It’s not often that a new show gets some people so angry before it even airs but NBC’s new TV show, Outsourced, certainly rubs some people the wrong way. Did that hurt the ratings? Will it be quickly cancelled or become a long-term staple of NBC’s Thursday night line-up?
Outsourced follows a US sales manager, Todd Dempsey (Ben Rappaport), who’s assigned to supervise his company’s call center in India. The new sitcom also stars Anisha Nagarajan, Diedrich Bader, Parvesh Cheena, Pippa Black, Rebecca Hazelwood, Rizwan Manji, and Sacha Dhawan.
Some people have expressed resentment over the show’s theme, especially considering this country’s struggling economy and unemployment problem. Others maintain that the show’s intent is to show how offices are the same, regardless of where they’re located.
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In its first week on the air, Outsourced attracted a 3.6 in the 18-49 demographic and 7.49 million total viewers. For the timeslot, it ranked in third place in total viewers but was second in the demo, where the numbers really count.
On the downside, Outsourced lost about 20% of its Office lead-in audience in the demo and 12% in total viewers. Also, about 15% of its audience tuned out midway through the episode. Those people gave it a try and probably won’t be back next week.
New shows typically lose about 15% in week two so we’ll have to wait and see how this one’s ratings hold up. For now, things look good for Outsourced.
What do you think? Did you give it a try? Were you offended by Outsourced? Was it different than you expected? Cancel or keep it?
Image courtesy NBC.
I think in today’s climate this show was the wrong idea at the wrong time. I lost my job to outsourcing to India after having to train them to do our jobs. Extensive training that the company never even gave to us. It hurt. Now to be expected to sit and watch it during my favorite Thursday night of television is ridiculous. Not to mention that all of sudden making fun of India and Indians is the norm is sickening. Its racist and unfunny.
Loosen up folks. The show was funny. End of debate!
i cant get the hate.. not bout the show but bout indians. @Solexa423, mate you said you had to TRAIN “these” ppl to do your job? temme one thing, if an opportunity comes to your door, knocking, would you shut your door at it??? especially when a country like india, poverty struck, where ppl are selling their organs just to feed their families, what makes you think they will just say NO to the opportunities provided by American Companies??? y so much hate?? trust me they are doing their best to do what your companies are paying them to do.… Read more »
if you guys r such television geniuses, why don’t you write your very own show so internet trolls can bash it? or better yet, start your own station…it is what it is…and it’s better than most of the horseshit on tv
NBC has really gotten their heads stuck up somewhere unpleasant if they think that this is appropriate to put on as a comedy!! To be honest, I didn’t watch, nor would I ever watch it! The previews alone were enough to make me sick!! NBC has lost touch with reality – they cancel good shows like Mercy and Trauma, and put on crap like this in an economy where it is more than just “not funny”! People are struggling to make it through these hard times, looking for jobs, and do not need a show to mock them! NBC should… Read more »
I guess I am in the minority that actually enjoyed this show. It felt like I was getting a culture lesson. I enjoyed finding out aspects of muslin culture that I wasn’t aware of before watching the show. I found the show to be hilarious and on point for what the show is supposed to be about. I can see a potential love triangle forming already on the show. I also enjoy the shy, quiet female on the show. She is a character that I feel can be developed very well on the show to be a leading star, if… Read more »
The show was ok but the movie was really good. Yes this sitcom is taken from a movie of the same name. In the end all the jobs from India get outsourced to China, it is kind of a twist. I say keep it. However the movie is definitely better.
When I first heard about this show, I joked with my ex co-workers that our boss probably sold the rights to our story so he could get the new wing to his high rise built. And get this people, We and I mean We had to train them to do OUR jobs before we got laid off. Do I sound bitter… your damn straight I am.
I love the show COMMUNITY, but right now I’ve blacklisted NBC.
What kind of idiot executives at NBC would even consider or let alone put on a show about hard working AMERICANS losing their jobs. I have just outsourced nbc from my channel list on my 5 televisions.
I was very surprised that the xenophobes at Vdare gave the TV show a favorable review. Read it here:
NBC Sitcom “Outsourced” Debut
http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2010/09/29/nbc-sitcom-outsourced-debut/
If Vdare can live with it we also need to roll with the punches. Leave it on and have a few laughs!
Looking at the vote and the comments, this show is possibly a huge PR mess for NBC. How did executives not see this problem from a mile away? Even with a great script, this show is most likely dead.
Cancel it! Why should I support a show, I feel tries to “lighten” the hand that millions of Americans are being dealt daily, by the outsourcing of our work overseas.
Since I lost my job to this kind of thing, you wont’ see my support, I feel like NBC just sent a big old FU to the unemployed everywhere.
Regardless of whether it’s offensive or not, the show’s just bad. Not one funny moment.
I got say cancel it honestly. I laughed like twice through the pilot. Honestly i’m dissappointed that Diedrich Bader took on this role. It was very surpriseing this came from the same network as The office and 30 rock. Fox has already canceled Lone star. So it’ll suck for a 2nd one to be canceled already as well, but I can’t say I’ll miss this one.
Horrible, Horrible, Extremely Horrible. You replace Parks and Recreation with this racist crap. This show was was so horrible, it makes Raising Hope look like pure genius. It was so offensive to both Indians and Americans, and the future it will probably be offensive Australians within the next few weeks that will air episodes. Cancel It, NBC, PLEASE!