In the Heat of the Night (TV series)

Premise

The series is a sequel to the 1967 film, whose events are said to have occurred a few years ago, though the show is set contemporaneously in the late 1980s–1990s. It became known for the chemistry between the two lead actors, its crime stories, and social commentary. Three major characters from the film were brought to the series: Virgil Tibbs, Chief Gillespie, and Courtney, renamed Parker. To justify Tibbs returning to Sparta, Mississippi, the series made him a Sparta native who moved away after high school, now married and acclimated to Northern life, seeing his hometown as backwards.

Gillespie, a World War II veteran, is a widower who lost his Italian war bride and infant son years before. In the pilot, Tibbs returns for his mother's funeral and is persuaded by Mayor James Findlay to stay as Chief of Detectives, ranking under Gillespie.

Gillespie is displeased, suspecting the hiring is part of an attempt to oust him. Findlay's motive is partly political: he wants to run for Congress, and hiring Tibbs to integrate the all-white police department would improve his civil rights record. Tibbs' appointment also aims to overcome the squad's reputation as racist, regressive, and underskilled.

Seasons overview

The first season was filmed on location in Hammond, Louisiana, selected by James Lee Barrett to represent Sparta, Mississippi. Eight episodes were produced: a two-hour pilot and six one-hour episodes. The series premiered on March 6, 1988, with the season finale on May 3. Conflicts arose between Juanita Bartlett and Carroll O'Connor over writing.

Bartlett initially allowed O'Connor to consult, but after the pilot she ordered scripts from writers, which O'Connor described as recycled material from other crime shows. He felt the writers imposed big-city stories on a small town and often rewrote scripts marked FINAL: NO REWRITES, angering production staff. O'Connor threatened to quit unless writing improved and Bartlett was replaced. Early episodes were gritty and raw, emphasizing grisly crimes rather than character lives.

First season ratings were good enough for a second season, which premiered on Sunday, December 4, 1988, due to a Writers Guild strike, then moved to Tuesdays. Season 2 introduced a new look, cast changes, and new executive producers Jeri Taylor and David Moessinger, with filming moved to Covington, Georgia, which remained the primary location for the series.

Locations

The television series, like the film, is set in a fictionalized Sparta, Mississippi. The TV Sparta is situated along Interstate 20 in Newton County, unlike the real Sparta in Chickasaw County. During the first season, Hammond, Louisiana was the production site. From the second season onward, production moved to Georgia, east of Atlanta, with downtown Covington, Georgia serving as the principal area of Sparta.

Rural scenes were filmed in Newton, Rockdale, Walton, Morgan, and Jasper counties. Decatur in DeKalb County stood in for Jackson, Mississippi, and Atlanta was used in one episode. Many cast members lived in the area and were seen in local restaurants and stores, and they visited local schools to speak to students.

Home media and syndication

TGG Direct released the first season on DVD in Region 1 on August 30, 2012, and the eighth and final season on June 11, 2013. On October 23, 2012, TGG Direct released an 8-disc best-of set titled In the Heat of the Night – 24hr Television Marathon. Seasons 4 and 5 were released on December 10, 2013, but due to licensing issues, episodes Brotherly Love, Shine On Sparta Moon, Sweet, Sweet Blues, Sanctuary, and Law On Trial are missing.

Seasons 2 and 3 were released in a single boxed set on March 11, 2014, with several episodes excluded due to clearance issues. Seasons 6 and 7 were released individually on March 11, 2014, with one episode excluded from Season 6 and five from Season 7. The series entered syndication in early 1996 on TNT and has remained in reruns since, gaining new viewers.

Did You Know?

• Carroll O'Connor won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1989, and is among few actors to have won Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in both comedy and drama categories.
• Howard Rollins earned the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his performance.
• The theme song for the television series was sung by Bill Champlin of the band Chicago.