<P> "The Carpet" was written by Paul Lieberstein, who portrays Toby Flenderson on the series, making it his third writing credit after the first season entry "Health Care" and the second - season episode "The Client". The episode was directed by Victor Nelli, Jr . The episode is the first and only to feature Howard as Ed Truck . However, the death of the character would serve as the main plot for the third season episode "Grief Counseling". Actress Kate Flannery later revealed that, for the old 80s picture of Michael and Ed, Carell had to wear a mullet wig . </P> <P> Before the episode aired, the cast and crew received news that the show would be renewed for a third season . Jenna Fischer (Pam) noted that "It is rare in this business to hear news of a pickup so early", but that NBC was very pleased with how well the show was doing . It had previously, and erroneously, been advertised that the show would finish its run at the end of March 2006 . Fischer explained that while the season would end--actually in May--the show would continue . </P> <P> The exact nature of the substance that is deposited on Michael's carpet is never explicitly made clear . Fischer only described it as "soft (...) smelly (and) brown". In fact, the circumstance in which the substance is viewed by the camera is still ambiguous; Television Without Pity reviewer M. Giant noted that the viewer only gets "the merest out - of - focus Blair Witch glimpse" of the substance . Fischer also noted that one of the more interesting aspects of the episode was the "you (the audience) finally see Pam and Roy getting along ." She explained that this was because Roy and Pam returned from "a romantic vacation in the Poconos ." </P> <P> Deleted scenes include: Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) believing that a higher power brought Michael to his desk, Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) and Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner) speculating on the culprit, Jim unable to handle Kelly's chattering, Jim eating lunch by himself in his car, Michael being unable to complete a sale, Michael stealing a crumpet from Dwight, Dwight and Angela having a secret conversation in the kitchen, and Jim asking Toby Flenderson (Lieberstein) how he handled Kelly's loquaciousness . </P>

What was the thing on the carpet in the office
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