How could this possibly happen in a show that was scripted for weeks?

gee, could it be called 'reality' where things don't always follow the script?  It was live TV, Heatherkins.  If she'd fallen offstage, that wouldn't have followed the 'script' either.

How clueless do you have to be to think it's entirely impossible that either Janet or Justin or both thought up the stunt without talking to the guys that own the whole freaking network, much less the producers?

My gods, you had a script, therefore EVERYTHING that happens must be part of the script, and your idea!

If that's the quality of 'logical thinking' that our Congresscritters display, no wonder the country is such a mess.