Which celebrity should be the voice of the LRT?
If not Morgan Freeman, then who should be the voice on Edmonton’s transit services?
Well, Mayor Don Iveson’s office asked that very question, and he says his wife, Sarah Chan, suggested — wait for it — Patrick Stewart. That’s right.
If Chan has her way, Star Trek: The Next Generation Capt. JeanLuc Picard’s soothing baritones might help LRT and bus riders journey to ... well, the different parts of Edmonton.
Iveson said he was “was all in for that. Make it so.”
Meanwhile, Edmontonians chimed in on the debate after news broke Wednesday of a partnership deal between credit card company Visa and Vancouver’s TransLink that will have transit riders listening to the soothing voice of actor Freeman making announcements at select SkyTrain stations.
“Hello bus riders. This is a smokefree bus, but I’m sure you already knew that,” says one recording. “What you might not know, however, is that you can now tap your Visa to go anywhere TransLink takes you. Have a great day.”
If given the choice, who do you think should voice Edmonton’s transit announcements? A couple of candidates have emerged online.
Gilbert Gottfried: His voice may not be soothing but guaranteed you’ll never miss your stop!
Nathan Fillion: He’s practically Edmonton royalty, so it’s no wonder he’s a popular choice.
Tommy Chong: Also from Edmonton, Chong’s distinctive ‘hippie’ voice would be a groovy way to take the train (no guarantees you won’t space out and miss a stop or two).
Fran Drescher: The Nanny star has a distinctive voice, to be sure, in the same way nails down a chalkboard has a distinctive sound.
Samuel L Jackson: “Get these mother f--king people off my mother f--king train!”