Comments on: Humor is Not A Foreign Country

By: Yoga Fire

Yoga Fire — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:10:46 +0000

Who tunes out “The Wire?” Can you introduce me to them? Because damn near everyone I know is always like “OMG YOGA HAVE YOU SEEN THE WIRE? YOU SHOULD SEE THE WIRE! THE WIRE IS AWESOME! DID YOU WATCH THE WIRE YET BETWEEN NOW AND 20 MINUTES AGO WHEN I LAST ASKED YOU IF YOU’VE SEEN THE WIRE!?”

By: Maitri

Maitri — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:05:28 +0000

Most Americans get very confused and insecure when confronted with America's social and political complexity and tune out. We have seen this quite a bit in The Wire and Treme.

By: bob the

bob the — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:55:45 +0000

There was a south asian-centric soap opera attempted in Canada, called ’49 & Main’, set in Vancouver. I think it was trying to be like ‘Coronation Street’, but don’t think it was that successful, and it looks pretty bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9BeR9rqO5k

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:07:06 +0000

From the North to the South, village to the city, Muslims to Hindus, India is far to diverse to be properly represented by a single sitcom

Agreed, that's why it would be smarter to focus on the diaspora and their daily life and to introduce (very slowly) "real" India; humorously or not. Most Americans get very confused and insecure when confronted with India's social and political complexity and tune out

[Actually, the story of a desi family plunked in Nowhere, Texas (or Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, etc.) sounds like a fantastic start.]

By: KXB

KXB — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:39:46 +0000

I don't think getting into the idea that a Sindhi actor must play a Sindhi character, a Punjabi must play a Punjabi character is worth it. That is the same sort of nonsense that Latino actors have to deal with - Jennifer Lopez was criticized for playing Selena, who was of Mexican descent.

Staying on the topic of well-developed Indian characters on television, I'm impressed with what the producers and writers of the CBS show "Rules of Engagement" have done with the character of Timmy, played by Adhir Kalyan. They went from making him a recurring character to a main member of the cast. Instead of just being the long-suffering assistant to David Spade, he has had a number of romances. Last season it was with an Indian woman, played by Nazneen Contractor. This season his character is dating a white co-worker played by Taryn Southern. The show as a whole is still just a B, weakened by the un-interesting engaged couple. But it is an example of how an unimpressive show, when given time, can become something a bit more watchable.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 07:37:59 +0000

I saw the movie this show was based on and thought it (the movie) was sort of sweet and funny enough. I certainly didn't feel like my time had been wasted--it even had the creepy guy (but in Outsourced (the film) he's adorable) from Jab We Met...you know, the one who harasses Bebo in the train station. Sweet little movie.

Then I saw the ads for the tv show and was horrified. Didn't bother watching at all.

By: Jayesh

Jayesh — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 06:44:30 +0000

IMO, in Outsourced, the Americans look much worse than the Indians. The guy who sits by himself and eats PBJs is a classic take on foriegners who live in their bubble. Are we suppossed to believe that Americans would be surprised to know that Indian food is spicy. There's Indian food wherever you turn. The Manmeet joke, OMG! the guy looked like an ass for making the joke. Indians, OTH, look like people who just want to do their job

I agree though. Outsourced wasn't funny.

Besides, how come the etnicities of the actors don;t match the characters?! THe boss, Gidwani doesn;t look Sindhi. Manmeet doesn;t look Punjabi. Asha and Gupta are generic enough names, so I guess they pass. However Asha looks Parsi to me

By: John Jacobi

John Jacobi — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:35:59 +0000

Dear sks : what is this negative stereotype in this sitcom that you speak of?

By: Allytude

Allytude — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:23:22 +0000

Lets see humor involving desis. FLAVORS, the film (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavors_(2004_film)). Humor AND likable characters. make that into a sitcom

By: sandheepks

sandheepks — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:37:46 +0000

As a minority group, characters from shows like this serve as a proxy ambassador for our community. I was born and raised in NoWhere, TX and for many of the people I knew (adults included), I was their only connection to India outside of Apu.

From the North to the South, village to the city, Muslims to Hindus, India is far to diverse to be properly represented by a single sitcom, much less than by a sitcom that seems to aim to capitalize on negative stereotypes. Not looking forward to running into the average Joe who thinks that this show is in any way reflective of who I am.