BS: Why is the Geico Gekko a Brit?

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