Stromberg is a German mockumentary comedy that aired on ProSieben from 2004 to 2012, following insurance manager Bernd Stromberg and his disastrous way with words. His mangled proverbs and self-satisfied sayings became the show's signature, quoted widely in Germany long after broadcast. Außen Merkel, innen Ferkel plays on Angela Merkel's sober public image for a quick rhyming joke about appearances. Clips of the line later circulated on soundboards and in fan edits, where it survives as a shorthand reaction for anyone who looks respectable but acts anything but.