Stromberg

I saw the UK Office first, and it was excellent. Then I saw the US Office, and it was fantastic. Then I eventually saw Stromberg, and Stromberg is as good as the other two. Herbst is so good as Stromberg, that he had me constantly cramping with the laughter/2nd hand embarrassment. The difference between his character, and Brent/Scott is that he's far more of a dick, and Herbst is phenomenal at portraying this. This series doesn't have English subtitles, purely because it's German through and through. To translate it wouldn't make sense half the time, at least in my opinion. Either way, this is one of my very favourite shows of all time, one that rewards many binge sessions. Don't forget to check out the movie, too!

This may be a ripoff of the original British comedy "The Office", but at least it's a very worthy one. In fact it's one of the best series ever to grace German small screens. Personally I am especially fond of the fact that all the characters are displayed as human, vulnerable, and yet utter bastards, constantly trying to get one over their fellow human being. Never before has stark realism been so entertaining.

However, I must admit that the fact that different instances of this series have been successful in the UK, the US and Germany chills me to the bone. It is unsettling to think that, across different continents and cultures, large parts of mankind are busy nicking boxes of toner from the office supplies cabinet, ogling their female desk-mates and mobbing their hapless, pudgy colleagues just to make themselves look better by comparison. It simply doesn't bode well for mankind.

Based on the extraordinary successful British original 'The Office', the first episodes of 'Stromberg' had a huge legacy to carry. Anyhow, the German adaption is a very good fit to the original. The main strength of the German version lies in its leading actor Christoph Maria Herbst, who plays the head of a department in an insurance, the counterpart of the role British comedian Ricky Gervais plays. Christoph Maria Herbst impersonates perfectly the German lazy, sexist and totally political incorrect office-worker, who is mostly hated but also commiserated by the viewers. I would even say he is a better fit to that role than Ricky Gervais, because he behaves, mimics and looks ( the bold head - perfect ! ) more like the typical office-worker, but maybe thats just my German-office-worker influenced view. The whole episodes are just like the original made up like a documentation, which means unsteady zooms and shots, less cuts and camera-angles and people who feel embarrassed to be filmed, which all together gives it the realistic appeal. I have seen only a few episodes of the British original, so I do not want to say 'Stromberg' is better, but if the original is better, 'Stromberg' is very close behind it. Everyone around Germany should look forward for the second season of 'Stromberg', coming in fall 2005, and I hope it will be more successful than the first, this show definitely deserves it.

Stromberg is definitely one of the best and funniest shows on German TV.

I have seen both, the British original and the US remake of The Office. Personally i prefer the US version of these two. Don't get me wrong i usually love British humor (Peep Show, Shameless, IT crowd for example are some of my favored shows) but i think the American series has a better 'flow' and the funnier boss character (Michael Scott is as hilarious as Bernd Stromberg).

The humor in the German Stromberg is also probably closer to the American version of the Office. The character of Bernd Stromberg is like a Michael Scott with a German attitude. Both actors are awesome.

A big plus of Stromberg is that it is not really a remake. It is a series for its own only roughly based on the original concept. It perfectly describes the typical German work environment, spiced up with a lot of satire off course.

You can really say that this is is just an Office Remake. But that would be something it has in common with many other shows. Mainly the US remake that has the same title. The original is the one with Ricky Gervais .. a role that he really inhabits ... and that seems to be a bit of his personality - maybe just the comedian in him. But he clearly doesn't seem to care what others think - so he will make fun of any- and everyone.

But back to this. Because you would do this injustice if you just compared it with the Original show. The very first season, takes a bit of time to get it on ... to really get going. But especially the second season really shoots for the stars. And Stromberg is being played geniusly by Herbst! What a role, what a performance. Now he is not really likeable and he says a lot of bad things ... and yet through all the moments we hate him or are annoyed by him, the acting and the "documentary" (reality tv) style enhance everything - and make him ... somewhat sympathetic.

Season 3 still holds up good, but it goes a bit in a downward spiral with season 4. Although it does change scenery a little bit - which is good ... it cannot sustain what was made before. At least not for an entire season. There are some brilliant moments and Herbst never lets off ... rather kind of gets better in his depiction - trying to be a "good" person! According to his own standards and own values.

I am on to watch the second season of Ricky Gervais Office ... and then I will have the US office ... which will be a bit of a drag I reckon ... so many seasons, so many episodes ... but more on that on the other side ... I mean site.