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One Indian American’s look at NBC’s Outsourced

Do you love or hate the comedy set in a Mumbai call center? Here is one Indian American's opinion. It's not the Indian characters that need work, it's the non-Indians.

The cast of Outsourced

I didn’t know what to think about NBC’s Outsourced. A sitcom about a call center in Mumbai? And not a tech support call center but a call center for a novelties company that sells whoopee cushions, motorized humping dogs, and toilet mugs? Yeah, that doesn’t sound like a crappy half-hour of television.

Sure, we Indians are inherently comical with our head bobbing and funny accents and arranged marriages. It’s almost too easy to make fun of us; it’s so easy, it comes off as lazy. (Page 279 of the Comedy Survival Guide: “When you run out of jokes, do an Apu impression. Audience will laugh on cue.”)

I expected Outsourced to employ lazy humor like that, but it surprised me. Most Indian TV characters don’t resemble anyone I have ever met. They are often completely de-Indianized (think Kutner from House, Kate from Sanctuary, Malik from V) or constructed of cardboard (Raj from The Big Bang Theory). This isn’t necessarily bad, but I imagine these characters could be more interesting if they were written by people who knew something about the way Indians think, talk, and live.

Outsourced is refreshing because, even though many of the characters are over the top (as is to be expected in a comedy), they are recognizably Indian. If you tone them down, if you lower the Comedy Volume from eleven to maybe four, you’ll discover real, believable characters like Madhuri, the super shy girl with big eyes, who, turns out, knows how to drive a hard bargain and loves to sing (she reminds me a lot of Jayma Mays). See, I know girls like that! And Asha, the girl with perfect hair and stylish clothes, who is beautiful, smart, kind … and yeah, a tad snooty. I know girls like that. And there’s Gupta, the overly talkative goofball; Manmeet, the Romeo who wants to be all cool and Western like his American boss, Todd; Rajiv, the overly ambitious and arrogant assistant manager; even the Sikh dude (tall bearded guy in the turban, who stomps out of the room every time Todd makes an insensitive remark) — these characters display authentic Indian traits and attitudes, magnified under the lens of comedy.

If anything, I want to see better development of the white characters. Todd is a way-too-generic white guy, nice but culturally ignorant, enjoys football, sex, and teaching Indians about the worst qualities of American culture (such as the wearing of styrofoam cheese on one’s head — yeah, I had to work in a jab at Green Bay Packers fans, the lucky bastards). Tonya is the Aussie chick, who served originally as a foil for Asha, as Todd was attracted both to the sexually loose white girl and the conservative Indian girl; after Todd chooses Tonya, she gets a little more character development (but just a little — hopefully there will be more). And Charlie — the other American guy who gives Todd advice about adapting to life in India — he’s like a weird incarnation of the Great White Hunter: super strange and disturbing, but lovable.

Clearly, I like Outsourced – but is it just me? I asked the CliqueClack team what they thought about the show, and Brett is the only one who watches it regularly.

BRETT: I’ve found it hit and miss. A lot of the stuff with Todd and Charlie has been funny, and things have improved since they put Todd with Tonya. The Todd/Asha thing never felt like anyone was quite sure what they were doing with it, and the sooner her wedding happens the better. Madhuri has also had some good bits. If there’s one big drawback, a little Gupta goes a long way.

If anyone is curious, the first four Outsourced episodes (5.99m/2.9) following The Office are just ahead of the first four Parks & Rec episodes (5.49m/2.8) in the ratings. Looking at all 9:30 Outsourced episodes (5.32m/2.5), I would guess it will be a coin-flip between the two shows when all is said and done where ratings are concerned.

RUBY: Totally agree with you, especially regarding Todd/Tonya versus Todd/Asha. And Gupta … oh my. What I love about the show is that they get the little details right — the idiosyncracies of Indian culture and people. It doesn’t feel like a show written by non-Indians. I mean, there’s a huge difference between, say, a character like Raj Kuthrappali on The Big Bang Theory and Rajiv on Outsourced. Raj seems to represent what non-Indians find humorous about Indians. Rajiv may be cartoonish, but his character traits are so recognizably Indian — the blend of ambition and contempt for superiors veiled in obsequiousness. I don’t mind non-Indians poking fun at Indians, but at least do it intelligently. Any idiot can do a bad Apu accent, but it takes some insight into Indian culture to develop characters like Rajiv, Madhuri, and Asha.

BRETT: I should have mentioned Rajiv as well. They’ve done a good job with the ongoing gag of him trying to sabotage Todd. And a number of the exchanges between the two have been really funny. The recent bit with the V-day flowers was great.

KATIE: I saw one episode and was pretty bored. I’ve heard the movie it was based on was very clever and sweet, but I don’t think that translated into a series.

Well, there you have it. My take on Outsourced. What I really want to know is how you feel about the show. Vote in the poll, leave a comment, be heard.

Photo Credit: NBC

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11 Responses to “One Indian American’s look at NBC’s Outsourced”

February 16, 2011 at 2:22 PM

How about, “Seen it but didn’t care enough to make it a regular dvr thing…will catch it when there’s nothing else new on”…I thought it was funny enough just not worth trying to cram it in there with everything else I watch.

February 17, 2011 at 10:47 AM

That is the same choice I was looking for

February 16, 2011 at 2:38 PM

I was forced into watching like 10 episodes of it.

It’s just stupid and forgettable, but it could have been decent. The actors are surprisingly good, besides the fat stupid guy, he should be written off the show. The ratings are around 3.5 million viewers, the show is dead.

February 16, 2011 at 2:43 PM

But we all know Malik from V wasn’t really Indian.

She’s a Cylon.

Duh.

:P

February 16, 2011 at 5:02 PM

I knew you were going to say that. ;)

February 16, 2011 at 4:24 PM

I voted “Seen it and liked it,” but had there been a choice for “Seen it and am on the fence” that would’ve been my choice. I watch it when I have nothing else to watch, have seen all the episodes save for the most recent one, and I find about 1 in 4 episodes to be truly entertaining.

I have to sort of agree with Oreo in that I find many of the episodes to be stupid and forgettable. Also agree with him that this show has potential, but it’s too often missed. I had hoped by now the show would’ve found its footing, but it’s still pretty iffy.

Right now, if it got canceled I wouldn’t miss it, but I really want it to improve to the point that I look forward to each new episode.

February 16, 2011 at 5:02 PM

I won’t argue with anyone who thinks the show is “stupid” – obviously it’s full of juvenile humor, which I don’t particularly like. It’s certainly not one of the best comedies currently on TV, but it’s better than I expected and has improved over time. And they get so much right, but if you don’t know much about Indians, you can’t fully appreciate it.

February 19, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Ruby, I don’t think the show itself is “stupid,” but some episodes have been in the “stupid zone” IMHO. I have to say that I really liked the most recent episode if for nothing other than they really made Gupta a sympathetic character. It was an unexpected change of pace and I truly enjoyed it.

I’m glad to know that the characterizations are holding to some true standard. As a non-Indian I would never had any idea these people were anywhere near realistic if not for your review. I can see the show through new eyes knowing that.

I have to say, though, that I really can’t stand the character of Rajiv. I know most of the characters are over-the-top, but with his backstabbing personality I think he would be much funnier if he were more subtle. To me he just comes off as annoying, but he is the only character that I don’t like. The rest I enjoy to varying degrees depending on the episode. I guess my biggest complaint overall is the show is uneven and doesn’t give these people enough depth. The focus on Gupta this week was great and I welcome more of that. When we care about a character we can laugh both at and with them more.

February 20, 2011 at 12:06 PM

You probably get this already, Tom, but I should clarify for those that don’t: Gupta, Rajiv, and Manmeet are not realistic as is – they are caricatures of realistic Indian traits, exaggerated for the sake of comedy. Of those three, I find Rajiv the funniest because his character is such a great jab at some of our bad tendencies in the workplace (excessive competitiveness/ambition, contempt for superiors, etc.). It’s so interesting that you find Gupta more sympathetic, because I don’t – I find him to be the most annoying character even after the last episode.

This would make a fascinating focus group study (you’re welcome, grad school students).

February 20, 2011 at 2:44 PM

You,re right, I get that the characters are exaggerated for comedic purposes, just like most American characters are in other comedies. I can understand your reasoning behind why you find Rajiv the funniest and I wish I could relate to the character. In a small way I know how you feel because I’m 100% Cajun by both blood and heritage yet I have never seen a Cajun character in either TV or movies that is anywhere close to accurate. The accent, mannerisms and even the appearance is always way off, just like when I’m traveling and I find out that most people’s idea of Cajun food is something spicy. Not. Even. Close. So I suppose in a small way I can share your frustration at misunderstood cultural idiosyncracies.

Regarding Gupta, I only found him sympathetic in this most recent episode. Showing how he was asked to leave his home said a lot to me about why he behaves as he does. I saw a poor man who was probably starved for both attention and love most, or all, of his life. In order to compensate he became overly effusive and quick to cling to others as friends. For the first time, instead of being annoyed by him I felt sorry for this little guy who really never grew up because of his neglected childhood.

March 18, 2011 at 12:10 AM

Todd is supposed to be a generic wonder-bread-and-mayo white dude. Thus why he is from Kansas City, Missouri (or is is Kansas City, Kansas?) The point is, he’s supposed to be a rube from one of those rectangular tea-bagger states. Otherwise, he would likely know at least one Desi dude.

The Australian chick, on the other hand, brings nothing to the show. They should just do a Chuck Cunningham with her character.

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