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. A Small War (1)
Aired 28 October 1992 • 60 min
Big city crack dealers invade Sparta.Eugene witnesses the drive by shooting of a friend and his offer to help the police identify the shooters leaves Harriet frightened and angry at Bill.
2. A Small War (2)
Aired 4 November 1992 • 60 min
The police wage war against the big city drug dealers who have moved into Sparta.Eugene identifies the men who murdered his friend.And Bubba is teamed with and intrigued by a lady police lieutenant from Jackson.
3. Brother's Keeper
Aired 11 November 1992 • 60 min
Louann's ne'er-do-well brother returns home after being paroled.
4. A Frenzied Affair
Aired 18 November 1992 • 60 min
Althea places herself in harms way trying to help one of her students, a disturbed and violent young man; after he is implicated in a murder case.
5. Discovery
Aired 18 November 1992 • 60 min
Althea has trouble dealing with the violent death of a student.Young Megan Fowler quickly finds herself yet another dangerous boyfriend and they are soon wanted by the police.
6. Random's Child
Aired 25 November 1992 • 60 min
Lana Gillespie comes to Sparta to claim her inheritance,but is stalked by a mobster who dated her mother.Meanwhile Harriet encourages Bill to talk to his daughter,but Lana doesn't seem to be interested.Officer Randy Goode helps keep the bad guys at bay by playing them a little tune on the guitar.
7. An Occupational Hazard
Aired 2 December 1992 • 60 min
A secretary takes drastic measures to protect herself from sexual harassment.
8. Last Rites
Aired 9 December 1992 • 60 min
Virgil fears for his Aunt Ruda's safety after several killings occur in the hospital where she is being treated.
9. When the Music Stopped
Aired 16 December 1992 • 60 min
Singer Eddie Larran returns to Sparta for a concert,but not everyone is a fan.An angry man insists that Eddie owes him money.And their dispute soon ends in violence.
10. Flowers from a Lady
Aired 6 January 1993 • 60 min
A city councilwoman becomes dangerously obsessed with Bubba.
11. Private Sessions
Aired 13 January 1993 • 60 min
One of Virgil's classmates from law school is arrested following the death of his former girlfriend, but the man insists that her death was the result of her relationship with her psychiatrist.
12. Judgement Day
Aired 20 January 1993 • 60 min
A judge schemes to get rid of his wife after she tries to blackmail him into giving her a divorce and a generous settlement by revealing a secret from his past.
13. Falsely Accused
Aired 3 February 1993 • 60 min
Sweet is the target of false accusations by two corrupt and racist car salesmen.
14. A Step Removed
Aired 10 February 1993 • 60 min
Parker's stepfather Roy threatens his former employer after an altercation.When the boss is murdered Roy is arrested.
15. A Deadly Affection
Aired 17 February 1993 • 60 min
A woman asks Harriet to help her get an eviction order rescinded.The chief gives Parker a new radar gun - and soon comes to regret it.Sheriff McComb requests that Gillespie and Bubba help investigate a murder.Meanwhile Lonnie and Luann search for the boy who reported the murder.
16. The Leftover Man (1)
Aired 3 March 1993 • 60 min
A white supremacist politician plans to have his wife's lover murdered and blame it on black radicals.
17. The Leftover Man (2)
Aired 3 March 1993 • 60 min
A white supremacist politician plans to have his wife's lover murdered and blame it on black radicals.
18. A Dish Best Served Cold
Aired 17 March 1993 • 60 min
A swindlers homecoming upsets his wife and the families of his victims - especially Etta.
19. Legacy
Aired 24 March 1993 • 60 min
A wealthy man plans to grant a promise made to a black sharecropper many years ago by giving land to the man's descendant.But his greedy son disapproves.
20. Even Nice People
Aired 28 April 1993 • 60 min
Corrupt developers set their sights on Lana's farm. When she refuses to sell they enlist the services of an arsonist to force her out.
21. Lake Winahatchie
Aired 5 May 1993 • 60 min
Bill discovers the motivation behind a crime syndicates attempt to muscle in on Sparta and the reason they are determined to get Lana's land.
22. A Correct Settling
Aired 12 May 1993 • 60 min
Eugene hopes a well known minister can save his father from Death Row.But someone runs the Reverend off the road on his way into town and the Sparta police try to protect him and track down his assailent.Meanwhile Harriet struggles with what her part in her ex-husbands appeal should be and is even more unsettled when Eugene demands that she break up with Bill.