"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

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Conyers, Georgia, USA

Company:

Fred Silverman Productions

Trivia:

The season after Howard E. Rollins Jr. left the cast, he did return for several guest appearances. However, Anne-Marie Johnson, who played Althea, didn't. Her absence was explained by having Althea leave Virgil because of her having emotional problems stemming not only from her rape, but the stress of her being married to a policeman.

Quotes:

Bill Gillespie: Yeah, the last time I caught you using my phone in here, the emergency was about some woman who was driving your car dressed in black lace underwear.
Bubba Skinner: I wish there was some things you'd forget Chief.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-07-08)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

In the Heat of the Night

Carroll O'Conner's last series was a good one!

Though most will forever remember O'Conner for his Emmy-winning turn as "Archie Bunker" in the classic "All in the Family," his last television role on the long-running "In the Heat of the Night" was still equally as memorable. Inspired by the Oscar-winning film, starring Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier, the show dealt with the police force of the mythical town of Sparta, Missisippi, headed by Chief Bill Gillespie with transplanted Philedelphian Virgil Tibbs, new and black to a force that was unprepared for such a high-ranking black. Though the first couple of episodes dealt with the adjustments that had to made with the new man on the force, the racial tension in the department was soon eliminated as both The Chief and Tibbs, along with other policemen (the superb Alan Artry as "Bubba," David Hart as the down-home, tea-drinking "Parker," Geoffrey Horne" and Hugh O'Conner as the young cops, "Sweet" and "Lonnie Jameson," respectively) came to respect and trust each other.

Many of the shows dealt with timely topics as A.I.D.S., spousal abuse, rape, and corrupt politicians. One of the series' most powerful episodes is "A Trip Upstate," wherein Chief Gillespie is asked to attend the execution of a criminal (guest star Paul Benjamin) that he caught years before. The riveting execution is quite detailed and the dialog-less performances by O'Conner and Benjamin are Emmy-worthy. The eye contact between the two actors is unbelievably intense. Whether one is pro or con on the topic of capital punishment, this particular installment should have some effect, one way or the other.