I can see why the producer would freak out, if as I believe those were live broadcasts.
The tip-off for me to pre-recorded OTR shows in general is when they announce that it’s “transcribed.”
I think the transcribing as a matter of course was because of AFRS. Lots of shows were lost because if they were recorded at all, it was proof for advertisers that their spot(s) did run in the show, and are now held in private hands, at best.