A mainstay of television programming has traditionally included the situational comedy. Over the last sixty years or so it is a safe bet that not a single TV season has gone by without a new sit-com added to the programming schedule. A corollary to that axiomatic statement is a television season has not passed that did not see at least one sit-com falling victim to the dreaded cancellation notice. Actually, in a sizable number of cases a season may see both the premier and final episodes. The sometimes brutal fact of life for those involved in the production of sit-coms is that many will not live to see their sophomore year. One of the latest causalities of this single season phenomenon was an offering from the often struggling NBC network, ‘Outsourced’. In many ways it had some potential, at least sufficient to warrant at least a shot at a second season if for no other reason than to see where the writer would go with the premise. After all it was the premise of this show that generated the modicum of interest that surrounded it. The title evokes a lot of powerful emotions with many in the dwindling American workforce; ‘Outsourced’. As members of American become too personally affected by the increase in unemployment many corporations are looking oversees to jobs once held domestically. There is naturally a great deal of resentment especially with those waiting in the unemployment office whose jobs have been shipped off to a country with less expensive labor. ‘Outsourced’ looks at the other side of this issue, particularly a group of people in India working for an American based company. The series was based on the cult hit comedy film by the same name and although it lacks much of the dry wit of the movie there was a lot going for the show. Considering the dubious quality of some of the series that survive ‘Outsourced’ certainly didn’t deserve its own unemployment. A standard formula used in the creation of a sit-com was brought to bear here; take an aspect of life familiar to a large segment of the audience and twist it in such a way as to make light of it. There is no debate that losing your job to someone thousands of miles away is a depressing fact of life for millions but this series handles it with levity blended with a heartfelt respect.

Todd Dempsy (Ben Rappaport) is a native son of Kansas City and never really gave much serious thought about employment opportunities abroad. That is until his job at the Mid America Novelties Company took an unexpected turn. He was to be promoted to manager in charge of their customer order call center. The he had to either accept to position of fond himself no longer employed. No sooner than he finishes his managerial training then word comes down from the executives that the center has been outsourced to India. Todd has to pack up and relocate his life half a world away. If he makes this call center successful his career with the company will be fair well established. He soon discovers that not only is he about to experience culture shock but his new staff is in for some changes of their own. Adding to this cultural divide is the nature of the company; novelty items that the Indian staff finds rude, crude and exceedingly offensive. Sexual and excretory prop humor may fly State side but in the more modestly inclined culture prevalent in India they are low class and odious.

Rajiv Gidwani (Rizwan Manji) is Todd’s second in command. He had hoped that the top managerial position would be his until Todd showed up. He is the typical mischief maker archetype; bent on making like difficult for Todd but not really maliciously so. All Rajiv wants is Todd out of the way; fired, demoted or promoted, it really doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is for Rajiv to get the job so he can be in the social and economic position to marry his fiancée. Manmeet (Sacha Dhawan) works at the call center which is a dream job for him. Manmeet is obsessed with all aspects of American culture and quickly offers to show Todd the local ropes. He works on romancing the female callers more than selling them novelties. Asha (Rebecca Hazlewood) is a pretty young woman torn between feelings for Todd and her obligations to her family. They are anxious to improve their social status through an arranged marriage. Madhuri (Anisha Nagarajan) is a painfully shy, traditional young woman whose voice can barely rise above a hush. As Todd discovers a pat on the back my be a sign of approval and encouragement here but in India touching an unmarried woman is tantamount to sexual harassment. Todd is also attracted to a young Australian woman Tonya (Pippa Black) who manages a call center for an Australian airline. Finally there is Charlie Davies (Diedrich Bader) who manages a call center for a hunting supply company. He befriends Todd and offers to explain how the situation works.

The comedy is refreshing in the way it always tried to take the high road. The cultural differences are not exploited for the quick, cheap laugh. The comedy is based on the circumstances involved with the perennial favorite trope of the stranger in a strange land. As Charlie points out the traditional caste system that defined Indian culture has been expanded to the workplace. The upper tier call center employees can emulate practically any regional American accent. These employees typically get jobs with the top notch American companies such as Microsoft or Apple. The less prepared staff tends to go with smaller companies and typically speak with noticeable Indian accidents. Even subjects that may seem very different in our society such as arranged marriages and prohibitions on any form of physical contact in public are treated tongue in cheek but always mindful of tolerance and respect. Social commentary is kept to a minimum. This is a sit-com not a platform for socially relevant rhetoric. There are some unavoidable references to the financial woes in both countries with comments about Todd having to relocate or Asha’s salary supporting her entire family. it’s a shame the series was not permitted an opportunity to develop further. It would have made for a strong contender in its field.