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  • 1988
  • TV-14
  • NBC
  • 1988
  • TV-14
  • NBC
In the Heat of the Night

Summary Based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name, this series provided a hopeful, yet honest look at life in the new South. Set in the fictional Sparta, Mississippi, the show was a marvelous blend of heartfelt drama and folksy humor. It portrayed both the professional and personal pursuits of Sparta P.D's officers. Series star...

  • 1988
  • TV-14
  • NBC
  • 1988
  • TV-14
  • NBC

In the Heat of the Night

8 Seasons
Season 1 Premiere: Mar 6, 1988
Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 4 Critic Reviews
42
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 5 User Ratings
8.4
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary Based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name, this series provided a hopeful, yet honest look at life in the new South. Set in the fictional Sparta, Mississippi, the show was a marvelous blend of heartfelt drama and folksy humor. It portrayed both the professional and personal pursuits of Sparta P.D's officers. Series star...

Where to Watch

All Seasons

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8 Seasons

Top Cast

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Carroll O'Connor

Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie, Sheriff William O. 'Bill' Gillespie

Alan Autry

Capt. V.L. 'Bubba' Skinner, Lt. V.L. 'Bubba' Skinner, Sgt. V. L. 'Bubba' Skinner

David Hart

Officer Parker Williams, Cpl. Parker Williams, Sgt. Parker Williams

Hugh O'Connor

Lt. Lonnie Jamison, Sgt. Lonnie Jamison, Cpl. Lonnie Jamison

Howard E. Rollins Jr.

Chief of Detectives Virgil Tibbs, Attorney Virgil Tibbs

Anne-Marie Johnson

Althea Tibbs

Geoffrey Thorne

Sgt. Wilson Sweet, Cpl. Wilson Sweet, Officer Wilson Sweet

Crystal Fox

Officer LuAnn Corbin, Cpl. Luann Corbin, Officer Luann Corbin

C.C. Taylor

Officer Charlie Peake, Man at Meeting, Man in the Bottoms

Dee Shaw

Cpl. Dee Shepard, Officer Dee Shepard, Sgt. Dee Shepard

Randall Franks

Officer Randy Goode

Denise Nicholas

Harriet DeLong, Harriet DeLong Gillespie

Harvey E. Lee Jr.

Officer Ken Covey, Cpl. Ken Covey, Officer Covey

Mark Johnson

Officer Luke Everett, Cpl. Luke Everett

Dan Biggers

Dr. Frank Robb

Tonea Stewart

Aunt Etta Kibbey, Aunt Etta, Mrs. Gray

Wilbur Fitzgerald

Dist. Atty. Gerard Darnelle, D.A. Darnelle, D.A. Gerard Daniels, Newman

Carl Weathers

Chief Hampton Forbes, Inspector Hampton Forbes

Thom Gossom Jr.

Ted Marcus, Melvin Lemmon

Lois Nettleton

Joanne St. John

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 4 Critic Reviews
42
25% Positive
1 Review
50% Mixed
2 Reviews
25% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 4 Critic Reviews
42
25% Positive
1 Review
50% Mixed
2 Reviews
25% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Apr 22, 2014
Benefits incalculably from the presence of Carroll O'Connor and Howard Rollins in the lead roles -- a stubborn old Southern sheriff and the young black professional dispatched to assist him...[It is] pedestrian as murder mysteries go, but what sustains interest are the clashes and the growing camaraderie of the two men. [5 Mar 1988, p.B1]
By Tom Shales FULL REVIEW
40
Apr 22, 2014
What In the Heat of the Night may lack most, ultimately, is heat, the fundamental tension between Gillespie and Tibbs that would lift them onto some higher ground beyond the TV cliche of innocently bickering partners.
FULL REVIEW
40
Apr 22, 2014
Little more than a routine cop show with a racial overlay. The pornography- laced plot in the premiere is recycled stuff-you don't have to be a big- city detective to come up with the killer early on-and much of the dialogue lies as flat as a plate of week-old catfish. [4 Mar 1988, p.5C]
By Clifford Terry FULL REVIEW
10
Apr 22, 2014
In two unbearably long hours, the film says nothing that wasn't said first, or better, 21 years ago. And where the original had a palpable air of menace, a mood hot and sticky with fear, the TV sequel is as fast-moving as a stagnant pond. [4 Mar 1988, p.7]
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 5 User Ratings
8.4
80% Positive
4 Ratings
20% Mixed
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 5 User Ratings
8.4
80% Positive
4 Ratings
20% Mixed
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company:
  • Fred Silverman Productions
  • JADDA Productions
  • Juanita Bartlett Production
  • MGM Television
Initial Release Date: Mar 6, 1988
Number of seasons: 8 Seasons
Rating: TV-14
Genres:
All Details

Awards

Golden Globes, USA
• 7 Nominations
Image Awards (NAACP)
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations

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