In the Heat of the Night backdrop
Crime•Drama

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!

Binge this in 5d 21h•Peaking at 10.0/10

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

Airs on
NBCCBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons8

All12345678

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 3 - Lessons Learned
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Lessons Learned

    S4:E3

    Gillespie sends Parker to confirm suspicions that a local truck stop is really a front for a prostitution business.When a young prostitute is found dead Gillespie is shocked at her fathers reaction.Parker is dismayed when he recognizes one of the ladies.

    Director:Mario Azzopardi
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 4 - Perversions of Justice
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - Perversions of Justice

    S4:E4

    A mild mannered school teacher is accused of child molestation.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Robert Bielak

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 5 - And Justice For Some
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #3 - And Justice For Some

    S4:E5

    Gillespie and his officers are outraged when a drug courier who ran down the son of Virgil's next door neighbor makes a deal with the F.B.I. to avoid prosecution.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 6 - Hearts of Gold
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Hearts of Gold

    S4:E6

    Bubba is reunited with his high school sweetheart, but his happiness is short lived after she resorts to murder to silence an attorney who was threatening to stop her from inheriting her late husband's estate.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 7 - Quick Fix
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Quick Fix

    S4:E7

    The investigation into the death of an abandoned infant leads to a mentally handicapped teenager.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 8 - Homecoming
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Homecoming

    S4:E8

    A lawyer has personal reasons for trying to gain early release for a man who was sent to prison after an accident he caused while drinking and driving.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of In the Heat of the Night

    READ
  7. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 9 - A Problem Too Personal
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - A Problem Too Personal

    S4:E9

    Harriet and Eugene are devastated after Gene's father is arrested for murder.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 10 - A Final Arrangement
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - A Final Arrangement

    S4:E10

    Sweet is heartbroken when an elderly woman who befriended him is murdered in her bookstore.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 11 - Family Matters
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Family Matters

    S4:E11

    Virgil's dream of a better relationship with his Aunt Ruda and her son is shattered when his cousin takes part in a string of burglaries that result in murder.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 12 - Bounty Hunter
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Bounty Hunter

    S4:E12

    Gillespie receives word that a former Spartan is wanted for the murder of a socialite in Houston.But a ruthless bounty hunter, sent by the victim's jealous husband is already in Sparta and sees the man's sister as a means to locate his quarry.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 13 - Blessings
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Blessings

    S4:E13

    In this Christmas episode the officers share memories with a reporter from the Sparta Herald.

    Director:David Soul
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 14 - Shine on Sparta Moon
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Shine on Sparta Moon

    S4:E14

    A bottle of spiked moonshine leads to an accident that claims the life of one teen and blinds another.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Robert Bielak

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 15 - Execution of Trust
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Execution of Trust

    S4:E15

    A psychiatrist tells Gillespie that one of her patients has confessed to a crime that another man is about to be executed for, but she refuses to divulge his identity.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 16 - Child of Promise
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Child of Promise

    S4:E16

    A story of two brothers one an honor student that Althea has great plans for, the other a dangerous drug dealer as they struggle to influence a younger sibling.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 17 - Paper Castles
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Paper Castles

    S4:E17

    Virgil soon regrets telling an old friend that his new business partners are being investigated by the police.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Arthur Bernard Lewis

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 18 - Laid to Waste
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Laid to Waste

    S4:E18

    Parker protects a blind woman who heard her neighbors murder.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 19 - First Deadly Sin
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - First Deadly Sin

    S4:E19

    A serial rapist stalks Sparta.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 20 - Just A Country Boy
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Just A Country Boy

    S4:E20

    Bubba travels to Los Angeles to arrest an arsonist.When the man is murdered to keep him from talking Bubba teams up with a pretty insurance investigator to solve the crime.

    Director:Carroll O'Connor
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 21 - No Other Road
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 22 - A Turning
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 1 - A Woman Much Admired
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - A Woman Much Admired

    S5:E1

    Gillespie's old flame returns to Sparta to settle some business matters and see Bill. When she is murdered he travels to Gulfport and meets his daughter Lana for the first time.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 2 - Baby for Sale
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Baby for Sale

    S5:E2

    After Bubba's cousin adopts a baby her husband is blackmailed by the child's real parents - they want him to help them steal the payroll where he works.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 3 - Obsession
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Obsession

    S5:E3

    A flirtatious schoolteacher is stalked by a madman.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 4 - Liar's Poker
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Liar's Poker

    S5:E4

    A game of high stakes poker ends in murder.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 5 - Ruda's Awakening
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Ruda's Awakening

    S5:E5

    Virgil's Aunt Ruda is the only witness to a struggle between Bubba and a young robbery suspect that ends in the young mans death.But her prejudice against the police -- and Virgil clouds her memory of the incident.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Lessons Learned" is the worst rated episode of "In the Heat of the Night". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Mario Azzopardi and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/25/1990. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Perversions of Justice".