In the Heat of the Night (1988)

In the Heat of the Night (1988) - NBC

NBC

CBS

Series

1988

TVPG

Crime drama

Mystery

Based on the classic film, a police chief and his team tackle crime and social issues in the small town of Sparta, Mississippi, navigating racial tensions and personal dramas.

Where to Stream

1988–1995 Series 8 Seasons161 Episodes

Upcoming TV Airings

The airings below are based on a generic national schedule. Times and dates can vary by TV provider.

Monday, March 25

Murder Most Ancient

Season 3 • Episode 3

Gillespie investigates the murder of a man by his wife and her lover.

Monday, March 25

First Girl

Season 3 • Episode 4

Gillespie feels responsible for the death of his first black policewoman.

Tuesday, March 26

Crackdown

Season 3 • Episode 5

Sweet tries to save a 14-year-old crack addict and jail her supplier.

Tuesday, March 26

Anniversary

Season 3 • Episode 6

Gillespie investigates Dugan's murder and impedes the visit of an endangered civil rights leader.

Tuesday, March 26

Time of the Stranger

Season 3 • Episode 7

Parker has a crush on a dance teacher linked to an unsolved death.

Tuesday, March 26

Quick Fix

Season 4 • Episode 7

Evidence indicates a mentally impaired girl is the mother of an infant found in a shallow grave.

Tuesday, March 26

My Name Is Hank

Season 3 • Episode 9

A young Vietnamese robbery suspect may be the son of a former Sparta police officer.

Tuesday, March 26

Just a Country Boy

Season 4 • Episode 20

Bubba searches Los Angeles for a Sparta fugitive who jumped bail.

Tuesday, March 26

No Other Road

Season 4 • Episode 21

Tibbs and Jamison urge Harriet DeLong's son to persevere after his father's death sentence.

Tuesday, March 26

A Turning

Season 4 • Episode 22

Gillespie and Tibbs pursue the killers of drug dealers; Althea worries about her husband's safety.

Tuesday, March 26

Time of the Stranger

Season 3 • Episode 7

Parker has a crush on a dance teacher linked to an unsolved death.

Tuesday, March 26

Vengeance

Season 3 • Episode 8

The widow and brothers of a man Bubba killed during a holdup seek revenge.

Wednesday, March 27

My Name Is Hank

Season 3 • Episode 9

A young Vietnamese robbery suspect may be the son of a former Sparta police officer.

Wednesday, March 27

King's Ransom

Season 3 • Episode 10

A down-and-out boxer who witnessed a murder ignores Gillespie's advice to cooperate with the FBI.

Wednesday, March 27

Epitaph for a Lady

Season 3 • Episode 11

A doctor is murdered after his misdiagnosis causes the death of the wife of Gillespie's friend.

Wednesday, March 27

Homecoming

Season 4 • Episode 8

The investigation of a convict's murder is hindered by too many willing suspects.

Wednesday, March 27

Hello in There

Season 3 • Episode 13

A councilwoman tries art therapy on a mute boy who may have witnessed his father's murder.

Wednesday, March 27

A Woman Much Admired

Season 5 • Episode 1

Gillespie leaves town to investigate an ex-lover's murder and must face the daughter he never knew.

Wednesday, March 27

Baby for Sale

Season 5 • Episode 2

Threatened with losing his adopted son, Bubba aids the natural father in a robbery.

Wednesday, March 27

Obsession

Season 5 • Episode 3

Gillespie and Tibbs face legal obstacles when protecting a woman.

Wednesday, March 27

Epitaph for a Lady

Season 3 • Episode 11

A doctor is murdered after his misdiagnosis causes the death of the wife of Gillespie's friend.

Wednesday, March 27

Triangle

Season 3 • Episode 12

Gillespie tries to prevent a man who shot his wife and her lover from harming anyone else.

Thursday, March 28

Hello in There

Season 3 • Episode 13

A councilwoman tries art therapy on a mute boy who may have witnessed his father's murder.

Thursday, March 28

December Days

Season 3 • Episode 14

A retired detective assists Gillespie's probe of a murder at a rest home; guest Louise Fletcher.

Thursday, March 28

A Loss of Innocence

Season 3 • Episode 15

Problems arise when a teenage girl's father is found dead and her mother is reported missing.

Thursday, March 28

A Problem Too Personal

Season 4 • Episode 9

Gillespie tries to remain aloof in the prosecution of Harriet DeLong's ex, for robbery and murder.

Thursday, March 28

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Season 3 • Episode 17

The madam (Diane Ladd) of a traveling bordello is suspected of murdering a preacher who opposed her.

Thursday, March 28

Liar's Poker

Season 5 • Episode 4

Gillespie comes under scrutiny for trying to clear a prostitute charged with killing a wealthy man.

Thursday, March 28

Ruda's Awakening

Season 5 • Episode 5

Virgil's aunt (Fran Bennett) lets anger cloud her recollection of a young black man's shooting.

Thursday, March 28

Unfinished Business

Season 5 • Episode 6

In Los Angeles for a murder trial, Bubba encounters killers targeting the key witness.

Thursday, March 28

A Loss of Innocence

Season 3 • Episode 15

Problems arise when a teenage girl's father is found dead and her mother is reported missing.

Thursday, March 28

Bubba's Baby

Season 3 • Episode 16

The search for the parents of an abandoned baby leads Gillespie on a trail of blackmail and murder.

Friday, March 29

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Season 3 • Episode 17

The madam (Diane Ladd) of a traveling bordello is suspected of murdering a preacher who opposed her.

Friday, March 29

An Angry Woman

Season 3 • Episode 18

Gillespie investigates the hit-and-run death of a young woman.

Friday, March 29

A Final Arrangement

Season 4 • Episode 10

All signs point to bookstore owner Carl Tibbitts as a suspect in his wife's murder.

Friday, March 29

The More Things Change

Season 5 • Episode 7

Gillespie and DeLong try romance; a blackmailer is charged with her father's murder.

Friday, March 29

Sweet, Sweet Blues

Season 5 • Episode 8

A blues singer claims he witnessed the 40-year-old race-motivated slaying of Sweet's grandfather.

Friday, March 29

Sparta Gold

Season 5 • Episode 9

Bubba can't get another county's authorities to cooperate after discovering marijuana-farming there.

Sunday, March 31

Murder Most Ancient

Season 3 • Episode 3

Gillespie investigates the murder of a man by his wife and her lover.

Sunday, March 31

Poor Relations

Season 7 • Episode 21

Parker's stepfather returns, pursued by murderous art thieves.

Sunday, March 31

Dangerous Engagement

Season 7 • Episode 22

Harriet and Bill become targets of a crazed gunman on the eve of their wedding.

Sunday, March 31

Anniversary

Season 3 • Episode 6

Gillespie investigates Dugan's murder and impedes the visit of an endangered civil rights leader.

Sunday, March 31

Time of the Stranger

Season 3 • Episode 7

Parker has a crush on a dance teacher linked to an unsolved death.

Sunday, March 31

Vengeance

Season 3 • Episode 8

The widow and brothers of a man Bubba killed during a holdup seek revenge.

Sunday, March 31

My Name Is Hank

Season 3 • Episode 9

A young Vietnamese robbery suspect may be the son of a former Sparta police officer.

Sunday, March 31

King's Ransom

Season 3 • Episode 10

A down-and-out boxer who witnessed a murder ignores Gillespie's advice to cooperate with the FBI.

Sunday, March 31

Epitaph for a Lady

Season 3 • Episode 11

A doctor is murdered after his misdiagnosis causes the death of the wife of Gillespie's friend.

Sunday, March 31

Triangle

Season 3 • Episode 12

Gillespie tries to prevent a man who shot his wife and her lover from harming anyone else.

Sunday, March 31

Hello in There

Season 3 • Episode 13

A councilwoman tries art therapy on a mute boy who may have witnessed his father's murder.

Sunday, March 31

December Days

Season 3 • Episode 14

A retired detective assists Gillespie's probe of a murder at a rest home; guest Louise Fletcher.

Sunday, March 31

A Loss of Innocence

Season 3 • Episode 15

Problems arise when a teenage girl's father is found dead and her mother is reported missing.

Sunday, March 31

Bubba's Baby

Season 3 • Episode 16

The search for the parents of an abandoned baby leads Gillespie on a trail of blackmail and murder.

Sunday, March 31

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Season 3 • Episode 17

The madam (Diane Ladd) of a traveling bordello is suspected of murdering a preacher who opposed her.

Sunday, March 31

An Angry Woman

Season 3 • Episode 18

Gillespie investigates the hit-and-run death of a young woman.

Sunday, March 31

Murder Most Ancient

Season 3 • Episode 3

Gillespie investigates the murder of a man by his wife and her lover.

Sunday, March 31

First Girl

Season 3 • Episode 4

Gillespie feels responsible for the death of his first black policewoman.

Monday, April 1

Crackdown

Season 3 • Episode 5

Sweet tries to save a 14-year-old crack addict and jail her supplier.

Monday, April 1

Anniversary

Season 3 • Episode 6

Gillespie investigates Dugan's murder and impedes the visit of an endangered civil rights leader.

Monday, April 1

Time of the Stranger

Season 3 • Episode 7

Parker has a crush on a dance teacher linked to an unsolved death.

Monday, April 1

Vengeance

Season 3 • Episode 8

The widow and brothers of a man Bubba killed during a holdup seek revenge.

Monday, April 1

My Name Is Hank

Season 3 • Episode 9

A young Vietnamese robbery suspect may be the son of a former Sparta police officer.

Monday, April 1

King's Ransom

Season 3 • Episode 10

A down-and-out boxer who witnessed a murder ignores Gillespie's advice to cooperate with the FBI.

Monday, April 1

Family Matters

Season 4 • Episode 11

Tibbs' attempts to reconcile family members stall when his cousin is implicated in a crime.

Monday, April 1

An Eye for an Eye

Season 5 • Episode 10

Despite FBI presence, Gillespie and Tibbs search for the kidnapper of a DA's daughter.

Monday, April 1

The Littlest Victim

Season 5 • Episode 11

A robbery suspect threatens the lives of a boozing woman (Denise Miller) and her infant.

Monday, April 1

The Landlord

Season 5 • Episode 12

Gillespie is leery of the evidence in the murder of an abusive landlord.

Tuesday, April 2

Bounty Hunter

Season 4 • Episode 12

Gillespie tries to stop a bounty hunter from killing a man wanted for a rich woman's murder.

Tuesday, April 2

Fool for Love

Season 5 • Episode 13

Tibbs and Gillespie suspect a doctor who made his girlfriend the prime suspect in his wife's murder.

Tuesday, April 2

Love, Honor and Obey

Season 5 • Episode 14

A mugging investigation uncovers the plight of an abused wife.

Tuesday, April 2

Odessa

Season 5 • Episode 15

The honoring of Sparta's first black woman voter may touch off a racial incident.

Wednesday, April 3

Blessings

Season 4 • Episode 13

A reporter with questionable motives makes Gillespie the subject of an article.

Wednesday, April 3

A Time to Trust

Season 5 • Episode 16

Virgil tries to gather evidence on a drug dealer connected to a student of Althea's.

Wednesday, April 3

By Means Most Foul

Season 5 • Episode 17

A suspected revenge bombing may be a smoke screen for a restaurateur's insurance scam.

Wednesday, April 3

Trundel's Will Be Done

Season 5 • Episode 18

A wealthy widow claims Harriet DeLong's nephew, saying her husband fathered him.

Thursday, April 4

Shine on Sparta Moon

Season 4 • Episode 14

An accident blinds a high school football star and kills his girlfriend.

Thursday, April 4

Moseley's Lot

Season 5 • Episode 19

A man comes to his son's rescue when the lad is caught gambling with someone else's money.

Thursday, April 4

Family Reunion

Season 5 • Episode 20

An ex-convict learns his wife has spent his cache of stolen cash.

Thursday, April 4

Sanctuary

Season 5 • Episode 21

Gillespie and Tibbs try to prevent a political refugee's extradition.

Friday, April 5

Execution of Trust

Season 4 • Episode 15

Gillespie must pry a confessed killer's name from a psychiatrist.

Friday, April 5

The Law on Trial

Season 5 • Episode 22

The sheriff argues that Tibbs and Gillespie's obstruction of justice led to Salazar's death.

Friday, April 5

A Small War

Season 6 • Episode 1

Gillespie's affair with DeLong draws her son's wrath, which confirms her concerns.

Friday, April 5

A Small War

Season 6 • Episode 2

Eugene (Rugg Williams) agrees to identify the killers, over his mother's objections.

Monday, April 8

Child of Promise

Season 4 • Episode 16

Virgil's arrest of a young pusher affects one of Althea's students.

Monday, April 8

Brother's Keeper

Season 6 • Episode 3

Corbin (Crystal Fox) pursues her brother (Meshach Taylor), an ex-con who robbed a bar in town.

Monday, April 8

A Frenzied Affair

Season 6 •

Man accused of killing teen stepdaughter's married lover.

Monday, April 8

Discovery

Season 6 • Episode 5

The suicide of an ex-boyfriend pushes Althea to the brink of a nervous breakdown; guest Allan Arbus.

Tuesday, April 9

Paper Castles

Season 4 • Episode 17

Tibbs tries to protect a friend from a shady real-estate venture, but the man is killed.

Tuesday, April 9

Random's Child

Season 6 • Episode 6

Gillespie's estranged daughter from a brief romance returns to Sparta to settle her mother's estate.

Tuesday, April 9

An Occupational Hazard

Season 6 • Episode 7

An unemployed man is accused of murdering his wife's boss, who was sexually harassing her.

Tuesday, April 9

Last Rights

Season 6 • Episode 8

The doctor (Earl Holliman) of Virgil's terminally ill aunt is suspected of mercy killings.

Wednesday, April 10

Laid to Waste

Season 4 • Episode 18

A blind woman hears an apparent murder in a neighboring duplex, and Parker uncovers a motive.

Wednesday, April 10

When the Music Stopped

Season 6 • Episode 9

A country singer accused of stealing songs accidentally kills his accuser.

Wednesday, April 10

Flowers From a Lady

Season 6 • Episode 10

DeLong warns Gillespie about a carjacking victim, who has taken a romantic interest in Bubba.

Wednesday, April 10

Private Sessions

Season 6 • Episode 11

A waitress under a psychiatrist's care dies mysteriously; Virgil's friend is a suspect.

Thursday, April 11

First Deadly Sin

Season 4 • Episode 19

A man forbids his son to tell police he saw a rape, for fear of the youth's chances for seminary.

Thursday, April 11

Judgment Day

Season 6 • Episode 12

An ex-convict is accused of murdering a judge's (Ken Kercheval) alcoholic wife; guest Lois Chiles.

Thursday, April 11

Falsely Accused

Season 6 • Episode 13

Arrested after harassing Gillespie and DeLong, a businessman accuses Sweet of soliciting a bribe.

Thursday, April 11

A Step Removed

Season 6 • Episode 14

Parker's volatile, recently fired stepfather (Pat Hingle) is arrested for murdering his ex-boss.

Friday, April 12

Just a Country Boy

Season 4 • Episode 20

Bubba searches Los Angeles for a Sparta fugitive who jumped bail.

Friday, April 12

Deadly Affection

Season 6 • Episode 15

A man's harassment of a tenant (Teri Austin) he once dated may be linked to a womanizer's murder.

Friday, April 12

The Leftover Man

Season 6 • Episode 16

Politician and his campaign manager stage assassination attempt.

News aboutIn the Heat of the Night