I crack up everytime I see that part of the episode! Even when I think about it.

This episode doesn't get a lot of love on these boards, but it's one of my favorites. Watching Jim struggle to stay afloat during a day without Pam is just painful. Watching Michael realize that no one in the office thinks of him as a friend is equally painful. And the closing sequence is just so well done.

Also, some great Dwight moments -- check out his gleeful twisty dancing after he and Michael trash the Accounting department. It's not so much goofy as it is a little sweet, like a kid trying to be as cool as the older brother he adores. And look at the disgust on his face when Michael figures out that Packer was the culprit. Some really solid character moments for Dwight, who I think is written a little over the top a lot of the time.

It's just sad that Michael is so deluded in this ep. He thinks everyone loves him (usually), then he thinks everyone hates him (cuz of the package), and he thinks it could be done out of love or hate, and he almost, almost comes to the thought that "Maybe I'm not as popular or funny or loved as I thought" and then he finds out Packer did it, and it's funny/OK to him because Packer, his BFF, did it.

I wish he had listened to Ed Truck. I think Michael was probably one of the only people who didn;t like him. Everyone else probably just saw him as a boss, and a regular guy. Not "one of the guys", but just a guy. Michael probably puts Ed Truck on the same level as Toby.

Packer's call in to tell Michael he was behind the prank is priceless.

(phone rings) Michael: Yes? Packer: Hello, yes, I'm looking for a gay nerd named Michael Scott. Michael: Who is this? How did you get this number? Packer: Your mom, you gay nerd. Michael: Oh my god. Packster. Wacky Pack, how ya doin?

Thanks for resurrecting this thread no points, it's one of my favorites too.

"Total permeation"

"...an allergy to...the desk?" "Weird"

"It could be done out of hate, it could be done out of love, it could be completely neutral."

"Get yourself a monkey kidney"

"It was done out of love, just as I thought"

And of course the second best ending of all (so far):

"Sudoku..."

Suck on that, Halpert...

"...Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam, hold please...

I have a thing stuck in my shoe...

...interdepartmental conspiracy - everybody in the office. We need to talk."

Yep, those messages make me smile too. She is so dang cute.

Hello all...Long time Lurker, first time poster...

"The Carpet" is coming up this Thursday (hopefully!)...That is actually one of my favorite episodes specifically for the final scene where Pam leaves 7 voicemails (talk about stalker!) and it just makes Jim's day...I especially like the bit where Jim sits in his car (the voice-over one of Pam's messages -- "do you remember that word we made up when something is stuck in your shoe?")...The look on his face is, I think, the moment he realizes (1) he is in love with Pam and (2) more importantly, he is in real trouble...Think about it...He's "gone" all day after she has been gone all week...Probably got to the point where he talked himself into not caring about Pam in that way...Even managed to get distracted with someone else's love life (Kelly and Ryan)...Then, Pam leaves 7 messages...It is the best part of his day...And he's back to square 1...

isnt it basketball now?

I too think this is an under-rated episode.

I like when Michael and Creed are talking about Michael's old boss at Dunder Mifflin. Michael says something like, "My biggest fear is turning into my old boss." Good old Creed responds with, "You should have much bigger fears than that, Michael."

"Well, not literally. I guess being buried alive would be worse"

Going to bump this thread.

From comments I've read, this episode seems to be a lot of people's least favorite of the series. I have yet to understand why. I personally think this episode is beautifully executed and very well done.

This episode doesn't get a lot of love on these boards, but it's one of my favorites. Watching Jim struggle to stay afloat during a day without Pam is just painful. Watching Michael realize that no one in the office thinks of him as a friend is equally painful. And the closing sequence is just so well done.

This sums it up pretty well. I love how we see Jim so anxious for Pam to return from her trip, only to find out he won't see her all day. Him going into the bathroom to avoid his coworkers, not knowing where to eat lunch, and the awkward phone call to Brenda emphasized a pretty rotten day for him. But what really makes the episode come alive is of course, the ending segment. I'm sure he thought to himself, "Not a bad day".

The first thing Jim does is ask Pam if she did a lot of skiing on her vacation, and Pam says simply "a little". The awkward realization lasts just a fraction of a second, but it sets the tone for the whole day. And then the final scene totally rescues it.

I too love this episode. Pam's "no mm mm" when she smells the carpet, Ryan's giddy "I didn't do it," "Please Jim, please please please...", and then the vindication in the final scene. (Strange that the conventional wisdom is that everybody hates this episode, but all the comments are from people who love it.)

This is one of many episodes, such as "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" and "Michael's Birthday", about which I have no strong feelings in particular, other than maybe a couple of highlight moments. It doesn't rank among the too-much-Michael episodes ("Gay Witch Hunt", Phlylis's Wedding") or the not-sure-what-we're-doing-yet episodes ("Pilot", a couple from early this season). Just funny TV.

I think a lot of people don't like this episode cos they don't like to think about what Pam & Roy were up to in the Poconos if not skiing.

Last night I told my fiancee "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" and he just looked at me with a blank stare. I don't know why this quote from The Carpet makes me laugh everytime I hear it.

"I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today"... I don't know why this quote from The Carpet makes me laugh everytime I hear it.

That quote is a famous line from Wimpy, Popeye's friend in the cartoons. He was always trying to mooch a burger off of someone because he never had any money.

I just started watching this episode. I love how Pam goes, "nuh-uh, nuh-uh" when she goes in to smell the poop.

Question: Why would the warehouse guys be the ones who change out Michael's carpet?

Also, I think I could be a good closet engineer. I should look into that. I wonder how much they make.

Question: Why would the warehouse guys be the ones who change out Michael's carpet?

That's irritated me from the moment I saw this ep.

This one is so sad though. Jim eating in his car deleted scene and the sad unseen wave goodbye. Aww.

They are laborers: Michael would assume they can do any of that stuff, even if they take far longer than the team on Home Makeover. He is not collar-blind. Who else should do it, Kevin? Also, how else can Jim get all lonely and jealous of Pam and Roy?

Yeah, it is sad. It is so sweet though how those seven voicemails just make his whole day. It reminds me of Diversity Day in that sense. Man, he's got it bad.

By the way, I think this is in my top 5 episodes because of those voicemails. It's at least top 10.

By the way, I think this is in my top 5 episodes because of those voicemails. It's at least top 10.

It's in my top three, so suck it.

It reminds me of Diversity Day in that sense. Man, he's got it bad.

Yeah, just a few tidbits is all it takes to keep him going.

By the way, I think this is in my top 5 episodes because of those voicemails. It's at least top 10.

It's in my top three, so suck it.

That's kinda rude! ;-D

You know that's from The Fire, right?

Oh definitely. I was making a little joke, by pretending it wasn't a quote. Hence the emoticon.

It's in my top three, so suck it

Jesus, I'm quoting myself now. Anyway, I just wanted to say that that line was one of my all time favorites from Pam. It totally accelerated my girlcrush.