Anyone else watching "Outsourced?"

[JanMichael]

So far it's doing a pretty good job of making the US look pretty trashy.

[Brickbat]

1. It's not going to teach me anything I don't know, and I don't find the premise funny at all.

So, no.

[Ishoutandscream2]

3. With you on this.

I think the network really shows a lack of class in this one.

[hendo]

9. If you dont like a show, dont watch it n/t

[Ishoutandscream2]

15. Ah, that's what I'm doing

Watching the Rays and Yankees.

Oh, and secondly, please don't tell me what to do.

[hendo]

32. You are right, go ahead and watch something you hate

if that's what you want to do. It will just stress you out and make you an angry person.

Go Rays!

[Ishoutandscream2]

52. Did I fucking say that?

I didn't watch it, nor care to. You must be a Yankee fan.

[hendo]

57. Can't stand the Yankees actually n/t

[JanMichael]

16. no, they are right...total lack of class

Turn it on. How do you like the stereotypes so far? The superior whites? Including the Australian blond lady? The lower castes?

[hendo]

33. umm, they do have a caste system in India, and

even though it has been illegal to discriminate for quite a while now, it is still quite common.

[JanMichael]

34. ummmmm I know

We do in the US too. Note the difference in skin tones and hair colors of the non-Indians.

This show is racist, classist, and disgusting.

Offensive as hell.

[hendo]

40. I am unsure how accurately portraying the caste system is classist

You do have an argument when you say that jobs shouldn't be outsourced but that argument has been made for almost 30 years.

[merh]

64. that's exactly why I didn't watch it

I could tell from the commercials that it was racist/classist and would be disgusting.

How the hell it made it on television is beyond me.


:hi:

[JanMichael]

4. We didn't mean to watch it

We don't have cable...just the little box thing that picks up local channels....it came on...and we are probably not going to watch it again.

it won't last...it's garbage.

[704wipes]

14. +1 on not a funny premise - boycott the advertisers

a media corporation rubbing our faces in corporate outsourcing? ha.ha. not

Who are the advertisers? They should be BOYCOTTED.

[JanMichael]

19. so far, Cisco

I am watching....otherwise the advertising is just more crap that is going to be on the channel later...

Man, this is pathetic. Sad.

[hendo]

35. Hah, if you dont want to support Cisco for advertising on it

you must not realize that Cisco has outsourced 100% of their manufacturing. Heck, that's not right either, since Cisco doesn't actually make anything themselves. What i meant to say is that their contract manufacturers out source everything or at least most of it.

[JanMichael]

37. you know, you are really going out of your way

to talk this series up.. interesting.

It was nice to "meet you" online.

[hendo]

41. No, i just find some of the criticism to be a bit over the top.

As I said, I didn't find the show to be all that funny.

[hendo]

want to boycott computers while you are at it? nt

[KamaAina]

2. Is it like "The Office", only with Indian people?

'Cause that was the impression I got from the trailers. :boring:

[JanMichael]

7. no, it's stupider

This American twit trying to teach Indians about trashy American culture.

Kid you not.

There's even a lady in the "call center" who has been described as a "lower caste."

Best part? one of the guys "witty lines" was to describe Detroit as the land of "motors and blacks."

Kid you not.

[Ishoutandscream2]

12. Oh, shit, amazing!

It won't make it to November.

[JanMichael]

22. I hope not

this is some sick shit.

[KamaAina]

67. They actually used that line in one of the ads

looks like "Big Bang" for me.

[K8-EEE]

55. I LOVE THE OFFICE!!!

Don't like the premise of this one though cuz too many US offices were killed with outsourcing.....the subject matter seems a bit tonedeaf, nothing against Indian people that have the misfortune of working for outsourcing shitheel US companies...

[femmocrat]

5. I am, out of curiosity.

Jury is still out for me. It's not as awful as I expected, though.

[hendo]

6. Yeah, but its a blatant rip off of Mumbai Calling n/t

[JanMichael]

8. Never seen that...a movie?

looking it up now-

[hendo]

11. BBC tv show

It was far funnier than Outsourced is so far.

[TexasObserver]

28. No, it's based upon the film of the same name - Outsourced.

Which came out before Mumbai Calling. 2006 v. 2007

The show is based upon the film, which was excellent.

[hendo]

43. Interesting, i will have to check it out

Mumbai Calling was pretty good if you can find it anywhere.

[Riley18]

10. Nothing funny about outsourcing American jobs.

[Brickbat]

13. Damn straight.

[area51]

59. +1 n/t

[newspeak]

62. when I first saw the commercials for this show

I thought why do this, especially now, when so many people here have lost their jobs, especially to outsourcing? People are suffering and you're doing a so-called comedy about outsourcing American jobs? Maybe they should have made this an Indian show in India, because I could see them laughing more than us.

[theHandpuppet]

68. You got that right!

I was appalled that the network hadn't considered how there mere premise of this show was insulting and clueless.

[apocalypsehow]

17. Every time I find myself gazing a TV screen with content I don't like, I either change the channel

or turn the tube off with this little magic box that came with the set. Works every time. :thumbsup:

[hendo]

44. Its amazing how easy that is

Fortunately there are multiple baseball games on tonight. I am watching the Brewers whoop up on the Marlins!

[NeedleCast]

18. I Like It, Movie Was Better Though

Because, you know, I can step outside of politics long enough to enjoy a 30 minute sit-com.

[JanMichael]

20. how did you step outside politics to watch a sitcom about

stereotypes and the result of politics?

You must really be able to step out.

[hendo]

24. Life shouldn't always be taken so seriously

If you try to analyze sitcoms it will get you nowhere. They present stupid situations and attempt to make them humorous.

Arguably the ones that make us the most uncomfortable are the ones that are doing their jobs the best.

[JanMichael]

26. Sorry, we live in NC. I don't find loss of jobs in the US

and the trashy stereotypes of the "dark folks" in India humorous. At all.

How nice that you do. You are lucky. When you quit laughing, please come tour the empty factories here. Maybe you can go to a museum with some neat slave artifacts.

[hendo]

29. I actually didn't find it very funny

too many of the jokes fell flat. My Indian friend thought it was hilarious though.

[hendo]

46. Question..

the slave artifacts, was that a take on wage slaves? or actual slavery?

edit: and i have been to NC many times. Asheville is a lovely place.

[customerserviceguy]

50. It's about culture shock

It's the same premise as in the movie "Crocodile Dundee". The idea that an American company selling trashy novelty items that we all 'get' using people from another culture that don't understand our bathroom humor can be funny, if done right.

I liked it, and will watch it again next week.

[NeedleCast]

25. Yeah, I'm Pretty Awesome

[JanMichael]

27. I suppose

It's a pleasure to know that I'll probably never find out in person.

[TexasObserver]

21. Yes. It has been true to the theme of the film so far.

It's about companies in America outsourcing to India, laying off Americans, and sending Americans to India to run call centers.

It explores the way the humans on both ends are chattels for big companies, in both countries.

It addresses culture clash and reveals preconceived notions on both ends.

A show about outsourcing is not inherently offensive, any more than a show about prison is inherently pro crime. To discuss a subject is not to endorse it in principle.

Posters should try to think of this show as a window into India. Being bitter toward peons in other countries really misses the point. Hate the robber barons, not their serfs.

[hendo]

30. Hmm, perhaps Mumbai Calling was a rip off of the movie

I didn't know that it was previously a movie.

[TexasObserver]

39. Netflix has the film Outsourced on Instant Viewing.

I highly recommend the film. I encourage people to watch the film and judge it for what it says, not what they think it must say. Then do the same with the TV show.

So far, the TV show is true to the film, but it is too early to see how it will go. It looks like it will go for some cheaper laughs, as one might expect in a sit com showing in prime time. It certainly does not make the companies who outsource look good.

[derby378]

23. Nah - I'm about to perform stand-up comedy in a few minutes

The club has WiFi, for which I am thankful. Hopefully the routine won't suck too bad. :eyes:

[hendo]

31. Break a leg! nt

[JanMichael]

36. No shit? Kick ass then!

Stand-up is probably one of the most difficult professions left in this world. No joke - it takes a crazy wit, calm nerves, and a fast mind to do it.

Kick butt and make laughs! Plus educate too!

[hendo]

38. So, question. How much of your material do you get from here? ;) nt

[derby378]

42. Tonight? Maybe a smidgen

Most of it will probaby not be political - I'm still sorting through what I'm going to say under the lights. I've only got 2-3 minutes, so I'm trying to narrow it down.

[hendo]

45. Well, I am sure that you can mine quite a few things out of good ol' DU. ;)

edit: I myself am getting a kick out of this thread.

[hendo]

47. Out of curiosity, did you hate Better Off Ted too? n/t

[uncommon]

61. Better Off Ted does an excellent job of lampooning corporatocracy.

I love the show.

[hendo]

63. Indeed it does, or rather did. Unfortunatley Jan will never respond

because she did not like my responses in this thread last night. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to repost that question for me so that I can find out?

[uncommon]

65. Aw, was it cancelled? I was watching on Netflix.

[customerserviceguy]

48. Saw it, thought it was pretty funny.

Hey, we are trashy sometimes!

[HughBeaumont]

49. I wonder if they'll make a sitcom called "Foreclosure"?

[hendo]

51. Now that would be hilarious!

and I can't believe i need to put this in, but :sarcasm:

[txlibdem]

66. Yeah, it's funny as heck to laugh at the millions of Americans now out of work thanks to outsourcing

Ed Schultz rants that the "American Dream" is out of reach for most Americans. "What a great country!" -- Yakov Smirnoff

:sarcasm: <--- for the sarcasm / IQ impaired.

[uncommon]

70. He was right. It is.

[txlibdem]

72. You meant Ed Schultz, right?

Not Yakov Smirnoff...

[tilsammans]

53. Nope.

Premise seems bigoted and unfunny. It's Must-NOT-See TV for me.

[Dreamer Tatum]

54. Making a point to watch it.

Because it looks funny and I'm not a big, giant sourpuss who gets intimidated by a television show.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

56. I thought it skewered the American consumer well.

I caught the last few minutes and had to gasp when one of the ladies in the call center said "How would you like to pay for your vomit and your poo?".

They were selling fake vomit and fake poo. Showing how ridiculous the American consumer can be.

[Stevenmarc]

74. Exactly, it's more a show about American culture than it really is about outsourcing

If we can get a little less knee jerking here on DU one would see that the show skewers the Culture of the Mediocre that America has become.

It also explores the disconnect than our culture has with the rest of the world, for example, the other manager who sits in the cafeteria all by himself eating his shipped in peanut butter an jelly sandwiches because he has absolutely no interest in embracing the culture he has been thrust into.

Is it a great show, not really, but it certainly is an interesting poke at our culture.

[EnviroBat]

58. I tried to watch only a few minutes of it.

I found it annoying, canned, and stupid. Nice job NBC...

[uncommon]

60. I watched it last night - I thought it was funny.

And it wasn't pretending that outsourcing is good for Americans.

[DatManFromNawlins]

69. No, and I won't start either.

I'm not about to start watching propaganda for corporate America.

"Yes, we know they're taking your jobs, but look how funny they are!"

[Urban Prairie]

71. Profiting off the troubles of people who are suffering emotionally, physically, and/or financially

Seems like that is becoming the primary method of remaining steadily employed here in the US, as well as resorting to bald-faced lying in an attempt to profit from fear and bigotry as well. Some like Palin, Limbaugh, and Dreckkk are obviously doing exceptionally well from preying upon those who are especially ignorant, biased, and uninformed.

[Warren Stupidity]

73. awful nt