When the scene began, many in the audience recognized the bedroom from The Bob Newhart Show and began laughing and applauding, but was that an instant reaction or had they been sitting in the audience looking at it for some time? Was it too dark to see the bedroom until filming started or was the audience waiting to applaud until they started filming? Does anybody have insight into this?

I'm not positive what was done in this case, but I know there is some sort of stage tool that exists which acts as a blockade and covers up revealing parts of the scene from the studio audience until the camera pulls out. I've read this was used a lot on "I Love Lucy" due to the visual comedy they employed so often.