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FAQ

Where was In the Heat of the Night filmed?

Season 1 was filmed in and around Hammond, Louisiana. Seasons 2-8 were filmed in and around Covington, Georgia

What years was In the Heat of the Night in production?

1987-1994

What years did first run episodes of In the Heat of the Night air?

1988-1995

Why was Carroll O'Connor absent from the last several episodes of season 2?

Mr. O'Connor underwent sextuple bypass surgery after a routine physical revealed clogged arteries. It was nine days after a successful surgery when doctors removed his gallbladder. Doctors at the time said the inflamed gallbladder had nothing to do with O'Connor's heart surgery. One-month after surgery, Mr. O'Connor returned to the set and assumed the additional role of co-executive producer.

Any relation to the Facebook group "In the Heat of the Night Fan Club!!"?

Are you telling us that some poor dope with no imagination started an ITHOTN group on Facebook by double emphasizing [!!] our page name as a means to fast track a following? This is both sad and somehow comforting. When it comes to online fan discussion of In the Heat of the Night, Backstreets of Sparta is where it's at!

Who is the person that sang In the Heat of the Night's theme song?

Bill Champlin. Read our interview with him here.

What happened to Sgt. Willson Sweet?

Actor Geoffrey Thorne felt that his character (Willson Sweet) wasn't utilized enough on the show. When Thorne's contract was up at the end of Season 6, he left to pursue other projects.

There are 146 episodes of In the Heat of the Night, so why does WGN America keep showing the same handful of episodes over and over? How can I contact them?

For programming concerns, you can contact WGN America via e-mail WGNAmerica@tribunemedia.com or by phone 773-528-2311. Be sure to also thank them for continuing to carry the best Southern crime/melodrama ever!

I bought all 8 seasons on DVD, and there are several episodes missing. Why?

When TGG Direct licensed the series, there were episodes that had home video clearance issues such as music rights, etc. that prevent the distributor from releasing the complete series. It is not in the authority of TGG Direct to authorize clearance but felt it unfair to the fans of the show to not release the seasons due to missing episodes.

Since clearance issues prevent many episodes from being released on DVD, why are many of them available via streaming services?

Many people are confused as to why digital downloads are available for episodes that are not released on DVD. The reason is that of the same nature as to why these episodes are available and shown on TV. Digital download is viewed the same as television and rights or clearance issues pertain to only in the format of home video.

Is Alan Autry related to the late cowboy Gene Autry?

Alan is not related to the late singing cowboy.

Why did Anne-Marie Johnson (Althea Tibbs) leave In the Heat of the Night?

While a number of factors influenced Anne-Marie's decision to leave the series, it can be said that sudden changes in the show's storyline, along with a desire for other challenges, played a role (no pun intended!) in "Althea" leaving Sparta Miss., for good. Anne-Marie moved on that year to join the ensemble cast of the raucous Fox comedy series In Living Color. Please read Anne-Marie Johnson's exclusive interview with us as she lightly addresses her departure from Heat and much, much more.

After watching the season 2 finale episode "Missing," I noticed that the season 3 opener did not pick up where the season 2 cliffhanger left off. Did I miss something?

The season 3 episode "Anniversary" was originally intended to be the season 3 premiere episode and sequel to the season 2 finale episode "Missing." However, Carroll O'Connor made the executive decision to make season 3 episode "Rape" the third season's premiere. Mr. O'Connor believed "Rape" was the most substantive episode to kick-off the season. "Anniversary" later aired as the sixth episode of season 3.

What happened to the character of Magnolia Cafe proprietor and Chief Gillespie's lady friend Joanne St. John?

The official reason why Lois Nettleton (Joanne St. John) left Sparta Miss., behind was that the producers felt the story possibilities for her character had been exhausted. Unofficially, Lois Nettleton felt that she wasn't being used enough or in sufficient depth. She then went on to portray a Broadway role in Atlanta before moving on to various musicals abroad, including film and television.

There is a stretch of episodes without Bubba. Did Alan Autry leave the show?

Alan Autry never left the show. While it had been reported that he left Heat to pursue other interests, it was at the end of season 5 when Alan decided to focus on making a film based on a story he had secured the rights to. This would explain why he appeared in about half of season 6's episodes.

Whatever happened with Sparta Revisited: In the Heat of the Night 30th-Anniversary Reunion event?

Please read the official statement issued by one of the event organizers for a complete and uncensored account of the facts.