# Anybody watch the premier of Outsourced? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845 "2010-09-24T03:28:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/21 "2010-09-24T15:45:23Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I thought it was embarrassing - minstrel show bad. Agreed, can’t think of a single redeeming quality except the australian girl is absurdly hot and I could probably watch her for 22 minutes a week. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/22 "2010-09-24T15:54:41Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I haven’t seen it and I suppose the idea is cute. I would love to see some Bollywood in there. But when you think about all the American jobs lost, outsourced to India, a comedy based on the wacky goings-on in India is kind of sad. (It’s as if a clothing factory in Ohio employing 200 people closed down and relocated to Mexico. Sitcom setup - a big wacky group of Mexicans work for peanuts doing former Americans’ jobs! Yeah, funny, I guess, if it weren’t for that big bunch of Ohioans now without jobs.) The show actually did address this, though not at all deftly. Apparenty the universal reaction to losing one’s job is to throw a brick through your former employer’s window. _Ha Ha Ha!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/23 "2010-09-24T16:43:59Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > But while I was watching, I did wonder about the longevity of references to fake poo and vomit, as well as the dietary differences. As a matter of fact, at the begining of the show when you find out the main character works for a novelty company I immediately thought, “Okay, when are they gonna fit in the fake dog poo joke?” When some anthropologists uncover this show in one hundred years or so, the ONLY references they understand will be the ones about fake poo and vomit. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/24 "2010-09-24T17:18:21Z")
I don’t think our future robotic overlords would get even that. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/25 "2010-09-24T17:28:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > One question. Did they hire every unknown South Asian actor in LA for this show? (I mean, they already had one on each of the sitcoms on NBC on Thursdays, but this is a whole new level.) I liked how it’s a show set in India and there were still more white people billed in the opening credits than Indians. It was close, but I think the whites edged them out by one. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/26 "2010-09-24T17:33:25Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > The show actually did address this, though not at all deftly. Apparenty the universal reaction to losing one’s job is to throw a brick through your former employer’s window. _Ha Ha Ha!!!_ I doubt there’s much hostility from creative Hollywood types for the low-class pink- and blue-collar workers whose jobs are most likely to be outsourced. So, appreciating different cultures: cool, sympathy for American economic losers: not cool. ---
**Author:** ![Kelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@Kelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelby)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/27 "2010-09-24T18:04:46Z")
Just a nitpick: Wouldn’t the office’s peak time to take calls from the U.S. happen at night, since India is on the other side of the world? Looked like bright sunshine coming into the office when the manager announced the busy time was coming. ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/28 "2010-09-24T18:13:04Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > My wife is high school friends with the actor who plays Gupta, so she is watching it. She is lamenting the fact that we stopped being a Nielson household a month before it premired, so she can’t even give it ratings. Heh, apparently I went to high school with your wife. Parvesh was a nice guy (I assume he still is, but I haven’t spoken to him in ages). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/29 "2010-09-24T18:15:55Z")
> [@Kelby](#): > > Just a nitpick: Wouldn’t the office’s peak time to take calls from the U.S. happen at night, since India is on the other side of the world? Looked like bright sunshine coming into the office when the manager announced the busy time was coming. I noticed that too. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/30 "2010-09-24T18:21:31Z")
> [@Waffle\_Decider](#): > > I wonder if any real Indians may feel offended by how they are portrayed in the show? I’m not Indian, but \>I\< thought it was pretty offensive. Typical thin, cartoonish Indian characters. Diedrich Bader was the only good thing about the whole episode. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/31 "2010-09-24T18:24:09Z")
The movie was authentic, from the heart and genuinely touching. This is just shit. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/32 "2010-09-24T18:24:31Z")
> [@Kelby](#): > > Just a nitpick: Wouldn’t the office’s peak time to take calls from the U.S. happen at night, since India is on the other side of the world? Looked like bright sunshine coming into the office when the manager announced the busy time was coming. In the movie (which I recommend), they were taking calls at night. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/33 "2010-09-24T18:39:13Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > The movie was authentic, from the heart and genuinely touching. This is just shit. Wow. My wife and I were asking ourselves if we hadn’t just seen a movie with almost the same premise… didn’t even occur to me until now that it’s based directly on that movie. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/34 "2010-09-24T20:08:47Z")
It showed moments of possible greatness, but didn’t grab me like I hoped. I’ll give it another few chances. I agree they are kind of stuck in a weird place. If they play it safe, it will get boring and could be canceled, but if they go all out, they risk offending someone and getting cancelled because of it. I’m sure they are setting up a love triangle between the aussie girl, the lead guy, and “Asha”. We didn’t get nearly enough of that Gupta guy to know why everyone hates him. And the bit with the (Sikh?) guy with the turban never really had any pay off. I was kind of hoping it would be some high-tech firm being outsourced, since that would hit closer to home for myself, but I guess the novelty company is more ripe for jokes. They were kinda harsh on Indian food. It’s pretty popular in the U.S., so it shouldn’t be such a culture shock for the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/35 "2010-09-24T21:10:44Z")
I’m hopeful, partly because Parks and Recreation sucked its first year as well. But the second season of that show was much better. So perhaps this will improve as well. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/36 "2010-09-24T21:12:32Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > They were kinda harsh on Indian food. It’s pretty popular in the U.S., so it shouldn’t be such a culture shock for the guy. Indian food in the US is in an entirely different category than the actual food in India. I completely sympathized with him when he ordered “some of the green and brown stuff”. And I can directly testify that not only is much of their food almost inedibly spicy (and I have a high tolerance to spice) but it can also do some very creative things to an untrained digestive system. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/37 "2010-09-24T21:13:30Z")
I quit watching about halfway through. Very formulaic. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/38 "2010-09-24T21:18:53Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > So what’s the story with ‘Parks and Recreation’? That’s the show I missed tonight. Me too! I’m done with **The Office** , losing interest in **30Rock** , thought **Outsourced** sucked and ditched **Community** for **BBTheory** (no Tevo). \*\*Parks And Rec \*\*is slated to return mid-season. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/39 "2010-09-24T21:24:45Z")
I thought it was really terrible. It made me uncomfortable to watch, and I thought it was the longest 22 minutes of programming ever. Jokes fell flat, the main guy doesn’t even have a face, and I thought he was unnecessarily cruel to the operators. Not just in the strange and belittling comments he made about their culture (who the fuck doesn’t know the cow thing? For example) but in that he was so convinced they were losers. I get the general dynamic they were going for-fish-out-of-water + wacky-but-lovable misfits, but what they ended up with douche-face + poor-people-who-seem-perfectly-nice-dealing-with-doucheface. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845/40 "2010-09-24T22:01:38Z")
Yeah he’s a douche, but his heart seems to be in the right place (he shunned his countryman to sit with ‘his team’ at lunch for morale). He seems to be designed as the typically naive and unintentionally offensive westerner in a foreign situation. I think he has to start out pretty low to be so they have space to develop a positive character arc over the course of the show. He’ll obviously learn to integrate and accept the foreign culture, and the differences of people in general. I thought the same thing about Jeff Winger in Community. I hate-hate-hated him and his douchmonkey arrogant attitude, but it was only the starting point. He developed into a likable, entertaining character (though he still has his female-cleansing-apparatus-y moments). I don’t know why I’m defending this so much. I honestly still feel only cautiously optimistic about the show, but I do see the potential of a much-needed replacement to the rapidly-declining Office. And as someone said earlier, Parks and Rec kinda sucked the first season and then got fanfuckingtastic. So c’mon, little fella. I’m pulling for you :). Though I do really miss Parks and Rec. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-watch-the-premier-of-outsourced/554845.md?page=3)