Whether it's volume, content, or exaggerated vowels, you just have to overhear an American tourist while overseas to notice that Americans have a distinct way of speaking. But many Brits (mistakenly) think watching American film and television makes them trained in an American accent.
One English reporter, determined to be better than a Hollywood wannabe, decided to get top professional training from accent-coach-to-the-stars Barbara Berkeley.
Hugh Laurie from House is just following the lyrical suggestion to "take a sad song/and make it better." Sometimes you just have to lighten up, you know? It doesn't all have to be doom and gloom.