In the Heat of the Night

Carroll O’Connor (known best for the very different role of Archie Bunker) heads up one of the most talked-about TV cop shows ever. In the Heat of the Night, a spin-off from the classic 1967 Sidney Poitier–Rod Steiger film, stars O’Connor as Southern police chief William Gillespie and Howard Rollins as black detective Virgil Tibbs as they tackle controversial subjects, such as rape, incest, drug addiction and hate crimes, in Sparta, Mississippi. O’Connor actually wrote many of the episodes, which masterfully balance down-home humor and grisly crime. Keep an eye out for guest appearances by the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Mariska Hargitay, George C. Scott and even, yes, O.J. Simpson.