"In the Heat of the Night" (1988) TV series 1988-1994

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Bernard McEveety

Writer:

Jordan Budde (writer) (one episode)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

6 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Mystery

Plot:

A crusty southern sherriff and his African American lieutenant and detective investigate crimes in their community.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Southern U.S. | Based On Film | Black Cop | Sergeant

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 9	11:00 AM	WGNAMER	December Days	#3.14
Mon. Nov. 9	12:00 PM	WGNAMER	A Loss of Innocence	#3.15

Cast

Carroll O'Connor	...	Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie / ... (145 episodes, 1988-1995)
Alan Autry	...	Capt. V.L. 'Bubba' Skinner / ... (145 episodes, 1988-1995)
David Hart	...	Officer Parker Williams / ... (145 episodes, 1988-1995)
Hugh O'Connor	...	Lt. Lonnie Jamison / ... (145 episodes, 1988-1995)
Howard E. Rollins Jr.	...	Chief of Detectives Virgil Tibbs / ... (121 episodes, 1988-1994)
Anne-Marie Johnson	...	Althea Tibbs (118 episodes, 1988-1993)
Geoffrey Thorne	...	Sgt. Wilson Sweet / ... (110 episodes, 1988-1993)
Crystal R. Fox	...	Officer Luann Corbin / ... (101 episodes, 1989-1995)
Dee Shaw	...	Cpl. Dee Shepard / ... (83 episodes, 1989-1995)
C.C. Taylor	...	Officer Charlie Peake / ... (79 episodes, 1989-1995)
Denise Nicholas	...	Harriet DeLong / ... (67 episodes, 1989-1995)
Randall Franks	...	Officer Randy Goode (64 episodes, 1988-1993)

Runtime:

60 min (150 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Conyers, Georgia, USA

Company:

Fred Silverman Productions

Trivia:

During the period when Howard E. Rollins Jr. was in rehab, Virgil was said to be in New Orleans working with the F.B.I.. Also, when Carroll O'Connor was recovering from heart surgery, his absence was explained by having him attend a police convention.

Quotes:

J.J. Jeffson: Well, you know what the Lord says: "Go forth and multiply, and fill the earth."
Bill Gillespie: But I don't think he meant for you to do that by yourself.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me, Oops He's Dead (#1.11)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

In the Heat of the Night

As good as the original.

ITHOTN is my second favorite hour long TV series( right behind the Rockford files 1974-80.) The first season,while well acted and produced isn't as good as season two and three. The episodes filmed in Hammond Louisiana recapture the atmosphere of the motion picture with its run down buildings and the racist behavior of " Bill Gillespie". The stories just don't measure up, with the exception of " Road Kill" One of the entire series best episodes!.The four Joe Don Baker episodes (while Carroll O' Connor was recuperating from heart surgery) are among my favorites. "15 forever " is unsettling in its depiction of teenagers killed by a drunk driver.( Spartas district attorney! ) " The pig woman of Sparta" is funny and atmospheric. "Lady bug,lady bug"is dark and brutal."Vengeance" and "Sparta Gold" are two of Alan Autrys best. Scott Brian Higgs is hilarious as the eccentric "Randy Calhoun", a recurring character on the show.Lois Nettleton is very good as Bill Gillespies love interest and her shady past is revealed in the excellent "Aka Kelly Kay". I was so impressed with the series that we traveled through Covington Georgia on our way to Florida a few years ago. We saw a lot of the filming locations and toured the ITHOTN/ Dukes of Hazzard museum. Carroll O' Connor was totally believable as "Bill Gillespie", Howard Rollins upstaged the entire cast, bringing more depth to the "Virgil Tibbs" character than Sidney Poitier did in the '67 film. Hugh O' Connor who obviously wasn't a trained actor,actually grew into his "Jameson" role and was good enough to carry several episodes by himself! The last season was wearing pretty thin but had a very good run with some truly memorable stories. RIP Carroll,Hugh and Howard.