In the Heat of the Night poster

TV series

In the Heat of the Night

19888 seasons7.6 / 10

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.

Streaming, rental and purchase options

Where to watch in United States

Checked Jul 22, 2026

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Synopsis

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.

Season 1 episodes

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Episode 1

Pilot (1)

1h8.0 / 10

Virgil Tibbs returns to Sparta and joins the police force as chief of detectives.His arrival is met with resistance from police chief Bill Gillespie - who resents having an officer hired without his approval.Virgil has trouble adjusting to the small, antiquated police force.Tibbs' first case is a racially charged murder case that is soon complicated when the suspect is murdered in his cell.

Episode credits

Directed by David HemmingsGuest stars Kevin McCarthy, Doug Savant, Mills Watson, Stocker Fontelieu

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode 2

Pilot (2)

1h8.0 / 10

The investigation into the brutal murders of a young girl and the suspect in her death, leads Tibbs and Gillespie to the son of one of Sparta's wealthiest and most influential citizens.As they come closer to the truth things become dangerous for Virgil.

Episode credits

Directed by Leo PennWritten by Kathy McCormick

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode 3

Road Kill

1h8.0 / 10

The affair between the husband of a wealthy woman and her distant cousin leads to her murder. Virgil immediately suspects the pair.But he has a difficult time persuading Gillespie, who is a long time friend of the man and Bubba, who has been seeing the cousin.Bubba and Virgil clash again and Virgil is frustrated when the Chief rejects his theory about the crime.

Episode credits

Directed by Leo PennWritten by Kathy McCormick, Richard Fielder

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode 4

Fate

1h8.0 / 10

Racial tensions run high when a married white woman has an affair with a black businessman from New York.Meanwhile Virgil is not happy when the Chief enlists his aid in tracking down Bubba's cousin, a suspected moonshiner.

Episode credits

Written by Richard Fielder

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode 5

Blind Spot (1)

1h8.0 / 10

Virgil refuses to let go of a grudge against a wealthy former classmate who cheated him out of a scholarship.The man has promised city leaders that he will move his business to Sparta,but not all of his business interests are legal.The nephew of an old friend of Gillespie's finds his life in danger after he steals drugs stored in the businessman's mansion.

Episode credits

Directed by David Hemmings

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode 6

Blind Spot (2)

1h8.0 / 10

An angry Gillespie seeks answers when an old friend is shot.And Virgil narrowly escapes death after trying to ascertain the real reason behind an old adversary's return to Sparta.Nan finds herself in danger after she finds out the truth about her new love.

Episode credits

Directed by David HemmingsGuest stars James Williamson, James Williamson

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode 7

A Necessary Evil

1h10.0 / 10

In this humorous episode Virgil and the Chief arrest a man for bigamy.It soon becomes a polygamy case after an endless parade of wives come to visit their husband.

Episode credits

Directed by Winrich KolbeGuest stars Jennifer Bassey

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode 8

...And Then You Die

1h8.0 / 10finale

The Sparta police search for a killer and his girlfriend.But the case becomes personal when they take Althea and the grandson of one of the victims hostage.

Episode credits

Guest stars Will Bledsoe

Where to watch In the Heat of the Night

Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026

More about In the Heat of the Night

Cast

Carroll O'ConnorBill Gillespie
Howard RollinsVirgil Tibbs
Alan AutryBubba Skinner
Anne-Marie JohnsonAlthea Tibbs
Lois NettletonJoanne St. John
David HartParker Williams
Geoffrey ThorneWilson Sweet
Hugh O'ConnorLonnie Jamison

Credits

Created by
James Lee Barrett
Written by
Joe Gannon, Nancy Bond, Mark Edward Edens, Robert Bielak, Kathy McCormick, Lee Maddux, Richard Fielder, David O'Connor

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
146
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • NBCUnited States
  • CBSUnited States
  • MGM TelevisionUnited States
  • Fred Silverman Productions
  • JADDA Productions
  • Juanita Bartlett Production

Themes

policepolice chiefpolice detectiveracism