Pilot: Part 1 (6 Mar. 1988)

Philadelphia police lieutenant Virgil Tibbs and his wife Althea have returned to Sparta to attend the funeral of Virgil's mother. While in town and unknown to Chief Bill Gillespie, Virgil ... See full summary »

Director:

David Hemmings

Writer:

James Lee Barrett

Stars:

Carroll O'Connor, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Alan Autry

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Carroll O'Connor	...	Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie
Howard E. Rollins Jr.	...	Chief of Detectives Virgil Tibbs (as Howard Rollins)
Alan Autry	...	Sgt. V.L. 'Bubba' Skinner
Anne-Marie Johnson	...	Althea Tibbs
David Hart	...	Officer Parker Williams
Christian LeBlanc	...	Patrolman Junior Abernathy
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adams	...	Meese
Mary Elizabeth Blackmon	...	Nan Woodall
Margaret Blye	...	Gillespie's Girlfriend (as Maggie Blye)
J. Kevin Brune	...	Ben Gilroy
Jerry Campbell	...	Magnolia Cafe Patron
Jill Carroll	...	Barbara Giles
Stocker Fontelieu	...	Tolliver
Peter Gabb	...	Horace Goode
Hank Gautreaux	...	Winthrop Mason

Storyline

Philadelphia police lieutenant Virgil Tibbs and his wife Althea have returned to Sparta to attend the funeral of Virgil's mother. While in town and unknown to Chief Bill Gillespie, Virgil is offered the position of Chief of Detectives. At the same time, a white girl is found murdered in the Bottoms, which allows Virgil the opportunity to begin work. The police force is rife with racism and devoid of proper police procedures. An African-American man, Willie Jones, is brought in on flimsy evidence. Before Virgil can investigate, Jones is found hanged in his cell. Gillespie and Tibbs are at complete loggerheads over how to proceed with the investigation and institute measures to clean up the department.

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Genres:

Drama | Crime | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1988 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Hammond, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fred Silverman Company, JADDA Productions, MGM Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode, and the next one, In the Heat of the Night: Pilot: Part 2, originally aired as a TV movie. The producers of the series later edited the film into episodes of the show.

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Quotes

Chief of Detectives Virgil Tibbs: I want to like you people; and I want you people to like me. But there can be no liking without respect, and until there is that respect you will call me *Mister* Tibbs!

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Soundtracks

"Walking on a Thin Line"
Written by Andre Pessis and K. Wells (uncredited)
Performed by Huey Lewis & The News (uncredited)
Heard on jukebox in restaurant

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