Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

In the Heat of the Night

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Classic police TV tackles crime, controversy Southern-style.

TV WGN , Syndicated Drama 1988
In the Heat of the Night Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • In the Heat of the Night Poster Image 1
  • In the Heat of the Night Poster Image 2
  • In the Heat of the Night Poster Image 3
  • In the Heat of the Night Poster Image 4

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

gregh1973
gregh1973 Parent
July 1, 2016
age 13+

Still Relevant

I think they handle the race problems fairly accurately. People can watch this show and analyze themselves and any predudices they may still have.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Based on the 1965 novel and 1967 film of the same title, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1988-1995) is a police-themed drama series set in the fictitious town of Sparta, Mississippi. When police detective Virgil Tibbs (Howard Rollins) returns to Sparta to attend his mother's funeral, he is persuaded by police chief William Gillespie (Caroll O'Connor) to remain in Sparta and become the local chief of detectives. Thanks to some racial tensions in the squad and a lack of training among officers such as Captain "Bubba" Skinner (Alan Autry), Parker Williams (David Hart), Junior Abernathy (Christian LeBlanc), and Lonnie Jamison (Hugh O'Connor), heading up investigations isn't always easy. Tibbs and Gillespie don't always see eye to eye, either. But their commitment to enforcing the law pushes them to rise above and resolve their cases one crime at a time.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This thoughtful, folksy police procedural offers some insight into the contemporary South, where change and modernization are often tinged with racial undercurrents and conservative ways of thinking. In an effort to highlight these tensions, the show purposely addresses controversial issues that range from incest to AIDS. In doing so, it highlights the community's persisting attitudes about them and notes the ways they're shifting. It also attempts to do so without relying on traditional stereotypes.

New characters, leadership transitions, and other changes over the years kept the show relevant for its time. However, there's a good chance that today's TV audiences (particularly younger ones) will find the pace a bit slow, especially when compared to today's police dramas. The humor might seem pretty hokey, too. Nonetheless, those who do watch will find a perceptive glimpse of life in the South over 25 years ago.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the South. What are some of the stereotypes about the region? Does this series perpetuate them or challenge them?

  • What are some of the differences between TV police dramas from 25 or 30 years ago and what's airing today? Is it the storytelling style? The level of violence? The subject matter?

  • What kinds of things can you learn from TV shows that aired many years ago, even if they weren't designed to be educational?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate