federal government employees - my in-laws have had this insurance for about forty years.

Geico = Gekko = lizard = British. Were I British I would be offended to be considered a reptile.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Once Famous
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 08:39 PM

You mean he's not Pakistani?

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: artbrooks
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 08:27 PM

Boston

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 08:26 PM

Hmmmm. Very interesting. I had him pegged as from the land of Oz.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 08:11 PM

The Brits were talking about it earlier, I think...unless that was a frog...the commercial may have originated there...I think it's cute

Subject: BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 24 Jan 06 - 08:06 PM

Is Geico a U.K. founded company or something? New commercials have the little Gekko sounding like quite the London gent. So is this the new "cute"? What gives? Or do we just like Anglophile Insurance for our "autos"?