What? OUTSOURCED is NBC’s new workplace comedy series centered around a catalog-based company, Mid America Novelties, that sells American novelty goods, including whoopee cushions, foam fingers and wallets made of bacon, and whose call center has suddenly been outsourced to India.

After recently completing Mid America Novelties’ manager training program, Todd Dempsy learns that the call center is being outsourced to India, and he is asked to move there to be the manager.  Having never ventured out of the country, he is unprepared for the culture shock. Overwhelmed, Todd discovers that his new staff needs a crash course in all things American if they are to understand the U.S. product line and ramp up sales from halfway around the world.  The sales team Todd inherits includes Gupta, a socially awkward employee, Manmeet, a young romantic who is enamored with America, Asha, a smart, striking woman who finds herself intrigued by Todd, Rajiv the assistant manager who wants Todd’s job and Madhuri , a wallflower who suffers from extreme shyness.  Todd also discovers other transplants working in his office building, including an American expatriate, Charlie Davies, who runs the All American Hunter call center, and Tonya, a beautiful Australian who runs the call center for Koala Air.

Who? Stars Ben Rappaport as Todd, Parvesh Cheena as Gupta, Sacha Dhawan as Manmeet, Rebecca Hazlewood as Asha, Rizwan Manji as Rajiv, Anisha Nagarajan as Madhuri, Diedrich Bader as Charlie, and Pippa Black as Tonya.  From Universal Media Studios, “Outsourced” is executive produced by showrunner Robert Borden (“The Drew Carey Show,” “George Lopez”) and director Ken Kwapis (“He’s Just Not That Into You,” “The Office”), who developed the project through his company, In Cahoots.  Victor Nelli, Jr. (“Ugly Betty”), Tom Gorai (“Outsourced” theatrical release) and David Skinner (“Outsourced” theatrical release) also serve as executive producers, and Alex Beattie serves as co-executive producer.

Where/When? NBC, 9:30/8:30c, Thursdays after THE OFFICE.

Why (Why Not)? If I had to pick a show for worst show of the year, this one takes the cake just very slightly over SHIT MY DAD SAYS.  I did not enjoy the show at all, and in fact found it offensive.  The jokes are cheap, there is no heart from what I can tell, and nothing about it makes me want to come back for even a second episode.  One plus if I have to?  Ben Rappaport is adorable enough.

How? Avoid it like the plague.