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“Michael Scott” meme: meaning, origin and common card

This meme features Michael Scott shaking hands with his former boss Ed Truck from The Office.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 8 min read
Michael Scott meme
The “Michael Scott” meme

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Michael Scott” is a common card of the Memes World series 70, number 20779 of the collection, and the 229th best-known meme of its 243 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “Michael Scott” meme mean?

The image exploits the contrast between Ed's proud smile and Michael's bewildered look to symbolize surprising validation. It is used when receiving a compliment by mistake, or to highlight the absurdity of being praised for something neutral or negative. It also illustrates excessive social effort or an awkward interaction where one participant seems more comfortable than the other.

Where does the “Michael Scott” meme come from?

The scene comes from the American series *The Office* (NBC), season 2, episode 14 titled "The Carpet", aired in the US on January 26, 2006. In this episode, Michael talks about his past meeting with Ed Truck; the show then displays a photograph of young Michael and Ed shaking hands. It is therefore an image extracted from a TV episode, not an autonomous video with documented author or publication date. The initial broadcast platform is NBC. The exact platform where the meme started circulating online is unknown. The image was revived on March 23, 2016, when Mindy Kaling posted a screenshot on Twitter mentioning Ken Howard as Ed Truck. A textual meme published on Reddit in August 2019 by user DooMguy99 is also documented.

  1. 2006Original episode broadcast on NBC.
  2. 2016Revival via a tweet by Mindy Kaling.

How to use the “Michael Scott” meme

  • Use this image to react to a compliment received by mistake or for a skill that is real but underestimated.
  • Employ it to illustrate a situation where you are praised for doing something neutral or useless.
  • Use it to show your embarrassment in the face of unjustified or excessive recognition.

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The “Michael Scott” card in MyMemeCards

Michael Scott card
NumberNo. 20779
RarityCommon
CollectionMemes World series 70
Fame50/100 · #229 of 243
Recycle value5 MemeCoins (15 in Shiny)
Suggested by@criminel_soyeux
Rarities of the Memes World series 70: 243 cards
  • Common197.8%
  • Rare197.8%
  • Epic19580%
  • Legendary62.5%
  • Mythic41.6%

How to get the “Michael Scott” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Michael Scott comes out of the Memes World series 70 as a common card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 5 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

Memes like “Michael Scott”

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Michael Scott Ed Truck meme mean?

It represents an unexpected congratulation or recognition received despite questionable competence, based on the contrast between the characters' expressions.

Where does the Michael Scott and Ed Truck photo come from?

It comes from The Office series, season 2, episode 14, during a discussion about a past meeting with a former employer.

Who plays Ed Truck in The Office?

The character of Ed Truck is portrayed by actor Ken Howard in the NBC series.

When did the Michael Scott Ed Truck meme become popular?

It gained notable popularity in March 2016 after a post by Mindy Kaling on Twitter.

How do I get the Michael Scott meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Michael Scott” is a common card of the Memes World series 70. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the Michael Scott card?

It is a Common card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: Michael's Carpet Surprise - The Office US | Young Michael ... · Michael Scott Ed Truck Memes · Micheal Scott Handshake Meme Template | templates.meme · checked on October 10, 2026.

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