May 13, 2011. NBC announced that it will yank Outsourced and replace it with a fantasy /mystery/crime drama series—Grim. Great! So instead of clutching my sides with laughter from the ridiculous antics of the American Novelties call center in Mumbai, India I will be clutching my pillow with fear, from the creatures that go bump in the night. I just don’t understand it. Thursdays were meant to be comedy night—if any one finds Grimm funny we might want to get them checked out. The Office has been thriving for 7 seasons and it seems to tell the same old story—office life with a group of morons. People just don’t recognize good entertainment when they see it.
Outsourced had ingeniously caricaturized the outsourcing process. By having the call center move from Kansas City to Mumbai, India the writers embraced the main issue with outsourcing –the culture shock for both the workers and for those sent over to either manage or train. The actual act of outsourcing was seen as the company wishing to “downsize”. In a manner that Todd after going to a class to take over as a manager is greeted with an empty office and a choice: manage the Indian call center or lose his job. We all know which of the two he chooses. Next thing we know he is halfway across the globe in a Mumbai taxi playing human Frogger. Todd gets a true culture shock as he gets to know his employees and other managers who had been sent over to Mumbai.
The Indian workers are portrayed as either on the “A team” or the “B team” according to the insensitive Charlie. The A team which are the highly educated Indian who have returned home. They dress in western clothing and are like walking encyclopedias on American customs and Culture. The B teams are the Indians who are new to American culture. They dress in the customary Indian fashion. The B team, at first, doesn’t really understand the products they are selling “Jingle Jugs” to “ the Mistletoe Belt Buckle” and “Cheese Hats”. I don't blame them for not understanding the meaning behind these novelty items. I barley understand them myself.
The customers are the stereotypical foreign image of America. They are dumb, easily charmed by foreign accents, loud, and of course with a southern drawl. In other words a idiots. The only true saving grace, and its not by much, is Todd. He at first comes off as an ignorant jerk when he either makes fun of Manmeet's name or says, “ I am going to have a steak and I don't care what dirty looks the cows give me” or calling the different Indian foods different colored goop. But he actually does have the resemblance of a heart as he helps Mameet save his job by having breakup with his telephone girlfriends while selling them novelty times.
It’s no surprise that this show didn't make it to its second season. Yeah it was any but it wasn't really sustainable because it had offended the majority of its viewers in one-way or another. I guess I will have to become accustomed to having sessions with a shrink for being scared out of my mind.
Thank you from all of us here at David Kai's Notebook and good night.
Michael, your voice in the first paragraph is great! You really express your opinion and I was able to connect with you as a writer. I think Outsourced was a great show. I like how you talk about the stereotypes between the Indians and Americans. They were good examples to support how the show may have offended viewers which I never took into consideration. Your blogged flowed well and I could tell you watched the show with a close eye. Good job!
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