Everyone knows that a lot of American businesses today are closing down shop in America and shipping jobs to other countries because of their cheaper labor. The most talked about business is Customer Service of any company. There are these “call centers” in India, where workers are trained to be good Customer Service representatives, and often times even try to act American themselves. NBC has decided to give a show about just that a chance this year in Outsourced.
Here is the synopsis of Outsourced straight from NBC:
“”Outsourced” is a comedy where the Midwest meets the exotic East in a hilarious culture clash. The series centers on the all-American company Mid America Novelties that sells whoopee cushions, foam fingers and wallets made of bacon — and whose call center has suddenly been outsourced to India. Todd Dempsy (Ben Rappaport, off-Broadway’s “The Gingerbread House”) is the new company’s manager who learns that he’s being transferred to India to run the operation. Overwhelmed, Todd discovers that his new staff needs a crash course in all things American if they are to understand the U.S. product line and ramp up sales from halfway around the world. But as strange as America seems to his eclectic sales team, Todd soon realizes that figuring out India will be more than a full-time job.”
My First 10 Thoughts on the “Pilot” Episode of Outsourced:
1. The cast is 98% Indian.
2. But oddly enough the main character is still an American.
3. The majority of the jokes have to do with the American/Indian culture clash.
4. It tries not to be too offensive toward Indians.
5. It pokes funny at both the American and Indian characters.
6. Still there are some jokes that could be considered offensive.
7. Playing it safe and trying to go over the line with anything makes all of the comedy less funny
8. All of the characters are funny in their own little ways.
9. Ben Rappaport is solid in the lead role.
10. Outsourced appears to be a mostly Indian version of The Office, but it never strays too far
away from being political correct, so that makes it just an average comedy thus far.
