In the Heat of the Night
1988
📺 8 Seasons
🎬 146 Episodes
📅 Ended
🌐 EN
⏱️ 60 min/episode
CrimeDrama
In the Heat of the Night is an American television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name starring Carroll O'Connor as the white police chief William Gillespie, and Howard Rollins as the African-American police detective Virgil Tibbs. It was broadcast on NBC from 1988 until 1992, and then on CBS until 1995. Its executive producers were Fred Silverman, Juanita Bartlett and Carroll O'Connor. TGG Direct released the first season of the series to DVD on August 28, 2012.
Where to Watch (US)
Stream
fuboTV
MGM+ Amazon Channel
MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel
YouTube TV
MGM Plus
Philo
Spectrum On Demand
Buy
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Seasons
Season 1
Virgil Tibbs returns to Sparta and joins the police force as chief of detectives.His arrival is met with resistance from police chief Bill Gillespie - who resents having an officer hired without his approval.Virgil has trouble adjusting to the small, antiquated police force.Tibbs' first case is a racially charged murder case that is soon complicated when the suspect is murdered in his cell.
Season 2
A copycat recreates a shocking unsolved murder from the past.Gillespie feels threatened after Ted Marcus suggests that Virgil should become the Chief.The situation becomes more tense after Virgil criticizes Parker and Bubba's actions.
Season 3
After being released by his captors, the chief discovers that his abduction is part of a plot to assassinate a visiting civil rights leader.
Season 4
Virgil goes to Philadelphia to investigate a friends death.And Bubba (reluctantly) fills in as Althea's Lamaze coach.
Season 5
Gillespie's old flame returns to Sparta to settle some business matters and see Bill. When she is murdered he travels to Gulfport and meets his daughter Lana for the first time.
Season 6
Big city crack dealers invade Sparta.Eugene witnesses the drive by shooting of a friend and his offer to help the police identify the shooters leaves Harriet frightened and angry at Bill.
Season 7
Chief Gillespie is fired by the city council and Sparta's new police chief Hampton Forbes arrives in town.Bill's last case with Sparta P.D. is a murder investigation in which a young boy has been implicated.
Season 8
In the Heat of the Night: A Matter of Justice is a film directed by Reza Badiyi released on Oct 21, 1994.
Related
Cast
User Reviews
I know, I know, it doesn't really hold a candle to the movie does it? They are sort of two entirely different beasts and this film... well, it has a lot more of a Hill Street Blues with minimal racial commentary in it than something you would expect from "In the heat of the Night."
But Carroll O'Connor sort of kicked butt in this. And you can see the change. If they held on to the racial tension that made the movie so good.... that would have gotten old and as preachy as MASH.
So they had to eventually form a bond, and when they did it just became a cop show, but a very good cop show.
So don't expect the movie, expect Hill Street Blues with better acting.
January 11, 2023
Crew
Producer
Carroll O'Connor, Fred Silverman
Network
NBC, CBS
Production
MGM Television, Fred Silverman Productions, JADDA Productions, Juanita Bartlett Production, Fred Silverman Company, MGM/UA Television
Keywords
police chiefpoliceracismpolice detective