Arthur’s loyalty to the choir is tested this week on Perfect Harmony.
The regional choir competition is just around the corner on Perfect Harmony. Arthur is actually pleased with the choir’s progress. Now it’s time for the travel logistics. Ginny leads the charge on securing hotel accommodations. Finding the money to pay for said accommodations is more problematic.
Arthur suggests a “Hymn-A-Thon” fundraiser that he read about on a church choir blog. The choir members show up to church in their pajamas to sing through the night to raise funds for their trip to Regionals. Arthur arrives only to disappoint the choir by telling them he cannot stay for the event.
The man with the hat
Arthur’s Princeton colleague Tate Tippet (played by guest star John Ross Bowie) arrives in town for a visit. Tate shares the news of his promotion at Princeton. Arthur assumes this means his friend is there to offer him an opportunity to work at the university again. That is why Arthur backs out on the Hymn-A-Thon to entertain Tate at the bar. Arthur covers Tate’s bar tab and pulls strings to get Tate a spot on stage to play guitar.
The choir struggles to get donations during the fundraiser. They begin receiving requests for other kinds of performance. Some patrons want to hear Dwayne say their names in his baritone voice. Wayne’s dad challenges him to eat a ghost pepper in exchange for $5. The requests become stranger by the minute.
Meanwhile, Ginny is making calls to Brian at the hotel. She keeps negotiating for a lower rate. She even offers to endorse the hotel with song. As Ginny makes gains with her negotiating, the choir is getting discouraged with the low return on the fundraiser.
And we're off! How long until we hit $1,000? #PerfectHarmony pic.twitter.com/nhdhWIMgv4
— Perfect Harmony (@PerfectHarmony) January 17, 2020
Why are you really here?
Back at the bar, Tate reveals his true motive for coming to see Arthur. He is there to obtain Arthur’s signature on a document where Arthur apologizes for the chair throwing incident. The letter will also prevent the possibility of a lawsuit against Princeton.
Arthur begins to realize that he has let his true friends down by bailing on the Hymn-A-Thon. What he thought was an opportunity to step back into his old life turns out to be a selfish manipulation by Tate to secure his own job. Arthur resists but ultimately accepts his realization that Fork Conley is exactly where he belongs. The Second First Choir forgives their cranky choir director and welcomes him back with open arms.
Making it rain
Arthur suggests that the gang move the fundraiser over to the bar to solicit donations by performing on the “Pop’s Paddock” stage. The choir successfully meets their goal!
Everyone heads over to the diner to celebrate with lots of coffee while Ginny takes her morning shift. Just as Arthur confirms his decision to stay in Fork Conley, Ginny receives a phone call that may prompt her to leave. It’s Brian from the hotel asking her to consider a job as assistant manager at the hotel in Lexington. Ginny says she needs time to think about it.
Thanks for joining us again, folks! We're takin' it to Lexington next Thursday for our SEASON FINALE. You won't wanna miss this one! #PerfectHarmony pic.twitter.com/xAtguF2S4S
— Perfect Harmony (@PerfectHarmony) January 17, 2020
Side “notes”:
- Adams claims she will not sleep on the floor like “a dog” or “a Wayne”. Wayne receives so many insults, he does not even wait for Adams to claim no offense. He just goes ahead and says “None taken”.
- Karla performs a solo that is both “bright and beautiful”.
- When the choir is angry at Arthur for backing out on the Hymn-A-Thon, they begin criticizing his scarf habit as if he’s trying to be like Johnny Depp. Wayne says Arthur cannot “out-scarf Depp”.
- John Ross Bowie’s signature dry wit works perfectly in his portrayal of the narcissistic, snarky Tate Tippet. Bowie used the same wit in a much more friendly, self-deprecating way as Jimmy DiMeo on Speechless. Did you know that Perfect Harmony creator Leslie Wake Webster also worked on Speechless?
We are thrilled that Arthur is finally embracing his new home, but will Ginny really consider leaving? What would that mean for Cash and Wayne?
Let us not forget that the Regionals competition AND the Perfect Harmony season finale is right around the corner, too! Come back for more Perfect Harmony to see how things play out.
You can also revisit last week’s episode here.