Outsourced

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 23, 2010
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 97 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 97
  3. Negative: 11 out of 97
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User Reviews

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  1. RyanGee
    Sep 28, 2010
    6
    NBC tries some experimentation as they try to recreate an Independent comedrama from a couple years back. The original film was sweet and charming, but was not necessarily an extremely funny film. This series has the same premise of the film, being an American working with a group of telemarketing Indians, but the elements of the television show are totally opposing. There is a lack ofNBC tries some experimentation as they try to recreate an Independent comedrama from a couple years back. The original film was sweet and charming, but was not necessarily an extremely funny film. This series has the same premise of the film, being an American working with a group of telemarketing Indians, but the elements of the television show are totally opposing. There is a lack of charm in the television show, but it can be very funny. While the humor is something that you might be hesitant to laugh at, the show is entertaining. Even though Outsourced (The TV Show) has a lot of appeal to it, I think its touchy subject will affect the shows longevity. But while it is still on, I will be sure to check it out as soon as The Office ends.… Expand
  2. KundK
    Sep 27, 2010
    5
    The first episode was not exactly pants-splittingly funny and Indian (and American) stereotypes were bordering on insultingly lazy, but the cast is likable and when the writers get the holy cows and the arranged marriages out of the way, it might be a low-caste-man's "Parks and Recreation". Or it can become a prolonged insult to India (and America). Let's hope for the former.
  3. Dai
    Oct 4, 2010
    4
    What matters isn't whether or not the show skirts the line in terms of cultural insensitivity (which it arguably does) but whether it's funny or not, and it isn't. The jokes wouldn't seem at all insensitive if they were any good, but they're not; they're incredibly cheap and lazy and way too far apart. Some of the cast makes a good effort - particularly Rizwan Manji as the conniving RajiivWhat matters isn't whether or not the show skirts the line in terms of cultural insensitivity (which it arguably does) but whether it's funny or not, and it isn't. The jokes wouldn't seem at all insensitive if they were any good, but they're not; they're incredibly cheap and lazy and way too far apart. Some of the cast makes a good effort - particularly Rizwan Manji as the conniving Rajiiv - but most of them are held back by the fact that the jokes they're delivering are consistently really weak. In many cases the pilot simply throws away opportunities for humor; if you're going to call attention to the fact that a character's name sounds like "man meat", you should at least get a joke out of it. A few of the characters get the same joke over and over again - in some cases, such as the older man who storms out every time Rappaport's Todd Dempsey says something offensive, it works; in other cases, such as the call center worker who never speaks above a whisper, the joke is almost painfully unfunny.

    I feel as though the show does have some potential; it could be an interesting and humorous examination of culture shock instead of something that lazily marches from stereotype to stereotype without saying anything particularly interesting or funny. ("Look, it's a sacred cow!" - "Indian food can do a number on your digestion!" - "Sikhs wear head coverings!") Ultimately, though, what matters is whether or not the show is funny. And it's not. The jokes, when they show up, are almost uniformly lame. The show could -use- a more sophisticated eye with regards to how it handles jokes about different cultures, but what it really -needs- is simply much better writing.    … Expand
  4. CTOT
    Nov 7, 2010
    4
    Another disappointing attempt at entertainment by nbc. Outsourced has a few funny lines here and there but is mostly just a bunch of cheap, lazy, racist jokes. This show has a lot of potential that its just not living up to.
  5. pinoycritic
    Apr 25, 2011
    4
    I have a mixed feeling about this show. Coming from an outsourcing background, there is a wide range of potential laughs coming from outsourcing experiences which are not properly depicted in this show. It does show the cultural differences in a funny manner - these were "safe jokes" though. In addition, there were not enough emphasis on points which would have been funnier, such as theI have a mixed feeling about this show. Coming from an outsourcing background, there is a wide range of potential laughs coming from outsourcing experiences which are not properly depicted in this show. It does show the cultural differences in a funny manner - these were "safe jokes" though. In addition, there were not enough emphasis on points which would have been funnier, such as the bobble head thing or the train ride where Todd actually slapped his face at someone's arm pits? There was not enough emphasis or dramatic flair - it was as if it just passed by, but in reality it would have been a lot funnier. What happens when you have used up all the Indian versus American culture? What happens then? Regardless, it does depict Indian Culture and how the rest of the world is unfamiliar with it - in a charming way.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Most Discussed TV Season of 2010
56
#56 Most Shared TV Season of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
45

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 10 out of 23
  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    70
    Fortunately, Rappaport is a fairly effective Everyman, and the wince-inducing aspects of the premise quickly fade into standard workplace comedy deriving a twist from its location.
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  2. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    42
    The humor is crude and risque and often at the expense of Indian culture. I could have lived without the defecation jokes. To be fair, the writers don't give America a pass.
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  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Paige Wiser
    63
    Maybe the cast of this sitcom will come together with some "Community"-level chemistry. Right now, it's just awkward and borderline offensive.
    Read full review
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