"Outsourced" Debuts to Lukewarm Reviews
NEW YORK (CBS) "Outsourced," the comedy about a man from the Midwest who gets sent to run a call center in India, debuted as the newest part of NBC's popular Thursday night lineup.
The half-hour show received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom wondered if the show's punchlines were demeaning towards Indians.
Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen sarcastically suggested that the show "one day may evolve into a sharp, irreverent satire about consumerism and prejudice that doesn't punt to cheap jokes about Indian names, Indian accents, and Indian food," and said to "Call us when it gets there."
"Insensitive during this generation's Hard Times? Possibly. An excuse to mock Indian people and culture? Could be," wrote Erik Pedersen of The Hollywood Reporter, who noted that NBC took a risk on the show by putting it in the coveted post-"Office" time slot.
Others praised the show for its cheerfulness and take on today's economy.
The New York Times' Alessandra Stanley called the show "neither embarrassing nor deeply offensive" and added that "once it gets rolling, the show is actually quite charming."
Similarly, Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times called it "the mostly deftly realized sitcom of the new season."
Did you watch "Outsourced"? Is it a good addition to NBC's Thursday lineup? Cast your vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.