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The Worst Episodes of In the Heat of the Night

Every episode of In the Heat of the Night ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of In the Heat of the Night!

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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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 10 - King's Ransom
    7.0/10(74 votes)

    #1 - King's Ransom

    S3:E10

    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.

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. In the Heat of the Night Season 6 Episode 9 - When the Music Stopped
    7.1/10(77 votes)

    #2 - When the Music Stopped

    S6:E9

    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.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. In the Heat of the Night Season 2 Episode 21 - The Pig Woman of Sparta
    7.2/10(96 votes)

    #3 - The Pig Woman of Sparta

    S2:E21

    It seems that a serial killer has been burying his victims in a wooded area owned by a wealthy hermit that Virgil refers to as ""Sparta's Howard Hughes"". Suspicion immediately falls on an eccentric woman who lives in the woods with her pigs and chases away trespassers with a shotgun.The officers ask the landowner's disturbed son for help and Bubba is surprised to find that a woman he attended high school with is working as the man's ""nurse"".Also Parker and Sweet compete with one another to solve the case.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 18 - The Rabbi
    7.2/10(65 votes)

    #4 - The Rabbi

    S7:E18

    A Rabbi returns to Sparta after many years.Racists vandalize his synagogue and soon after their Torah is stolen.Forbes investigates but the Rabbi refuses to trust Bill because of his inaction while investigating a hate crime many years ago.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writers:Elsye O'Connor, David O'Connor

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  5. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 23 - In the Heat of the Night: Give Me Your Life
    7.3/10(121 votes)

    #5 - In the Heat of the Night: Give Me Your Life

    S7:E23

    In the Heat of the Night: Give Me Your Life is a film directed by Russ Mayberry released on May 11, 1994.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. In the Heat of the Night Season 8 Episode 2 - Who Was Geli Bendl ?
    7.3/10(127 votes)

    #6 - Who Was Geli Bendl ?

    S8:E2

    A famous Italian actress returns to Sparta to take care of some unfinished business and rescue her younger sister from a life of drugs and poverty.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. In the Heat of the Night Season 8 Episode 3 - By Duty Bound
    7.4/10(139 votes)

    #7 - By Duty Bound

    S8:E3

    Acting Sheriff Gillespie must decide whether he should run for sheriff or retire from law enforcement.It soon becomes apparent that the other candidate is corrupt and dangerous.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 22 - A Turning
    7.5/10(62 votes)

    #8 - A Turning

    S4:E22

    Althea thinks Virgil needs a new line of work after seeing the aftermath of a deadly shooting at a roadhouse.Virgil finds himself in danger when they arrest the man who committed the crime.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Joe Gannon

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  9. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 20 - Time's Long Shadow
    7.5/10(54 votes)

    #9 - Time's Long Shadow

    S7:E20

    Harriet tries to stop an arrogant developer from destroying an important archeological site.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Elsye O'Connor, David O'Connor

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  10. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 21 - Poor Relations
    7.5/10(67 votes)

    #10 - Poor Relations

    S7:E21

    Comedic episode in which Parker's ne'er-do-well stepfather returns to Sparta with a new wife, a stolen painting and two inept art thieves who are determined to steal the painting back.

    Director:Reza Badiyi
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. In the Heat of the Night Season 2 Episode 6 - Hot Nights
    7.6/10(100 votes)

    #11 - Hot Nights

    S2:E6

    Bubba is seduced by an alluring writer who has more on her mind than romance.Bill and Virgil worry that he is in over his head.Bubba tries to protect her from her estranged husband, but things get complicated after she shoots someone.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Mark Edward Edens

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  12. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 11 - Epitaph for a Lady
    7.6/10(88 votes)

    #12 - Epitaph for a Lady

    S3:E11

    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.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 17 - Home is Where The Heart Is
    7.6/10(84 votes)

    #13 - Home is Where The Heart Is

    S3:E17

    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.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 21 - No Other Road
    7.6/10(60 votes)

    #14 - No Other Road

    S4:E21

    Harriet tries to keep Eugene from giving up when his father faces the death penalty.And the police search for three suspects in connection to a robbery/murder.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 12 - The Landlord
    7.6/10(60 votes)

    #15 - The Landlord

    S5:E12

    A drug dealing slumlord is murdered by his accomplices.

    Director:Larry Hagman
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 16 - A Time to Trust
    7.6/10(53 votes)

    #16 - A Time to Trust

    S5:E16

    Althea fears for one of her students after her mother's boyfriend is linked to a criminal operation that has resulted in the deaths of several truckers.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Patt Shea

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  17. In the Heat of the Night Season 6 Episode 14 - A Step Removed
    7.6/10(61 votes)

    #17 - A Step Removed

    S6:E14

    Parker's stepfather Roy threatens his former employer after an altercation.When the boss is murdered Roy is arrested.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. In the Heat of the Night Season 6 Episode 20 - Even Nice People
    7.6/10(69 votes)

    #18 - Even Nice People

    S6:E20

    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.

    Director:Carroll O'Connor
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 5 - Incident at Brewer's Pond
    7.6/10(62 votes)

    #19 - Incident at Brewer's Pond

    S7:E5

    A night of revelry at a local pond turns deadly.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 12 - Your Own Kind
    7.6/10(58 votes)

    #20 - Your Own Kind

    S7:E12

    No description available

    Director:Dick Martin
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 19 - Hard Choices
    7.6/10(51 votes)

    #21 - Hard Choices

    S7:E19

    Eugene tries to protect a friend who was an unwilling accomplice to a robbery and in doing so endangers his probation -- and his life.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 7 - Time of the Stranger
    7.7/10(82 votes)

    #22 - Time of the Stranger

    S3:E7

    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.

    Director:Ivan Dixon
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 9 - My Name is Hank
    7.7/10(92 votes)

    #23 - My Name is Hank

    S3:E9

    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.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 18 - An Angry Woman
    7.7/10(76 votes)

    #24 - An Angry Woman

    S3:E18

    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.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. In the Heat of the Night Season 8 Episode 1 - In the Heat of the Night: A Matter of Justice
    7.7/10(195 votes)

    #25 - In the Heat of the Night: A Matter of Justice

    S8:E1

    In the Heat of the Night: A Matter of Justice is a film directed by Reza Badiyi released on Oct 21, 1994.

    Director:Reza Badiyi
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"King's Ransom" is the worst rated episode of "In the Heat of the Night". It scored 7/10 based on 74 votes. Directed by Jeffrey Hayden and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/2/1990. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "When the Music Stopped".