TV & VIDEO - April 14, 1989

Actor Carroll O’Connor returns to work today in Georgia, just a month after undergoing sextuple coronary bypass surgery. On his first day back, he’ll be filming a scene for the last episode of the season of his NBC series, “In the Heat of the Night.” “I’m thrilled to do it as long as there are no getaways, collisions or gun battles involved,” said O’Connor, who was described as looking the “picture of health” by a spokesman. The plot will suggest that he’s been kidnaped and is being held hostage, and the segment ends with a cliffhanging shootout involving Joe Don Baker. Baker was brought into the show for four episodes when O’Connor was hospitalized. The cliffhanger is set to air May 11.