Outsourced TV Show

The Economic Times can rest now. The “Global Indian Takeover” is complete. American primetime television is bursting with Indians. There are more than a dozen Indian characters on evening television up from, mmmmm, we think zero five years ago.

And now there is the “Indian” TV show, “Outsourced.” It is made in America, by Americans (and some British Indians) for a global audience (American sitcoms make big bucks in foreign syndication rights.)

The big deal about Outsourced is that it’s not a big deal. The show, like any other, will succeed or fail on its ability to entertain. If it makes people laugh, then it will be richly rewarded. If it fails to entertain, then it will meet a quick death. Alessandra Stanley in the New York Times summed it up nicely: “The fact that it’s neither embarrassing nor deeply offensive — once it gets rolling, the show is actually quite charming — is a credit to the cast and the writers.”

The characters are earnest and well meaning. No one plays any of the characters in a way that offends sensibilities. There were reports that some Indian actors turned down roles because of fears of stereotyping. And there will be stereotyping but more of “The Office” sort than the racial.

For the show to succeed — and it seems the creators get this — the show will have to become “The Office” of outsourcing. Therefore, each character will have some of the stereotypical traits seen in an office. Such traits can already be seen in the first episode: the Indian manager will be a typical office climber, there’s a young Indian employee full of talent and promise who will face hardship and succeed. There are even several office romances blossoming.