About this season
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.
Episodes (22)
1. Rape
8.0Aired 24 October 1989 • 48 min
After being released by his captors, the chief discovers that his abduction is part of a plot to assassinate a visiting civil rights leader.
2. Fairest of Them All
7.0Aired 31 October 1989 • 48 min
Virgil struggles to help Althea after she is raped by a fellow teacher.Darnell does not think they can get a conviction because the man's wife has given him an alibi.Virgil tries to control his anger - until the man returns to intimidate Althea.And Gillespie tries to convince the wife to tell the truth.
3. Murder Most Ancient
8.0Aired 7 November 1989 • 47 min
A beauty contest is marred by blackmail and the ambitious mother of a contestant.
4. First Girl
7.0Aired 14 November 1989 • 47 min
An unhappy wife asks her lover to place a bomb in her abusive husband's truck.
5. Crackdown
Aired 21 November 1989 • 48 min
Sparta P.D. gets it's first black policewoman.
6. Anniversary
Aired 28 November 1989 • 48 min
Someone is selling crack to teenagers and Sweet tries desperately to save a young addict.
7. Time of the Stranger
Aired 5 December 1989 • 47 min
After a private investigator searching for a missing child is found dead, the evidence points to a local dance teacher - a neighbor that Parker has become very fond of.
8. Vengeance
Aired 12 December 1989 • 47 min
An outlaw family seeks revenge against Bubba after he is forced to shoot one of them during a holdup.The chief wants him to stay out of sight until they are arrested - a suggestion that does not set well with Bubba.
9. My Name is Hank
Aired 19 December 1989 • 48 min
A young refugee claims to be the son of a Sparta cop who died in the war.But quickly becomes a suspect in a murder/robbery after he accepts a ride with the criminals who actually committed the crime.Gillespie looks into his story, while Virgil and the boys track down the shooter.Meanwhile, the young mans presence triggers a surprisingly bitter reaction from Parker, who views him as a painful reminder of the war.
10. King's Ransom
Aired 2 January 1990 • 48 min
The F.B.I. tries to talk an ex-boxer into testifying against a mobster he once worked for, but the fighter sees the situation as an opportunity for blackmail.
11. Epitaph for a Lady
Aired 16 January 1990 • 48 min
A long time friend of the Chief makes threats against a doctor he believes is responsible for his wife's death .When the doctor is killed he becomes the prime suspect.But Gillespie doubts his guilt - even after he confesses.
12. Triangle
Aired 23 January 1990 • 48 min
A man murders his wife and her lover after he catches them together,then flees to a remote cabin with his daughter who does not know what he has done.The chief and the boys hope to talk him into surrendering without resorting to violence.
13. Hello in There
Aired 30 January 1990 • 48 min
Bubba refuses to believe that a former teamate embezzled funds from the bank where he worked.And sets out to prove that his friend was framed and murdered.Harriet hopes that art therapy can help the man's traumatized son,who becomes a target himself when the killer realizes he witnessed the crime.
14. December Days
Aired 13 February 1990 • 47 min
The Sparta police investigate a suspicious death in a nursing home.
15. A Loss of Innocence
Aired 20 February 1990 • 48 min
Darnell plans on indicting a teenager for murder after her father is found in the basement and her mother turns up missing.But Gillespie and his men don't believe she is guilty.
16. Bubba's Baby
Aired 27 February 1990 • 47 min
Someone abandons a baby at Bubba's door.
17. Home is Where The Heart Is
Aired 6 March 1990 • 48 min
Maybelle the madam returns to Sparta with her "" nieces "".And sets up shop just out of Gillespie's jurisdiction.Her return is not without controversy and soon one of her most vocal critics is found murdered.
18. An Angry Woman
Aired 13 March 1990 • 48 min
First the mother,then the father of two young children are murdered.Althea takes responsibility for the children. The killings appear to be related to a shady trucking firm.
19. Indiscretions
Aired 20 March 1990 • 48 min
Althea does not realize that an old friend from Philly is hiding a dark secret, nor does Sweet who has fallen in love with the woman.
20. Night of the Killing
Aired 27 March 1990 • 48 min
Racial tensions run high when a white cabbie is murdered in the bottoms.
21. Citizen Trundel (1)
Aired 1 May 1990 • 47 min
Harriet's sister is murdered on the orders of the wealthy white man who fathered her child.
22. Citizen Trundel (2)
Aired 8 May 1990 • 47 min
Harriet's efforts to bring V.J. Trundel to trial are fruitless.The Chief does not believe they will ever get enough evidence to get an indictment,so he tries another method to bring Trundel to justice.