I’m sure Janet, Perry and the band worked out the music in advance, given the arrangement. As for Mike and Elaine, I’ll bet they really were improvising.
WOW this is i credible!! 64 years ago,yes 64 years ago the BBC in the UK showed 2 seasons of the 'Perry Como Show' in 1962 on their one non commercial TV channel i.e without the KRAFT adverts. I recorded them all on my reel to reel 4track tape recorder, and I still have them! May & Nicols were unknown to me but I remembered their routines on the show and retold the clever piece about the doctor AND another where Nicols was attempted to get a flat in Washington at the time of Kennedys Inauguration It was very funny. 10years later I retold this sketch to a visiting American TV executive,over here to work on GRANADA TV in Manchester; she was anazed that I'd even heard of this amazingly talented couple who of course went on to much greater acclaim and success. May still with us at 90!!
How wonderful is this? My Mother Mary Florence had control of the only TV back in the late 50's and early 60's when I was less an than 10. Her favorite singers were Perry Como and Andy Williams; and their music was like forced breast milk to me. I still love Perry & Andy and the their great banter will the stars of the day mostly filmed LIVE with a studio audience.
I was too young to remember Perry Como's variety show, but I do remember watching Ed Sullivan's variety show. I have to say that Ed Sullivan's version of variety programming was a pale comparison largely because Ed never engaged with his guest stars in the personable way that Perry did. Leaving aside the fact that Ed didn't sing and never engaged in comedy repartee the way Perry did on the show.
