'Outsourced' Reviews Are In And The Reception Is Lukewarm (VIDEO)

"Outsourced" will premiere tonight in NBC's wildly popular Thursday night comedy block, and today critics can finally reveal their thoughts on the pilot episode they received weeks ago to review. The series, based on the 2006 movie of the same name, is set around Todd Dempsy (Ben Rappaport) and his culture shock as he is transported to India to run the call center for a novelties company.

So far most reviews find it to be sub-par, relying too much on cheap puns and at times being almost demeaning toward Indians, with a few nods at its cheerfulness and comedic take on the modern economy. Here's round-up of what critics have said so far...

Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times somewhat praised it, saying the fact that it's neither "embarrassing nor deeply offensive" is a credit to the cast and the writers and that it's "actually quite charming" once it gets rolling. She also pointed out that it doesn't just parody Indian culture, but that it "mocks Todd's blithe, well-meaning ignorance as much as it lampoons Indians trying to sell catalog items like fake vomit and 'jiggle jugs.'"

Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly basically panned the show, and sarcastically suggested that it "one day may evolve into a sharp, irreverent satire about consumerism and prejudice that doesn't punt to cheap jokes about Indian names, Indian accents, and Indian food," and to "Call us when it gets there."

Robert Lloyd of The Los Angeles Times gave it a smiling review, calling it "the most deftly realized sitcom of the new season." He also said it has a "top-flight cast, characters who show you who they are rather than telling you, smart writing, sure rhythms and a cheerful attitude."

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David Hinckley of the New York Daily News said it "needs more work," saying it "aims at a very large target and doesn't quite score, though at times it comes close." Hinckley didn't find the cultural jokes offensive, and suggested that in time, "'Outsourced' may want to become an Indian cousin of 'Community,' with diverse off-center people whose eccentricities fuel jokes."

Glenn Garvin of The Miami Herald praised the 2006 film but panned the show, saying the Indian characters are all "dysfunctional weirdos, incapable of even simple social interactions," while the American characters are "brash louts who regard India as little more than a source of diarrhea and a captive audience for jingoist proselytization."

Erik Pedersen of The Hollywood Reporter might have summed it up best while still giving it the benefit of the doubt:

Insensitive during this generation's Hard Times? Possibly. An excuse to mock Indian people and culture? Could be. A spectacular risk for NBC, especially in the plum post-"Office" slot? Absolutely. [...] But for those with the grit to get past, or over, the premise and watch without prejudice, "Outsourced" is a chance to grin in the face of modern economic realities."

Comments

[LibChicAZ]

12:34 PM on 09/27/2010

We just outsourced our customer service staff to India and our IT team has been replaced by an Indian team here on work visas. As much as I like my new colleagues, I don't think I'm ready to laugh about it yet.

[aspertame2]

01:15 PM on 09/27/2010

I'm thinking there will be quite a bit of backlash against this show. Hey, we're foreclosing on Americans who can't compete with overseas employment mills and imported H1Bs. No, seriously, it's a RIOT!

[RickCoMatic]

12:24 PM on 09/27/2010

Luke warm?
How does "Sucks" qualify as luke warm.
Terrible. Tell it like it is!
Two bits says that bomb is long-gone before Thanksgiving.
""Outsourced, The program regularly scheduled in this time period, will not be seen tonight, next week or ever again. Because people hate it. Simple as that!"
What a turkey! I can't believe that the show went to Pilot.
Pile-it on top of the other shows that NBC dishes-up for which N-o B-ody C-ares!

[ClassicLeft]

11:53 AM on 09/26/2010

If you haven't seen the movie you'll like this show. If you have seen the movie, this show is kind of blunt and superficial. But it has a lot of potential and much more interesting than Parks and Recreation.

[smokeypenguin]

02:43 PM on 09/25/2010

Even when I first read about this show's premise I knew it was going to be one cold, solid lump of crap. For some reason, I decided to watch it anyway, mostly because NBC Thursdays have been solid (except for the last two seasons of My Name is Earl).

Every other show that aired before Outsourced relies on somewhat intelligent humor, but had there been a ticker displaying all the lame (jokes?) during the first ten minutes, I probably would have turned it off five minutes sooner.

And I'm no bleeding heart, but in referencing India's culture, this show is offensive. To its audience, for thinking they'd laugh. Wow, Indian food gives you the runs. A guy named Manmeat, hilarious....no. I could see this show working on networks that still use laughtracks (like CBS, which pretty much has to do it to let people know its a sitcom)

The biggest slap in the face is that this is the same network that tried to kill Scrubs for years, fired Conan O'Brien, and came up with a show called "Minute to Win It".

I got a great idea, cancel Outsourced and replace it with a reality show in which the writers try to find new jobs in the comedy world.

I'd watch that for more ten minutes.

[smokeypenguin]

03:00 PM on 09/25/2010

dammit, meant I'd watch that for more than ten minutes. This is why you preview before you post.

[RickCoMatic]

12:25 PM on 09/25/2010

Here's another review about this lame-brained Sit-com sandwiched between shows that are going to lose audience if Thursday's stay the same without movement from competing Networks.

"Not funny. Pathetic. Peacock feces. Oh, no. Don't even try putting it on some other night. Burn the Pilot and remaining shows so they can't mistakenly be shown on TV ever again. If the choice is: Watch this show or a Test Pattern. I could deal with the Pattern if there good music.

[dehawk44]

11:19 AM on 09/25/2010

This show should hire Indian advisors, or start listening keenly to the ones they already have (if they have). I rushed home to see the show and was roundly disappointed. They must immediately close that so-called Call Center and burn the entire line of idiotic novelty items.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

10:24 AM on 09/25/2010

This show was such a disappointment. They could have done so much with this. I was really looking forward to this show and it was a huge let down. I wish instead of being "Novelty Items" that they were IT workers, or phone company workers, something other than novelty gifts. I just didn't find the show funny at all. I didn't laugh once, and I'm usually one of the easiest ones to get to laugh at sitcoms. Big disappointment in my book.

[Bindi Papadum]

11:20 AM on 09/25/2010

Although I found the casting to be excellent, with Ben Rappaport as the charming fish-out-of-water, I too was a little disappointed that the show was not daring enough. Instead it played it safe with some obvious jokes about bad food in the company cafeteria. The writers should have done better, but it's only the first show, so I will give it another chance next week. I like the way they introduced the love interest between Pipa Black (the sexy Aussie) and Ben Rappaport. Also, the rivalry between the women, Pipa and Rebecca Hazlewood will prove to be hilarious as they compete for Ben. The Indian cast is very expressive, and reacting to American culture gives them a chance to shine because of all the possible misunderstandings. I really enjoyed the character played by Rizwan Manji, a devious assistant like Dwight Schrute from the Office, and I can't wait to see how ruthless he can be and still stay funny.

Maybe I liked it more than I thought. I'm already excited about next week's show!
-Bindi
http://meetyourindianreplacement.com

[Alankrita Pandey]

10:16 AM on 09/25/2010

I think the show was bland. The humor was not offensive, just widely off the mark. It seems that the creators of the show had no idea about a "real" call center. Oh and another thing, those call center places operate at night mostly, to manage the time difference. Caste-based hiring and other things exist in India, but not in a call center environment- that is way too modern usually for such things! Even that darn cow looked too Un-Indian. maybe they need to re-do the show a bit, or call it "What we thing a call center is like".

[Tonilynn Benigno]

10:05 AM on 09/25/2010

I caught the episode last night and I was surprised that I actually laughed during it. I only wanted to catch it because I work at a call center here in the states and have listened to customers who have very rigid thoughts about the outsourcing issue, accents, etc. American comedies have always been based on social issues that were relevent for the times and this one is no different in that regard. It did have some smart one liners and funny moments.

[ArtMaggot]

08:59 AM on 09/25/2010

Yeah! Let's laugh our way to the bottom.

[dustinjt]

01:51 AM on 09/25/2010

This show is great. I think Robert Lloyd is spot-on. Great, great acting and writing. I loved it. It's this year's Community.

[smokeypenguin]

02:54 PM on 09/25/2010

Yeah, it's this year's Community if they fired all of the writers on Community, went Curb on it with nothing except a joke book of Indian references after huffing paint fumes for a year, and made me wanna kill myself. Oh wait, it's nothing like Community.

[Mongoose king]

08:26 PM on 09/24/2010

There is an article in the Times of India, which states that President Obama's poll numbers are down in India mostly because of his targeting Outsourcing (a 50 Billion a year industry) and plans to Raise work Visa fees. So just the mention of the possibility of a reduction to outsourcing has caused a morale drop in India. So who could be so stupid, as to throw a sitcom like this into the face of out of work and working Americans. People who have seen the hemorrhage of jobs leaving, and in many cases have had to train their replacements. Americans have a great sense of humor, but this is all about timing. We did not put a great show/concept like Stalag 13 on the air (then it would have been radio) while we had American troops in German POW camps, it is all about timing and basic intelligence.

[MadamDeb]

07:18 PM on 09/24/2010

The basic premise is simply unfunny to many Americans.

[tommy potatoes]

06:35 PM on 09/24/2010

I can only hope that the writers and producers of this show find themselves outsourced, as well. Maybe they will find it funny when their scripts are written and directed in Bombay...

[SaddleBum]

06:14 PM on 09/24/2010

globalization - good for somebody, but not 98% of us.

what story threads can develop with this thing?

canceled by mid-season.