In an article about the new movie, Marian Adolf, communications scientist and professor at FHWien der WKW, analyzes the humor behind “Stromberg” for RedaktionsNetzwerk Germany.
The Stromberg series – a spin-off of “The Office” – was a cult hit in the 2000s. Many still remember the arrogant, highly embarrassing department head Bernd Stromberg, played by Christoph Maria Herbst.
Now “Stromberg” is returning with a new movie (release: December 4, 2025). On this occasion, our media sociologist Marian Adolf, professor at the Department of Communication at FHWien der WKW, has taken a closer look at the series and its influential main character. For the article “The Return of the Unpleasant Boss” (published on November 30, 2025), Adolf was interviewed by Hannah Scheiwe from RedaktionsNetzwerk Germany.
At first glance, the return of a character who was politically incorrect already two decades ago seems surprising. Is it still funny? But the role, stylishly embodied by Christoph Maria Herbst, has an almost “enlightening” component. We observe how Stromberg repeatedly fails to live up to his own standards. In his quest for status, he looks down on those he perceives as weaker, only to ultimately fail due to his own craving for recognition. At the same time, he remains deeply human and vulnerable, opening up the possibility for us to reflect on our own social identity. It is precisely Stromberg’s political incorrectness that reveals how self-exposing sexism, racism, homophobia, discrimination, and ableism ultimately are. And so the voyeuristic humor of the series reminds us that, in the end, we are all just human beings.