Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

I just got an email about an interesting dvd release from the BBC. LIFE will be coming out in June. It's a kind of continuation of where EARTH left off.

The disturbing thing is that they found it necessary to make two versions of it. As far as I know, they both have the same images. Only the narrator is different. The original version has David Attenborough. The second version has Oprah Winfrey.

Why bother making the second version with Oprah? Does David's accent bother Americans? Maybe not. Reviewers on Amazon are already criticising this move.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_5?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=life+bbc&sprefix=life+

Expect to see the Oprah Winfrey version in the bargin bin at Wal-Mart in the near future.

[cj1976]

It depends on the British accent. I'm from England and I find this painful to listen to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDaTTVR2JXY

[Gibberish]

Attenborough's accent rules. When I was writing papers in college I would imagine him saying my words to make sure that I was making a scholarly sounding sentence. I prefer him over Oprah, surely.

The only accent that would get on my nerves is the Scottish accent, but even that I'm really not that bothered by. I think it has more to do with the tone of the voice itself.

[sesyeux]

attenborough is literally one of my top 5 people in the entire world. if you can't listen to him lyricise liquid educational honey, you dont deserve to have ears.

and pretty sure they've only got oprah/weaver etc on board to sell more.

[Bloopity Bloop]

You know, it never really bothered me at all until I came here and I heard Brits s*** all over American accents. For some reason, it just irks me a bit now. Unfortunately, a lot of my countrymen find it hilarious to get Brits to say different things just because they like the accents or think they're funny. Both sides are idiots.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that the one of the main reasons why the Oprah version was created was that some corporate guys felt her star power might generate more sales. True fans would probably buy the original and Oprah's name would give the series more attention. I could be totally wrong, but as I said, just going out on a limb.

[peppermint]

I'd imagine they just thought that having a household name as narrator would help it to sell. David Attenborough might be the best thing since sliced bread, but he isn't familiar to most North Americans.

[Hyeon Een]

The people in charge meant no offence.

It's just the way it is.

If people get upset by the accent rather than the message then they are retarded.

[.38 Special]

Americans, insofar as I'm aware, generally enjoy British accents. They've a music to them that smooths out the rhythm.

I don't see what the big deal is. The Dark Overlord of Wayward Housewives just wants to double her money.

[Jandar]

Oprah sells.

[Sergio Stefanuto]

Attenborough is an atheist and gets a lot of hate mail.

[sesyeux]

[CapnSamwise]

Excruciatingly.

[PeteJB]

He makes it sound like Danish.

[Dev]

I like the reasoning that some posters have expressed here. It's to drive sales. Two versions.

1) Attenborough for the PBS viewers.

2) and Oprah, for the soccer moms.

When I saw that there was an Oprah version, I cringed. Generally, I find there is too much emotion in her voice / personality. For me, thet would distract me from the nature unfolding on the screen. She's just too bubbly. "Wow! Look at the size of that whale!".

[bluelake]

I'm American, but I probably listen to more British accents than American accents due to the following:

1. I love listening to audiobooks and a great number of the narrators are British

2. The Sharpe series is one of my all-time favorites, both on TV and also on audiobooks

3. I enjoy British comedy series