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NBC Fall 2010 Schedule, 'Outsourced' an early top pick

By April MacIntyre Jul 17, 2010, 23:28 GMT

Ben Roethlisberger - Hollywood, CA, USA © Chris Hatcher / PR Photos

NBC announced the new Fall 2010-11 primetime schedule. 

The schedule features the debuts of the network's new series - including "The Event," "Chase," "Undercovers," "Law & Order: Los Angeles," "Outsourced," "Outlaw" and "School Pride." 

The comedy "Outsourced" premiere was excellent, genuinely funny and SO not like a typical network sitcom; major props for this excellent effort.  The series taps into all the anxieties and nuances of American business sending customer service phone jobs to India.

"Outsourced" centers on the all-American company Mid America Novelties (think Lillian Vernon) that sells whoopee cushions, foam fingers and wallets made of bacon -- and whose call center has suddenly been outsourced to India.

Todd Dempsy (Ben Rappaport) is the new company's manager who learns that he's being transferred to India to run the operation.

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 series stars Rizwan Manji ("Privileged"), Sacha Dhawan (BBC's "Five Days II"), Rebecca Hazlewood (BBC's "Doctors"), Parvesh Cheena ("Help Me Help You"), and Anisha Nagarajan (Broadway's "Bombay Dreams") also star as members of Dempsy's off-shore team.  An exceptional comedic performance from Diedrich Bader in the prmeiere as another American "consultant" in India, and Jessica Gower additionally stars.

This schedule will be adjusted to accommodate specials and holiday programming.

In addition, NBC again launches the NFL season with NFL Kickoff on Thursday, September 9 at 8 p.m. ET when the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints host the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of last year's NFC Championship Game.  "Sunday Night Football" and "Football Night in America" officially debut on Sunday, September 12 when the Washington Redskins host the Dallas Cowboys in one of sports' most storied rivalries.

Following are the premiere dates for NBC's Fall 2010 primetime schedule (all times ET):

Monday, September 20
8-9 p.m.                       CHUCK
9-10 p.m.                     THE EVENT
10-11 p.m.                   CHASE

Tuesday, September 21
8-10 p.m.                     THE BIGGEST LOSER
10-11 p.m.                   PARENTHOOD

Wednesday, September 22
8-9 p.m.                       UNDERCOVERS
9-10 p.m.                     LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
10-11 p.m.                   LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES

Thursday, September 23
8-8:30 p.m.                  COMMUNITY
8:30-9 p.m.                  30 ROCK
9-9:30 p.m.                  THE OFFICE
9:30-10 p.m.                OUTSOURCED
10-11 p.m.                   THE APPRENTICE

Friday, September 24
8-9 p.m.                       SCHOOL PRIDE
9-10 p.m.                     DATELINE
10-11 p.m.                   OUTLAW

Saturday, September 25
8-9 p.m.                       LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES (Repeat)
9-10 p.m.                     CHASE  (Repeat)
10-11 p.m.                   LAW & ORDER: SVU (Repeat)

Thursday, September 9
8-11:30 p.m.                NFL KICKOFF - Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints

Sunday, September 12 (regular day and time)
7-8:15 p.m.                  FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA
8:15-11:30 p.m.           SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL - Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins