The Campaign To Save NBC's Outsourced Ignites Racial Debate
Having moved from a city where political correctness barely exists (Sydney) to one where it was invented (Washington DC) qualifies me as something of an expert. The idea of the importance of being politically correct is good in principle ... because there are many things that people can unintentionally do to marginalize or demonstrate an ignorance for another culture or gender. Yet the downside of a culture where political correctness dominates conversations is that people are forced to demonstrate a fake indignity over certain things simply because they feel they are supposed to.
This week a campaign led by many South Asians and including people from many other cultures
has been leading the charge to save a comedy called Outsourced from being cancelled by NBC. It is about a call center based in India and the culturally shocking adventures of the one American who has been sent to India to manage it. Does the show make fun of India? Yes. Does it make fun of being American in India? Yes. As a result, there are many people who feel that the show is too politically incorrect.
The show is filmed in India and features a cast of nearly 100% actors of Indian origin. There was a time when if you asked anyone to name an Indian character on TV, the only name that would come up was Apu from The Simpsons. Recently there have been an influx of Indian actors in leading roles on Parks & Recreation, The Office, Scrubs, House, Heroes, Lost, ER and many more. A film set in India featuring an Indian story even won the Best Picture Academy Award in 2008.
So a show like Outsourced was perhaps inevitable as the next evolution - using an all Indian cast and putting a contentious social issue like outsourcing and the tension it causes between cultures front and center. The show is a comedy about the real life challenges of communicating across cultures - and that is the subject line for many of the episodes. As our world gets more global, this is a subject that we need to talk about and one that we need to laugh together about.
Outsourced is not politically incorrect toward Indians, it puts a spotlight on how funny and universal the idea of relating to someone from a different culture can be. The show is hilarious and this is a subject worth spotlighting through a primetime comedy.
If you agree, check out some of the links below and support the effort to save Outsourced:
NBC Outsourced Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/NBCOutsourced
Outsourced Twitter Account: http://www.twitter.com/OutsourcedNBC
Direct Email To Write A Letter Of Support: saveoutsourced@gmail.com
And a few video clips from the show:
- Say my name right! Madhuri clip
- Rizwan on Outsourced
- Parvesh Bollywood Clip
- Sasha on famous Dance Clip
Gee. I've never actually lived in a culture where "political correctness" "dominates conversations." I suspect nobody else has either.
"Political correctness" seems to me an invented concept, giving certain people on the political right something to always complain about, no matter how trivial, or even imaginary.
In terms of the imaginary, witness that the people who inform the world of the evils of "political correctness" don't agree on how it came to be or even where it developed.
The blog writer says it was born in Washington D.C. Others claim Lenin's Moscow. Or Willie Munzenberg's Frankfurt, Germany. Or Antonio Gramsci's Turin, Italy. What would be a large point of dispute in normal academia almost never pops up as an issue.
Posted by: M. Abelle | Thursday, May 05, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Thank you. this information was missing a lot.
Posted by: Bilgisayar Kursu | Thursday, May 05, 2011 at 04:09 PM
Thank you. entering this site I was very pleased.
Posted by: ingilizce kursu | Thursday, May 05, 2011 at 04:10 PM
It is filmed on NBC's back lot in Burbank CA
Posted by: Alex | Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 06:10 PM
it's ridiculous the way these execs cancel shows that people like outsourced was a good show very funny nbc should keep this show
Posted by: lolita humbert | Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 07:27 AM
this show is not racist its just funny not politically incorrect just makes us laugh if you wanna see racist or politically incorrect then i suggest south park which has been on tv for way too long nbc didnt even give outsourced a chance
Posted by: lolita humbert | Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 07:30 AM
HOW TO GET OUTSOURCED BACK!!! Got a Facebook? A Myspace? An Anything? Tell everyone you know to watch outsourced on Hulu. If they like it and want a second season, they will do the same. Next things next and 1,000,000 are knoking on the front door of NBC and they start the second season. Really, 5 minutes to post on your facebook wall "Watch Outsourced, love Outsourced, tell your freinds and SAVE OUTSOURCED!" wont be that hard. Please do this and help save a truly good comedy from dying.
Posted by: Jack | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Outsourced andRACISM? Please! Thats like M&M's without the chocolate.
Posted by: Bob | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 08:07 PM
This is a show worth keeping. Damn those at NBC who thought otherwise.
PS email NBC and complain, I did!
Posted by: Daniel | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 01:13 AM
This is the funniest show ever I watch outsourced every week help save this show nbc is losing their damb minds Big Big Big FAN SAVE OUTSOURCED
Posted by: Lisa | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 09:19 AM
I Love watching Outsourced. It's one of the best
Shows on television. We need a second season.
Posted by: lana | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 12:34 PM
This is a funny show!!! please don't cancel it!!!
Posted by: j | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 11:23 PM
outsourced was #2 on the ratings why did they cancel it? it was the best show on nbc..i think the execs at nbc are racist pigs this isnt right discrimination is a crime
Posted by: lolita humbert | Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 07:38 AM
you got to bring outsourced back it was the best show i ever saw, i bet hundreds of people watch it on Hulu the next morning so your'r getting a lot more viewers than you thought. WE NEED A SECOND SEASON WE NEED A ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: liquid | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 02:52 PM
bring outsourced back i don't care about any other show at all but i want outsourced back
Posted by: liquid | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 02:58 PM
post it on your Facebook if you want to get outsourced back
Posted by: liquid | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 03:05 PM
get it back NOW!!!
Posted by: your mom | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:17 PM
What the hell Todd???!!!
Posted by: tonya | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:20 PM
GET IT BACK NOW, anybody who has the power, use the power!!
Posted by: your mom | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:21 PM
NBC needs to get it through there heads that they should make a second season
Posted by: liquid | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:25 PM
Does N.B.C. stand for No Big Craniums? Thats what it seems to be. Any other suggestions on what N.B.C stands for?
Posted by: NBC?? | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:30 PM
i hate it when TV channels cancel there best shows, dont they care about popularity?!
Posted by: liquid | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:30 PM
we need more posts so pleas contribute outsourced fans! we need to get enough posts to make them to change there mind and realize the mistake they made.
Posted by: liquid | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:33 PM
Were sorry. We dont have the largest cranium in town, but we know enough to bring outsourced back. We need more comments and facebook clubs to finalize our decision.
Posted by: NBC themselves | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:34 PM
GOOOOOOO get it back. In aint racist, yaaawwl seen South Park? Thats racist. And you fellers think this show is racist. Talkin about countin chickens before they hatch. Am I right or am I right yaawwl?
Posted by: Buffy | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:41 PM
outsourced is not racist its funny and i think that most people can make there own choices not to use racist words in public using your frontal lobes, but on the TV/computer its fine
Posted by: liquid | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:42 PM
bring it back! more people love it than you guys think
Posted by: emma | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:45 PM
outsourced has been my hole life, my favorite show ever and now i dont know what else to do with myself :(
Posted by: amy | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:48 PM
dont take away the best show
Posted by: emma | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 04:52 PM
outsourced rules why would they ever take it away frum us?
Posted by: outsourced fan #1 | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Hi, Im Indian.This show is very correct and acurate and not racist. I hope NBC brings this show back becuase it is a pleasure for India to have it, not an insult.
Posted by: Divya | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 05:36 PM
OUTSOURCED RULES!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: outsourced fan #1 | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 06:16 PM
why you do this to me?? This show was the coolest thing since ice! IT MUST COME BACK!!!
Posted by: outsourced fan #1 | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 06:24 PM
i dont think that we should stop posting until we change there minds, tell every one you can to write a note to NBC!!
Posted by: outsourced fan #1 | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 09:53 PM
pleas bring outsourced back my friend told me about this blog and im trying to help, i love outsourced
Posted by: even | Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 07:30 PM
All i have to say is, i cant believe NBC canceled it best show
Posted by: lover of outsoursed | Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 07:31 PM
im going to show my friends outsourced and im sure they'l love it just like i did, im trying to get more help
Posted by: even | Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 07:34 PM
this is the best show ever. i almost cried when i herd it was canceled
Posted by: moisty | Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 07:35 PM
i didnt know about outsourced until my friend showed me and with less than one episode, i loved it and it became my favorite show ever,
Posted by: liquid | Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 01:53 PM
its at the best spot to start a new season
Posted by: liquid | Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 01:53 PM
One of the few shows I really enjoy! Great comedy & I love the beautiful Indian people! Please reconsider keeping Outsourced!!
Posted by: Laura | Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 08:04 PM