I remember Gary saying that each row with chairs requires 7 feet and that the back row only has 4½ feet. Seems like putting a bar back there was the only solution. That said, I still love Howard busting on it.
I think Gary is ripe for a practical joke. Howard should call Gary into the studio to discuss something, meanwhile they should get someone to go into Gary's office and remove his chair and put a stool in its place. They shouldn't do it once...they should do it all the time, every time he has to go into the studio.
I'm sure it would make for a decent HTV segment at the very least.
It could be better, it's not perfect, but if I had the money, I would focus on the acoustics of that room. It's boxy and lots of reflective surfaces (looking at it, it looks like all reflective surfaces!)