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In the Heat of the Night 1988

★ 7.6/10 · 68 votes CrimeDrama 8 seasons · 146 eps Ended
Community & Your Rating
★ 7.6/10
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Quick answer

What is In the Heat of the Night?

In the Heat of the Night is an American television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name. The series stars Carroll O'Connor as the white police chief William Gillespie, and Howard Rollins as the African-American police detective Virgil Tibbs.

Type
TV series
Year
1988
Status
Ended
Episodes
146
Runtime
60 minutes
First aired
Mar 6, 1988
Last aired
May 16, 1995
Original language
EN
Origin
US
Networks
NBC, CBS
Genres
Crime, Drama
Updated
Streaming Intelligence

Binge-Worthiness & Content Radar

85 /100 Highly Bingeable
⚡ Pacing & Momentum8.8/10
🧠 Narrative Depth9.1/10
🔄 Rewatch Potential7.7/10
🎬 Production Scale8.2/10
🎯 Bingeable Series #Crime #Drama
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Overview

In the Heat of the Night is an American television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name. The series stars 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 two major networks, initially on NBC and later on CBS. The series was executive produced by Fred Silverman, Juanita Bartlett, and Carroll O'Connor. The first season of the series was released to DVD by TGG Direct on August 28, 2012. The series is a police procedural crime drama that explores themes of law enforcement and community relations in a small Southern town.

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Should you watch it?

“A white police chief and an African-American detective solve crimes in this television drama series.”

Reasons to watch
  • strong lead performances
  • based on established source material
Keep in mind
  • lengthy production history across two networks

Watch it if you enjoy character-driven police procedurals adapted from classic literature and film.

The series explores themes of crime and social dynamics within a police procedural framework.

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Episode guide

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Filler vs. Essential Canon

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26%
74%
Mytharc (25): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (71): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
Season 1 · 8 episodes Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →
Season 2 · 22 episodes
Season 3 · 22 episodes
Season 4 · 22 episodes
Season 5 · 22 episodes
Verified insights

Frequently asked questions

Who stars in the series?

The series stars Carroll O'Connor as William Gillespie and Howard Rollins as Virgil Tibbs.

When did the series air?

The show was broadcast on NBC from 1988 until 1992 and on CBS from 1992 until 1995.

Is the series based on a book?

Yes, the television series is based on a novel and a motion picture of the same name.

Who were the executive producers?

The executive producers were Fred Silverman, Juanita Bartlett, and Carroll O'Connor.

Is the series available on DVD?

TGG Direct released the first season of the series to DVD on August 28, 2012.

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