At it's best this show's production values are very high indeed. In general the acting is unassailable and the preponderance of scripts are intelligent and fairly dripping with authentic Deep South character. The cast starting with Carrol O'Conner and Howard Rollins is outstanding. It is a master class from Mr. O'Conner. His attention to detail and nuance is worth the hour by itself. The rest of the cast grew across the run and effectively type cast themselves with the depth of their characterizations. I avoided this show during it's original run fearing a formulaic and shallow programmer but have been hooked in syndication by its overall high quality. The scripts and subplots vary in quality but overall the commitment of the cast carries through the misfires. My only knock is in the post sound. Apparently every vehicle in Sparta according to the sound mixer has squeaky brakes. Every vehicle without exception rolls to a stop with a squeal of brakes. Nothing like it in the history of post audio. An attention to detail that is quite odd.
Review of In the Heat of the Night
