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Das Ist Was Sie Sagte!! German Version of THE OFFICE Transfers To Cinemas!!

Published at:  Aug 27, 2008 1:22:13 AM CDT

I am – Hercules!!


NBC’s “The Office” is based on the 14-episode BBC version, and so are versions of the series made in France, Chile, Canada and Germany.

The German version, “Stromberg,” following the adventures of Capitol-Versicherung AG regional manager Bernd Stromberg, assistant to the regional manager Berthold Heisterkamp, salesman Ulf Steinke and office girl Tanja Seifert, is so popular following its first three seasons they’re making a movie out of it.

Read all of the Hollywood Reporter’s story on the matter here.

Get this. The creators of "Stromberg" denied it was based on "The Office" until the BBC threatened to sue. Now Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are credited on every episode.








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    Readers Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:17:06 AM CDT

    First

    by the dum guy

    to not really care.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:19:29 AM CDT

    2nd

    by robertplant

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:21:56 AM CDT

    3rd

    by darfurftw

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:27:26 AM CDT

    Woah, a nazi joke on a German tv show.

    by filmz0mbie

    Didn't think that happened. Is this some kind of precedent?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:33:47 AM CDT

    WHO GIV ES A MUDA FUKIN FLYIN FUK!!!

    by darfurftw

    seriously slow news day

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:52:34 AM CDT

    Yo, great series!

    by luke_cage

    I'm an huge follower of Ricky Gervais' THE OFFICE an was plenty pissed hen I heard that there'll be a German version.

    I was hesitand at first but later I had to admit that STROMBERG is incredibly funny.

    The thing is, they didn't just copy paste the originasl series and made it German, the creators and actors found their own voice and adapted the original idea for "ZE GERMANS".

    Nevertheless I never understood why they did'nt credit the original series, that was bullshit.

    Word

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 1:33:14 AM CDT

    Eich bein ein rippoffen...

    by alonzo mosely

  • Aug 27, 2008 1:34:56 AM CDT

    surprised ..

    by caipirina

    I never got into either the british nor the US version of the Office ... and so far i have hated any German remake of anything ... but those 2 youtube clips were actually kinda funny !!! he he 'Roberta Blanca' the 'Schoko Crossie' :D

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:09:22 AM CDT

    Fucking Germans

    by rezourceman

    They'll never get over the war.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:31:42 AM CDT

    Ze Germans have no senz ov humor

    by v'shael

    Zey must steal one from ze British. Wiv zer boobies and zer ploppies and ze famous British toilet humor! Ja, Zat is ze joke! Vundebah!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:33:05 AM CDT

    Gah, fuck no!

    by derlanghaarige

    I hate Stromberg. But Christoph Maria Herbst, the guy who plays the lead, is one of Germanys greatest comedy actors!

    Reply to Talkback

  • and zen, it's HItLARIOUS!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:35:47 AM CDT

    RE: Stromberg and Hitler

    by derlanghaarige

    Here is Christoph Maria Herbst as a character named Alfons Hatler...
    http://tinyurl.com/6zp3ga

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:44:46 AM CDT

    Really, does every country have too...

    by roketopunch

    have a version of The Office? I can't wait for the South African version or the Chinese version.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:50:09 AM CDT

    Um Chile is in..

    by erykthebat

    South America.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:50:56 AM CDT

    Stromberg fucking rocks!

    by motoko kusanagi

    nuff said

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:57:54 AM CDT

    "...one of Germanys greatest comedy actors..."

    by kurutteru yatsu

    Don't Germans have to be funny first?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 3:12:19 AM CDT

    Germans are hilarious... SO LAUGH!!!!

    by the dum guy

    I'm telling you to laugh, NOW.But, seriously, isn't Hitler the perfect poster-boy for not letting immigrants into your' country?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 3:53:32 AM CDT

    WOW...

    by bruce leroy

    A german version of the office...and their making a movie out of it! Does a cat shit in my neighbors garden? I don't give a flying fuck.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 4:01:11 AM CDT

    We're German.

    by mastidon

    We don't know comedy, we know beer.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 4:11:39 AM CDT

    Ripped off or not...

    by roderich

    Stromberg is one of the funniest shows in germany hands down and Christoph Maria Herbst is a fantastic comedian.Regarding Hitler, who seems to fascinate so many talkbackers: There are Hitler-jokes in the show (Bernie heisterkamp smearing black ink under his nose accidently while leadin a very totally overblown and over-earnest investigation about a sex-graffiti in the toilet f.e.) and the show - although it is a parody itself - is itself already spoofed by german comedy-show SWITCH, where "Stromberg" changes to "Obersalzberg" (the Führerhauptquartier) and the lead character is Hitler himself. This spoof (different short spots between one and two minutes) is filmed on the Stromberg-stage, enhanced with swastikas, brown uniforms and a silly Goebbels who constantly pesters Hitler/Stromberg about forgotten war funds and the like!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 4:13:43 AM CDT

    the nazi joke i referred to

    by roderich

    is in the first youtube-movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 4:36:16 AM CDT

    Obersalzberg

    by nr1

    http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=qfvp-9EVKJc

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 4:46:05 AM CDT

    "My dog's got no nose."

    by tonagan

    "How does he smell?"

    "Awful!"
    (Don't mention the war.)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 4:49:25 AM CDT

    Canada?

    by holdthemellish

    Um, I live here and I haven't seen a Canadian version of The Office. We're too busy ripping off cop shows for 'Flashpoint'.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:05:58 AM CDT

    Sometimes the devil is a squirrel

    by al_shut

    Stromberg is ocasional very funny but sometimes I find the characters are too sad and pathetic to laugh about them.

    Recently I found Dr. Psycho to be in the same style (same creator) but much funnier

    And yes Germans can be funny.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:08:07 AM CDT

    now i didn't understand a word of that...

    by moseschrute

    but it's interesting to see a hitler joke on german TV...i always thought they didn't have a sense of humor about that stuff

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:19:03 AM CDT

    I'm German

    by wants vaders executor

    and I don't like Stromberg. But it's huge here.

    Regarding our sense of humor when it comes to Hitler etc., most Germans who weren't alive during the Third Reich have this sense of humor.


    Unfortunately our government and the usual political-correctness-police squads think it's neccesary to scream bloody hell when such humor occurs.


    So, we Germans would be even more relaxed in dealing with Hitler jokes, if the PC-idiots would shut up, thank you.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:20:13 AM CDT

    That's what she said, eh.

    by buffywrestling

    I don't recall a Canadian office either. Unless it is in development, which is entirely possible.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:34:37 AM CDT

    Canadian Office

    by chaosinabox

    According to a quick search at the repository of the world's knowledge (Wikipedia), the Canadian version of "The Office" was called "La Job" and was briefly on French television 2 years ago.

    Those darn Quebecois! They really do get everything!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:40:52 AM CDT

    Well, that explains that

    by buffywrestling

    I was kinds hoping it was in development because I was just thinking which Kids from the Hall I'd like to see on the show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:44:17 AM CDT

    Oh, and Germans CAN laugh about Hitler!

    by derlanghaarige

    The problem is just that people from other countries think it's funny to call every German a Nazi or suddenly scream "Heil Hitler, mein Führer" in public, when you tell them that you are German or think that if it's okay to laugh about Hitler, it's also okay to laugh about the millions of people who got killed during the holocaust.
    I also wonder what kids learn in school outside of Germany! Even my Girflfriend (a Canadian) asked me once if it's true that Hitler's Birthday is still an official holiday in Germany!
    Sometimes I seriously think that EVERYBODY ELSE takes this whole Nazi stuff more serious than the Germans do. Just look how long it took until someone mentioned Hitler in this talkback! (In fact: It even was before the talkback started, since Herc had no better idea to introduce Stromberg to everybody with a clip that includes a Hitler joke.)
    BTW: How many slavery jokes are on american TV and how many of these are NOT made by african american comedians? ;)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:59:27 AM CDT

    As for the original office,

    by joergn

  • Aug 27, 2008 6:01:10 AM CDT

    no subject

    by joergn

    heard it wasn´t that succesfull, and the producers wanted to cancel it after a couple of episodes. Guess every other version of this comedy is more succesfull that the UK´s.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 6:27:04 AM CDT

    Don't get NBC's version...

    by tvspace

    ... it's not funny.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 6:38:43 AM CDT

    German is such an ugly language...

    by banzai rootskibango

    ...that being said, this shit is hilarious!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 6:44:37 AM CDT

    DerLanghaarige

    by david cloverfield

    The reason we take Nazis more seriously than the Germans, because the Germans invaded our countries and massacred our people following the bastard. So of course "Hey, we followed that guy, isn't that craaazeeey!" wackiness works for Germans, but not for some nearby countries. I'm a Hungarian, who had a jewish grandma, who's family pretty much got turned into lamps. I still comfortable cracking jokes about the holocaust, nazis and Hitler. I'm not comfortable when Germans are laughing about it though. If your dad went insane and killed a few people around the neighborhood, would you make jokes about it the next town meeting?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 6:45:50 AM CDT

    It's a good point well made, DerLanghaarige

    by talkbacker with no name

    "How many slavery jokes are on american TV and how many of these are NOT made by african american comedians?"He's got you there, folks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 6:46:28 AM CDT

    Damn You Michael Bay

    by mcmlxxvi

    Damn You Michael Bay

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 6:49:29 AM CDT

    David Cloverfield, I think you are missing the point

    by talkbacker with no name

    It's not really so much about the content of the joke, but how it is meant and delivered. It's far more than just "A German walks into a bar and kills a jew". Wake up, son!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:07:05 AM CDT

    No name, I may be projecting

    by david cloverfield

    I have a German co-worker who's all to comfortable cracking jokes about Hitler and WW2 (not even counting the holocaust), when, if you think about it, many of those involved are still alive, and it pisses me off. (Especially since thanks to western aid, today Germany is an economic juggernaut, while we still have german bullets holes in our walls 60 years later.)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:12:01 AM CDT

    I wonder when the Iraqii Office starts

    by nabster

    It'll be pure comic gold, that is until US marines kill and rape a 14 year old girl.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:19:01 AM CDT

    David Cloverfield

    by derlanghaarige

    Dude, I understand your point. My family grew up in Germany but wasn't aryan, so I wouldn't be here if my grandparents' neighbours didn't decide to shut up when someone asked them. But that was more than a half century ago. And while I agree that jokes like "It's always funny until they start killing jews" are definitely NOT funny, I think that today we should deal with what happened in any possible way, which also includes making jokes. Why are only jewish comedians allowed to make fun of Hitler? They were the victims! Their families got killed in most gruesome ways and come up with "Springtime For Hitler" anyway? Sorry, but if they find a way to see horrible things not too serious, the people in Germany, who got absolutely nothing to do with the holocaust, except that they live more than 60 years later in the country where it all happened, should be allowed to do so too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:21:56 AM CDT

    So that's why you have a problem with it!?

    by talkbacker with no name

    Are we really still blaming people who live in germany for the crimes of hitler? come on!. It's plain to see it's not an attack on the people who have suffered but rather a way the german people are dealing with such a terrible historic event they were no part of (in the best possible way - humour) but seems they are still being blamed for as a nation by dumb twits in america and other places (namely my home of the UK). It's fucking ridiculous!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:22:09 AM CDT

    One less important thing:

    by derlanghaarige

    "Das ist was sie sagte." I never thought I would read good German on this site. Okay, we don't capitalize every word, but yes, it's correct.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:25:04 AM CDT

    What DerLanghaarige said

    by talkbacker with no name

    and Der, any chance of a translation of sorts of the office joke above please?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:27:45 AM CDT

    You can make a joke and still take things serious

    by romoehlio

    Some people in this TB make it sound like there are only 2 possibilities - either you are serious or you make a joke and thereby become a hack. Guess what, it`s possible to be and do both! For the rest i second everything that DerLanghaarige has said

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:34:10 AM CDT

    Der Langhaarige

    by wants vaders executor

    Completely agree with your points. For every Dave Chapelle who makes jokes about slavery in America and reparation costs to blacks (hilarious episode btw), there are at least 3 German comedians who do Hitler or something.


    @David Cloverfield:

    So you're mostly concerned about those who are still alive? As long as a joke does not mention specific people, I think victims (and perpetrators) must accept these jokes. Even if they make fun of something that has truly hurt and destroyed people.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:36:23 AM CDT

    Cloverfield

    by deviousmrblonde

    Nobody, NOBODY, takes Nazis more serious than the Germans. I would even go so far as to say anti-Nazi sentiment here is fanatical at times. In saying that however, get over yourself.

    The really funnny thing about all these posts is all the brutally bad jokes making fun of the German sense of humour. I think that's called irony.

    And Germans have a great dark sense of humour. That's why Monty Python

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:38:17 AM CDT

    Cloverfield (cont.)

    by deviousmrblonde

    (oops)

    is the most loved comedy here. You're just all hanging on to boring stereotypes. Sure, none of the Americans get irony either.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:38:41 AM CDT

    Romoehlio

    by wants vaders executor

    And now I second you! That's exactly what happens: On the one hand there is humor like Alfons Hatler (someone mentioned him here) and on the other hand there is serious stuff like Der Untergang. Or countless memorials and speeches. Germans, not even the young ones, are very aware that WWII was horrible and they were a big part of it, despite Hitler jokes on TV.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:40:25 AM CDT

    Oops

    by wants vaders executor

    Germans, even the young ones, ...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:41:39 AM CDT

    Totally agree, Devious

    by talkbacker with no name

    and speaking of irony - DeviousMrBlonde hehe

    Reply to Talkback

  • Hopefully not in that order.

    No wait! I meant, hopefully not at all! Geez, what was I thinking.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 7:49:13 AM CDT

    Now iz ze time on Sprockets ven ve laugh

    by 2for2true

    but not at zis....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:02:38 AM CDT

    That was cool how

    by kafka07

    they played The Office in reverse to make their voices sound all funny like that

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:17:25 AM CDT

    ricarleite

    by roderich

    They don't joke much in Stromberg, quite the contrary. Like in the office (i presume as i do not know it yet) the fun is ABOUT the office and its inhabitants. Stromberg f.e. is an absolute lazy, incompetent, pompous asshole, who also fails gloriously in most cases with his sad ploys...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:22:29 AM CDT

    sehr lustig

    by he-lo

    wie sich die englischsprachigen hier über deutschen humor auslassen und dabei nicht ein einziges wort deutsch verstehen. soviel zu vorurteilen...

    (there are no insults here. use google translation. not that the translation makes any sense)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:34:06 AM CDT

    quebec isnt part of canada

    by bouncy x

    well i mean it is according to maps and shit but most canadians disown them because they're fucking morons, and this is coming from a french speaking canadian. lol but yeah, im not shocked they did a french version, as unoriginal as canada is with its television, quebec are even worse. someone should turn that province into the world's biggest parking lot.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:34:30 AM CDT

    So every sitcom set in an office will be sued now?

    by hobocode

    This sucked, but come on.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:34:47 AM CDT

    btw: how come this is news-worthy?

    by romoehlio

    either it must be a REALLY slow news day or the Harry and Co think they have a HUGE german audience here...do they?

    DerLanghaarige is german, I am german, I think 2 more said they are in this TB - hallo? Wieviele sind wir denn?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:38:25 AM CDT

    @romoehlio

    by he-lo

    deutsche leser? einige denke ich. viele meiner bekannten schauen auch mehrmals am tag auf die seite.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:45:25 AM CDT

    @He-Lo

    by romoehlio

    Ich habe ehrlich gesagt (keine Ahnung warum) immer gedacht, daß nur wenige die Seite kennen. Na dann- Gut zu wissen das wir hier nicht Allein sind!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:45:56 AM CDT

    Kommt wir machen eine Durchzählung

    by wants vaders executor

    Allein schon um die Klischeevorstellungen unserer amerikanischen Talkbackfreunde zu befriedigen!

    1.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:47:42 AM CDT

    @Romoehlio

    by wants vaders executor

    Ich dachte auch hier gäbs kaum Deutsche. Ich finde ja das liegt daran dass es in Deutschland nicht wirklich eine filmfan-Kultur gibt. Oder wüsstest du irgendeine gute Seite, die in den Kommentaren derart lustige Sachen produziert wie AICN hier :-) ?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:48:03 AM CDT

    Zwei

    by romoehlio

    hearing germans count will surely make some people here freak...

    It`s just numbers, nothing to worry

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:49:48 AM CDT

    Mein schwanz ist gross!

    by hobocode

    I have to say as an American of German descent with somewhat strong ties to German culture and heritage (grandparents still speak it, father teaches it) that I too am getting a little tired of Germans being stereotyped as rigid and humorless, beer and sausage chugging anti-semitic Nazis with some kind of latent desire to try and take over the world. It's offensive and embarassing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:50:07 AM CDT

    @Wants Vader Executor

    by romoehlio

    Keine Seite ist witziger als AICN - da hat man Alles von idiotisch bis wirklich komisch (TFD!! und Damn you Michael Bay sind einfach Klassiker!) Da kommt keine Seite wirklich dran

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:54:49 AM CDT

    @deutsche

    by he-lo

    und jetzt starten wir auch noch eine invasion -- wie stereotyp...
    bei mir im freundeskreis gibt es schon eine ausgeprägte filmfan-kultur -- aber es stimmt, die besessenheit, ein jahr im voraus alles über einen film zu wissen, die ist hier selten. viele bekannte haben letzte woche zu mir gesagt "da kommt ja jetzt ein neuer batman, schon gehört?"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:54:57 AM CDT

    @HoboCode

    by wants vaders executor

    ... so we prove those stereotypes wrong, and instead of taking over the world we take over this talkback :-)


    Why so modest? we take over AICN :-)


    @Romoehlio:
    Eben. Eine deutsche Filmseite im Stil von AICN wäre DIE Marktlücke. Falls jemand Webdesignt, Berichterstatter wird man schon genügend finden denk ich...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:56:49 AM CDT

    Damn you Michael Bay sind einfach Klassiker!

    by talkbacker with no name

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:00:26 AM CDT

    @hobocode

    by he-lo

    You are so right. Those stereotypes piss me off too. We also drink wine!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:01:35 AM CDT

    "Sind das nicht coole Nachrichten"

    by romoehlio

    Ok, man bräuchte schon einen besseren Titel!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:09:49 AM CDT

    Wie wäre es mit

    by wants vaders executor

    "Coole Filmnews" - zu langweilig
    "WirliebenFilme" - hm.
    "VerrücktnachFilme" ohne Cameron Diaz, aber...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:12:05 AM CDT

    @romoehlio

    by he-lo

    es gibt doch diese 5 filmfreunde -- oder so ähnlich. aber man hat hier immer einen standortnachteil. pressevorführungen kommen lange nach den amerikanischen, testscreenings gibt es hier gar nicht... also könnte man nur die amerikanischen seiten abschreiben. deswegen lese ich auch nur us-seiten.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:13:40 AM CDT

    no subject

    by wants vaders executor

    "VerrücktnachFilm" noch besser
    "Filmverrückt" ...
    "FilmFreaks" ich frag mich wie lange Harry gebraucht hat bis er auf AICN gekommen ist??

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:16:51 AM CDT

    @He-Lo

    by romoehlio

    Richtig. Daher bleiben wir lieber hier :-) Und halten uns von nun an wieder im Hintergrund um Niemanden zu erschrecken!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:31:27 AM CDT

    DeviousMrBlonde

    by david cloverfield

    You're right, you Germans really have a superior sense of humor, that lesser men don't get, just let's hope you won't turn people with inferior sense of humor into lampshades. :D (I'm kidding, I have no beef with you, and I love each and every one of you guys.)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:39:21 AM CDT

    yea

    by gungan slayer

    I always like seeing different countries' versions of "The Office"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:43:29 AM CDT

    There`s no Canadian Office...

    by danielkurland

    I live in Canada and work in Canadian television and there is not one. There are tons of equatable programs like "The NewsRoom", but it's not like The Office aired, and then Canada quickly scrambled to make their own version. The US version speaks enough for us.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:44:28 AM CDT

    Schnittberichte.com

    by roderich

    ...ist so ein bisschen wie aintitcoolnews jedenfalls wenn man sich einige Kommentare anschaut.And for uns germans not having humour: We have! We just go into our basement to laugh, so it's not easy to catch us while doing so! It's an old order from 1933, never cancelled, so we have to obey ad infinitum!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:48:33 AM CDT

    Yes, there is a Canadian Office

    by inwosuxred

    it is French Canadian, and is not in English. I saw it while in Vancouver, and immediately recognized it as the Office just by seeing some of the people standing around.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 9:55:25 AM CDT

    Don't mention the war

    by lorquaine

  • Aug 27, 2008 10:14:47 AM CDT

    they should be forced to credit Seinfeld too

    by inwosuxred

    for the Mr. Pitt as Hitler gag.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 10:16:59 AM CDT

    Das ist ein hilarious clip....Niet!

    by pokadoo

    Das Office is Germany's top rated serious drama.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 10:22:38 AM CDT

    Only joking, Germs!

    by pokadoo

    I'm sure 'The Scottish Office' would be set in a Chip shop or a bookies!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 10:23:27 AM CDT

    BBC vs US, Canada, Deutchland, etc

    by dataset

    To the Wilco tee shirt and $120 jeans crowd that loves the BBC office and thinks that none other should exist: Yes the BBC Office is great. It's the great UK TV way to pack as much value into a small package as not to dilute the story and the comedy. Otherwise it would be a soap opera. Fawlty Towers, Black Books, Life on Mars, Coupling, Green Wing, Spaced, Worst Week of My Life, etc. all were planned as under three series. When the public wanted more, sometimes this was extended. But the results were almost always bad. Red Dwarf, for example. Even the holy grail of British comedy, Monty Python's Flying Circus fell apart after a while. AbFab even. And don't get me started on Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. The thing is, the concept of the office is what's great. The US Office makes me laugh as much as the UK version. Its format gives me more chances to laugh. The original is always great. But the great thing about the others is that they're new stories, all wrapped in that original concept. Office life is worldwide. We've seen comedies in bars, newspapers, TV shows, coffee houses, hospitals... But most of us work in offices. Sure, I love Pushing Daisies and 30 Rock, but when will I work in a pie shop or a TV studio? Comedy succeeds when it holds a mirror to the mundane, boring reality and reflects its absurdity. So to Office purists out there, do you just listen to Iggy Pop, Woody Guthrie, Faust, Suicide, Kraftwerk, Gil Scott-Heron and The Velvet Underground? You may love the originals, and I salute you for even knowing of them, but the copycats are pretty good too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 10:34:22 AM CDT

    Das ist nein Stackenblochen!

    by mikethespike

    I'm still waiting for my Stackenblochen movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 10:41:57 AM CDT

    no subject

    by mikethespike

    "La Job," from what I can tell, just translated the Gervais episodes, adding nothing original (well, aside from changing a few cultural references).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 10:58:48 AM CDT

    oh no.

    by alliejamison

    If they turn this into a movie they might just as well get Til Schweiger to direct it so it may have a good chance at becoming the worst film of the century. Stromberg has its share of truly funny and "original" scenes but it rarely exceeds the dull and boring atmosphere of watching people insult each other. Furthermore Christoph Maria Herbst's performance consists of two gestures and three intonations. I normally like his work but his performance as Stromberg is just dull and predictable.
    Also, the writers seem unable to create a compelling plot for the 20 minutes the show lasts. How the hell are they going to stretch all of this lacking potential into a feature film? Or does the feature have the potential to be better than the series?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 11:21:22 AM CDT

    Wat? No sense of humor?

    by fuxkinski

    Havn't you folks seen the guys and gals we voted into office the last 30 years? They are not in position to better our livinng conditions, no! They are simply there because we need those Pinheads to have something to laugh about!
    Angela Merkel - funny!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 11:26:24 AM CDT

    re: Stromberg

    by fuxkinski

    I really agree that this is not newsworthy - I have seen a couple of minutes here and there of "Stromberg" and I simply don't get it. If I want to see an asshole making funny I prefer my Louis de Funes any minute. Was?Och?Neeeien!.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:10:51 PM CDT

    I thought they weren't allowed to make nazi jokes

    by palooka_boy

    in Germany

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:19:17 PM CDT

    drei

    by al_shut

    or has somebody said that already?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:26:53 PM CDT

    Teutonic Pam is hot

    by tacom

    She's the blonde one right?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:37:18 PM CDT

    @Germans here

    by wants vaders executor

    Die Filmfreunde haben soeben AICN gechannelt.

    Ist ja wohl traurig, wenn man für die Meldung, dass eine deutsche TV-Serie zu einem deutschen Kinofilm gemacht wird, eine amerikanische Quelle hernehmen muss?!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:37:48 PM CDT

    ~~~GET READY FOR LEATHER BARS AND GOLDEN SHOWERS!~~~

    by the marquis de side 3

    they'll all shit and piss over one another in this while they're Aryan model lesbo girlfriends watch, right? sweeeet! =0)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:49:13 PM CDT

    Why all the hate for germany?

    by elmenzo

    Stromberg is actually much funnier than most american dumbass Adam Sandler or Eddie Murphy comedies movies with fart jokes and all that shit. And to Stromberg as a lousy ripoff of the british office ist plain stupid. What is the american Office then? I agree that this are not "cool news" at all. But why do we have to discuss the old prejudice of germans not having any humor? If this is the case, then that's just another proof that most americans are not able to think outside the box. And, by the way, the Berlin Wall fell already. It was David Hasselhoff who knocked it down.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 12:59:19 PM CDT

    CUZ WE'RE BADASS!

    by lorquaine

  • Aug 27, 2008 1:18:40 PM CDT

    Oh, and we Germans love The Bloodhound Gang!

    by derlanghaarige

    Some members even now live in Germany. But NOOOOOOOOOO everybody is just thinking "Hasselhoff".

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 1:20:34 PM CDT

    longhairs-filme.blog.de

    by derlanghaarige

    Since there have already other German websites been exchanged. Usually I don't do this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 2:56:48 PM CDT

    Germans love 'The Bloodhound Gang'...

    by infinite_probability

    ... they also love 'The Kelly Family' (who? what? exactly). joergn, you are wrong about the UK 'Office' being unsuccessful and in danger of cancellation, it was actually so sucessful that it got exported to other (and copied by) countries...? Perhaps you have confused it with Right Said Fred or 'Dinner For One'? These things are not so sucessful in the UK :-p. By far the weirdest aspect of this 'Stromberg' thing was sheer volume of defensive comments I read on a German blog on the subject of it being plagiarism/a respectful homage/a legitimate franchise. I was surprised to learn that not only could many 'Stromberg' fans not see how the shows were obviously based on the same idea and had similar humour, but also believed that the template could not have originated in the UK because the Germans had a more subtle and sophisticated sense of humour. Talk about your eye-openers! I'm not saying this is fair but... British people sort of take it for granted that the Germans know we are much better at comedy. Apparently not! Anyway, it's one thing to claim that 'Stromberg' was in no way influenced by the 'The Office' and it's something else to start claiming that 'Stromberg' (or German humour) is *better or cleverer* than 'The Office' (or British humour). I've watched 'Stromberg' (and I can understand it), I've watched 'The Office' (US) and I've watched 'The Office' (UK). And they are all funny and the humour is all coming from the same place. The success of 'Stromberg' (and the fact that it was passed off as wholly original for so long) just proves that even jokes you think are really parochial can travel well and make themselves at home. The British 'Office' has the benefit of having quit while it was ahead and will probably look better in the eyes of some for that reason alone.And 'Two Packets of Crisps...' never fell apart because it was never funny in the first place. Also 'Doctor Who' is completely appalling, why does everyone pretend it isn't?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 3:52:12 PM CDT

    Won't that just shed more light on the penises?

    by larry sellers

    Can anyone name other shows that have been just as widely adapted by other countries? I can't believe they tried to pass it off as original. Not bad though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 3:55:14 PM CDT

    re: newsworthiness

    by larry sellers

    Look at the top TB right now. Riddick? Slow news week. Let's start some rumors. Kelsey Grammar is signed to play Man-Bat in Batman 3.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 3:55:46 PM CDT

    will end in them invading another office

    by prossor

    wait and see

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 4:42:07 PM CDT

    @infinite_probality

    by joergn

    Damn, talk about Kelly Family, another dark chapter in the german history books for bad taste. But hell, at least you can´t see we ain´t funny. ;-) Sorry, I just heard the rumor about the UK office cancellation quite some time ago in the news, maybe it was bogus, made up by the german producers, defending their "original" idea?! Whatever, it´s what you make out of the premise that counts and as an big fan of english humour, i´ve got to watch some "Office" episodes asap. Cheers

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:28:31 PM CDT

    Even when understanding NOTHING, I laughed at that video.

    by royston lodge

    The flipboard gag was pretty dang funny.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:38:00 PM CDT

    white american trash

    by raideen 2000

    its ok, when every american thinks, that the germans are still non-humorous-nazi bastards.

    its the same here, where every european thinks that every american is a dumbass, white trash fat ass, without any cultural interests, except for the newest superhero movie, who still believes that the second world war is still continuing and that he isn´t able to find germany on the globe, even when it is coloured in blood red.

    no problem for me...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 5:47:06 PM CDT

    Stromberg > The Office

    by toby___wong

    The dude is seriously funny.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 27, 2008 8:29:21 PM CDT

    Is there a Polish version of The Office?

    by mr spork

    The German version will invade it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 28, 2008 12:38:59 AM CDT

    is this the version where everyone eats shit? Literally....

    by dannyglovers_dickblood

  • Aug 28, 2008 3:36:11 AM CDT

    ewww

    by holgi65

    the last word on US humour seems to be the list of the funniest films of the last 25 years on EW.com.
    Top: Ghostbusters, second National Lampoon's Vacation...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 28, 2008 4:14:12 AM CDT

    infinite_probability

    by he-lo

    Well, German people sort of take it for granted that the English know we are much better at football. You see the point?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 28, 2008 4:27:59 AM CDT

    Who the fuck is the Kelly Family?

    by derlanghaarige

  • Aug 28, 2008 5:52:16 AM CDT

    Denial

    by sackratte

    "Get this. The creators of "Stromberg" denied it was based on "The Office" until the BBC threatened to sue. Now Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are credited on every episode."

    ... and this is exactly what is wrong with Germany right now! The copy the fuck out of everything else but are not able to do new original ideas by themselfs. Every medium... 24 hours a day! WTF!???

    Of course they can't say they are copying... that would mean they have to face their real face and the loss of creativity over the last decades.

    Where is the "Land der Dichter und Denker" today? German kids are stupid as hell and the future of Germany looks bad as never before.

    Copy Copy Copy

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 28, 2008 1:38:49 PM CDT

    Right, Sackratte

    by soulreaver

    Festgefahrene Kackstrukturen und mafiöse Vetternwirtschaft plus Gier und Ideenlosigkeit...

    Aber vielleicht ändert sich das ja ein wenig nächstes Jahr... Man wird sehen.

    Grüße aus Berlin an alle Talkbacker!

    Sorry for posting in german, no insults included, except for thinking the german "film industry" is a heap of slimy, untalented dung (at least most of those putrid suckups). You see, nothing but the truth.

    Nevertheless I have to admit that Stromberg is the best TV show in years to hit the german screens, but I don't think it really is stuff for the big screen.

    Oh... and by the way: DAMN YOU MICHAEL BAY!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 28, 2008 2:42:06 PM CDT

    How about a source?

    by jim panse

    I'm from germany, and I have to laugh about all the comments of people about our past and present. Let's face it, how many of you suckups have ever been to germany? That's what I thought. And better yet let's not talk about the pasts of our countries. Slavery, Indians? Ring a bell?
    As for the the part of the news, about how the producers didn't say it based on the BBC show. Yo Herc, as much as I appreciate what you write on Aintitcool, but wtf? Where is the source? Stromberg is licensed by the BBC, how should they deny it? Get your facts straight. If you want to critcize anything, than could have picked "Curb your Enthusiasm", which was kinda stolen and remaked as "Pastewka" (name of a german comedian), and the collected several Awards for "their" great idea...
    cheers.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Aug 28, 2008 5:44:41 PM CDT

    waiting for Japanese, Italian, and Russian Office

    by prossor

    then the circle will be complete. The Japan, Italian, Germany team up and fight the American, UK and Russian offices! battle of the century

    Reply to Talkback

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