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The beginning of the show (the part before theme song that has nothing to do with the episode’s storyline) was probably the funniest part of the show. Michael does the joke where it looks like you’re going down the stairs when you’re actually slowly crouching down. Yes, very old. But Dwight, like always, is easily amused and cracks up like a huge nerd.

So Ed Truck has died. You may remember him from “The Carpet” (2×14) where Michael asks Ed what to do about the “package” left in the office. Michael really didn’t seem to like him back then but the death of a regional manager makes Michael realize that he could die. At first, he thinks it was just old age but Creed clarifies this by letting he and Dwight know that Ed Truck was decapetated by a truck (haha!…ha).

One of the best lines of the show: “Wham! His capa is detated from his head!” Of course, since not many people in the office ever knew Ed Truck, Michael is very disappointed. One of his suggestions to remember Ed Truck is to make a life-size (make that “two-thirds” in case we need to kill it after we lose control of it) statue (make that “robot” since it would have light-up eyes and moving arms) with a six-foot extension cord in case it comes after us. It seems that he realizes that this is probably how everyone would react if he had died instead of Ed Truck. Even Dwight goes to his phone instead of consoling Michael…though later he seems very concerned when Michael learns of a dead bird in front of the building. I will get to that in a bit.

In Stamford, Karen searches for Herr’s chips before starting her work. Jim helps her by calling the Herr’s tater chip factories and distributors. What’s weird is that it’s pretty obvious that there are Herr’s chips in the vending machine that Karen is looking at. The whole second row (white, green, brown, gold) are Herr’s but they have been re-branded as “Hertz” chips. In case you haven’t heard of the Herr’s brand, it may be because it is regional and only found on the East coast.

Michael holds a grief counseling session (or game since it involves a ball) in the meeting room for people to discuss loved ones who have died. Michael talks about Ed Truck. Dwight talks about his “resorbed” twin when he was a fetus that now gives him the strength of a grown man and a little baby. Pam talks about her aunt who happens to have the same story as Million Dollar Baby. Ryan talks about his cousin, Mufasa, who happens to have the same story as The Lion King. Finally, Kevin ruins the game with his story about his Uncle Bernie dying and he and his best friend’s attempt to pretend that his uncle is still alive (Weekend at Bernie’s). I find it funny that Stanley has never participated in any of these games.

Toby, being the thorn in Michael’s side, tries to help Michael by talking about a bird that slammed into the glass at the front of the building. Of course, this only makes Michael try to save the bird by sticking it (and its germs/bacteria) into his ear to see if it’s alive.

Michael forces everyone to attend a bird funeral much like Dr. Huxtable in the episode where Rudy’s fish Lamont dies in The Cosby Show. I’m positive that Michael only wanted the funeral so that the people at the office would have one just like this if he were to die. Notice Kelly hugging Ryan (note his expression) in the above picture…lal.