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 tried this show but it simply is not good. I don’t know what all the hype is about. In my apartment complex there are many Indians living living near me and i found out it is very hard living next to them, for reasons I wont bore anyone with. But that is neither here nor there. But what is so funny about a a depression and all the jobs going over seas to India? America is in really bad shape and they make a show and exploit it! And it isn’t even done with good humor.
I don’t understand the people that are so insulted by the title that they hate the show implicitly without watching a single episode . How can you hate something without having even seen it?
People are too uptight these days…. i like the show and the characters….. really good for only having aired three episodes….. cant wait to see more.
I find this show in poor taste as so many people including myself have lost their jobs to outsourcing. My job was outsourced to Inda and this not a laughing matter. I will not watch the show and will not watch NBC any longer.
Terrible idea and unfunny show. NBC continues to slide.
Outsourced is one of the funniest shows I have seen in years. The fact that people in the States were offended by it because of unemployment issues is even funnier. GROW A CHIN! OUTSOURCED ROCKS!
I don’t know why people make judgments about real outsourcing when this is just a TV show, its hilarious. I work for a help desk that has outsourced most of our employees to India. I even showed people in India this show, they think its hilarious as well as my friends who got fired from my current job because of outsourcing think this show is funny too. If they don’t keep the show its because of people who never gave it a chance and probably never watched it.
KEEP IT!!! The first thing I noticed about the show is that it makes fun of Americans, not Indians. I like that the product they chose was American novelties, and that the call center workers questioned “why do you need these things?” For those of you that are offended by this show considering our state of economy…..GET OVER IT!!! This show is the PERFECT remedy for our state of economy. There has to be some laughter amongst all of this sadness. And, keep in mind that most of the Indians that work in these call centers don’t come anywhere close… Read more »
This show is VERY funny, you can’t think of it as glorifying outsourcing jobs, it’s making fun of them!
How many of us have called India thinking we were talking to Joe Bob in Kentucky about our new computer? ALL of us! This is a spoof show that makes fun of that and shows why we should still keep jobs in the US. Because, as Outsourced makes plainly clear, India is great for curry, not so much for quality.
Keep it!
My previous job was just outsourced to India. My company saved a gazillion over selling another American taxpayer out down the road. I have mixed emotions about this show: 1) Yeah, keep it on the air…it’s TRUE reality TV: hard working tax paying Americans losing jobs to another country, or 2) Dump the show: corporate America thinks more of giving those in other countries jobs while their own people suffer…thanks for the slap in the face! Do what you gotta do TV Land. But quit thinking viewers will fall for anything.
I am upset about the state of economy and outsourcing jobs to other countries. So for the same reason, I think shows like “outsourced” would be very helpful. It will open the eyes of American people who are not realizing their jobs are being outsource by the same companies that we are giving tax breaks too. I am looking forward to see more episodes.
Try talking to a 3rd world nation about something going on here in the United States, they don’t understand and I don’t think its funny. Get rid of that stupid show!!!!!!
I thought the show was clever and refreshing. I worried about the content, before seeing the show, but did not find it offensive on any level. I hope they keep the show!
How is this an insult to “Americans”? Capitalism is worshipped here, and profit making comes above almost anything, so finding cheaper workers IS the American way, isn’t it?
I did not watch this show-but I was truly offended to hear about a show called “Outsource” -especially with the state of the economy. Why would NBC exectuive consider this entertaining? Oh, probably because they’re still working and receiving a paycheck. This is an insult to Americans!!!!
You’ve got to watch the show before making a comment like that. It’s more like a comedic look at cultural differences then it is about outsourcing jobs. I think they just needed a plot line to put an American in India before they could start with the rest of the antics. I’m sorry I just now heard about it and have only been able to see episode 3 and up from hulu. I’m also worried that they are progressing certain relationships too quickly because they think they might be canceled before season two. I can’t wait to see the next… Read more »