<P> This episode was written by consulting producer Jon Vitti, his second writing credit of the series since joining the staff at the beginning of the seventh season . It was directed by series star Steve Carell, the third episode he has directed for the series . The episode marked Amy Ryan's last physical appearance on the series, although she did speak in "Goodbye, Michael". Ryan later said in an interview with New York that "The script was so sweet anyway that it made us all have a good cry" especially adding the fact that it was her final appearance . She also expressed her confidence that the series could survive without Carell and that it was the right move for him to leave . Vitti later submitted the episode for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, but it was not nominated . </P> <P> "Garage Sale" features several callbacks to previous episodes . Kevin's skills at poker were previously shown in "Casino Night". Michael's St. Pauli Girl sign was previously shown in "Dinner Party". Michael mentions when Toby left for Costa Rica from "Night Out". </P> <P> When Dwight trades his thumbtack for various objects, this is a reference to the One red paperclip blog, in which a man trades his red paper clip for an eventual house . </P> <P> In its original American broadcast, "Garage Sale" was viewed by an estimated 7.07 million viewers and received a 3.4 rating / 10% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49 . This means that it was seen by 3.4% of all 18 - to 49 - year - olds, and 10% of all 18 - to 49 - year - olds watching television at the time of the broadcast . This marked a slight rise in the ratings from the previous episode, "Todd Packer", which received series lows . The episode ranked second in its timeslot beating the Fox crime drama Bones, which was seen by 8.78 million households; and CBS coverage of NCAA basketball, which was seen by 6.82 million household; but it was defeated by the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, which was seen by an average 10.1 million households . </P>

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