That was a good joke Howard pulled on us.
Given the situation at the time, it was very possible that he'd be yanked at any time. I also liked how Cross & Lopez tried to remain in control during the fart sounds. "Let's cue a song."
Lopez was swing shift and Cross was the program director, so it would seem very possible that those two were actually a "plan B" in case that situation ever was real.
I must have slept through it originally, so it was great to hear it on MTT.