In the Heat of the Night Trivia Facts

In the Heat of the Night

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During the period when Howard E. Rollins Jr. was in rehab, Virgil was said to be in New Orleans working with the F.B.I.. Also, when 'Carroll OConnor was recovering from heart surgery, his absence was explained by having him attend a police convention.
The 1989 season was played slightly out of order. The previous season ended with a cliffhanger. However, 'Carroll OConnor, who also served as executive producer, wanted to begin the next season with the episode in which Althea Tibbs is raped because he felt that that particular episode had a strong message and that it should be the season opener. The continuation to the cliffhanger was shown a few episodes into that season with Gillespie recapping the events of what happened when he was kidnapped and the events surrounding that period.
The season after Howard E. Rollins Jr. left the cast, he did return for several guest appearances. However, Anne-Marie Johnson, who played Althea, didn't. Her absence was explained by having Althea leave Virgil because of her having emotional problems stemming not only from her rape, but the stress of her being married to a policeman.
Bubba's first name was never revealed.
There originally were plans for Bubba to get his own series. The episode Everyman's Family was meant as a pilot, but the network did not have any available slots at the time it was first broadcast and In the Heat of the Night was canceled later that season. The series would have been set in Atlanta.
Even though Virgil was referred to as "Mister Tibbs" or "Detective Tibbs" his official rank on the Sparta police force was captain.
'Carroll OConnor wrote several scripts, under the pseudonym Matt Harris, for the show and two "In the Heat of the Night" movies. He worked under the pseudonym concerned that his scripts would not be received well by television critics.
The first season was filmed in Hammond, Louisiana; before moving to Conyers and Covington, Georgia for the rest of the series. That would explain why the 'look' of Sparta changed after season one.
The population of Sparta is 11,700.
'Carroll OConnor was replaced for some episodes by Joe Don Baker, playing Acting Chief Tom Dugan, while O'Connor recuperated from heart surgery.
Mel Stewart (I)'s final TV role.
Previous episodes referred to in this episode were: "Pilot Pt.1 and Pt.2." (eps.1.1 and 1.2), "Don't Look Back, Pt.1" (ep.2.1), "Gunshots" (ep.2.7), "A Trip Upstate" (ep.2.11), "Rape" (ep.3.1), "First Girl" (ep.3.4) and "Brotherly Love Pt.1" (ep.4.1).
Samson and Delilah, the Sparta PD's two drug sniffing German Shepherd dogs, are introduced in this episode.
Usually very serious throughout this series, 'Hugh OConnor (I) treats his audience to a rare, open smile when his character, Lt. Lonnie Jameson, breaks into a boyish grin in the closing scene of this episode.
Cesare Danova appeared posthumously as Father DiMarco, having died just two months before the episode first aired.
Cesare Danova appeared posthumously as Father DiMarco, having died just two months before the episode first aired.
The "Sanctuary" situation (#5.21, #5.22) is referenced in this episode when District Attorney Darnell mentions that a resolution to the case is coming soon.
The restaurant used in this episode and other episodes is, in real life, called “Michaelangelo's"; which is on Railroad Street in Conyers, Ga. Carroll hosted numerous Cast and Crew Parties at this location. Actor Dan Biggers (Dr. Robb) still dines at this location once a year with friends.
Burgess Meredith's final TV role.
Dick Martin (I)'s last directing gig.
Final episode of the series that Howard E. Rollins Jr. would appear in.

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