[DevSop]

It's our middle matchup, #32 Reaper vs. #33 In the Heat of the Night.

#32. REAPER




vs.

#33. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

[Stu]

First one's not on in the UK yet, never heard of the second, but I'll vote for it because Reaper sounds like a more comedic ripoff of Brimstone, and I can't see anyone topping John Glover as the Devil in Human Form.

[DevSop]

Stu, it is the same concept as Brimstone with a more comedic element, but Ray Wise as the Devil is some of the best casting ever. I never saw Brimstone, so I can't really comment on John Glover, but even with that I'd put Ray Wise at minimum as an equal, and I'm pretty sure he's better than Glover.

[Lucky]

They're different devils. Glover was serious. I prefer Glover. They're both pretty good, but Wise is basically just smarmy and doesn't come off as truly evil. That's the nature of the show. There's no TRUE sense of desperation or tragedy to whatshisface having lost his soul. Brimstone was all about "I've been to hell, I'm fighting my way to stay out." It was gritty and serious. Reaper's goofy.

You never heard of In The Heat of the Night? Huh. Maybe its too southern to transplant across the ocean or something, but that one was a staple of my youth in syndication.

I really don't think Reaper has ANY place in a showdown like this considering its (a) not THAT good and (b) got MAYBE 10 episodes under its belt. In all consciousness I SHOULD vote Heat over it. But the truth is I never much liked that show. And I watched it a LOT after Nitro or at 2 AM. Intellectually I know its the more deserving show but I actually enjoy Reaper a bit more, even if its a show I could see get canceled and basically be happy to get an hour of my week back. Plus... MISSY!

[DevSop]

Lucky, I agree with you for the most part about Reaper. It started off with a really good pilot, but it's seemingly gone nowhere since. Chuck is a much better show with the same basic concept. Slacker type winds up in a really different position than what he's used to. The difference is that Chuck has moved beyond the basic concept and had the characters grow and become interesting. Besides the Devil, Sock, and whatshisname rarely there's been no growth in the characters or plot. There was a throwaway scene with the father and the soul contract, but it's gone nowhere. I really wish Chuck had made the showdown over Reaper, besides 3 hot chicks compared to one, it's just a better show.

But I'm voting for Reaper anyway because I HATE In the Heat of the Night. Besides MASH, there's not a show I wish never to see on my television again. It bored me to tears when my grandmother used to watch and besides all of that, there's no MISSY. And since Lucky didn't do it, I will.

[National Champion Chris Cole]

There are only a few episodes of Reaper but I'm really enjoying it so far. I think Bret Harrison is great and the character Sock always has me in stitches.

[Courtney]

My parents watched In the Heat of the Night and therefore, so did I. It was ok. I have good memories.

An aside: ItHotN was filmed in my hometown of Conyers, GA.

[BC]

My vote goes to Heat. It's one of two cop shows I've ever been able to stand

[Lucky]

Poor Missy can never advance in these things. I mean, she doesn't really deserve to here. In The Heat of the Night IS better. But still. I feel for her.

[DevSop]

Closing these polls either late tonight or early tomorrow, make sure you vote if you need to.

[DevSop]

In the Heat of the Night moves onto round 2.