Best comedy TV factual errors of all time

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F Troop picture

Scourge of the West - S1-E1

Factual error: We see how the accident-prone Wilton Parmenter was a soldier at Appotomatox during the Civil War when he sneezed. Union soldiers mistook his sneezing for a call to regroup and charge, winning the battle. Wilton Parmenter was awarded the Medal Of Honour. Accident-prone, even in his moment of glory, when the medal was pinned on Wilton's chest it pierced his skin, drawing blood. Wilton was therefore awarded the Purple Heart, becoming "the only soldier in history to get a medal for getting a medal." This was not possible, for the "Purple Heart" (or "Badge Of Military Merit", to use its proper title) awarded to US soldiers wounded in action, was only instituted in 1932. (Before somebody corrects me, George Washington did institute the award for some distinguished combatants during the War Of Independence, but it was never awarded during the nineteenth century, and revived in 1932).

Rob Halliday

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Night Court picture

Crossroads (2) - S8-E7

Factual error: When people begin to describe their symptoms, Dr. Deyoung says the "virus" could be a number of things, but then lists bacterial diseases. Something a doctor in his field would not do, especially since the test tube that broke was already described by him as "experimental bacteria."

Bishop73

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American Dad picture

Pilot - S1-E2

Factual error: Klaus says he was an Olympic skier when the CIA switched his brain with a goldfish. When they show the skier with the goldfish brain, the banner reads "1986 Winter Games." The Winter Games were held in 1984 and 1988, but not '86.

Bishop73

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New Tricks picture

The Fourth Man - S7-E10

Factual error: At the car auction the Jaguar that the UCOS team are buying is described by the auctioneer as a 1967 model, but it is a C reg, which dates it to 1965.

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Veep picture

Pledge - S7-E3

Factual error: Waterloo County Fair labeling shown at least twice. Waterloo is not a county. Black Hawk is the county and Waterloo is the city in Black Hawk County.

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Suggested correction: It is established that the ghosts have watched television, listened to the radio, smelled pizza/pepperoni, etc. It's not impossible that Pete saw Ghost on TV.

While they do watch television now, it's unlikely that Sophie watched "Ghost" and that Pete saw it alone. The reply from others was "you know we don't know what that is" and he said "oh, right the movie thing." Which was a call back to earlier when Trevor was trying to explain who Tara Reid was and the older ghosts had a hard time knowing or remembering what a movie was.

Bishop73

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I Dream of Jeannie picture

Jeannie, the Hip Hippie - S3-E6

Factual error: At the end of the episode, Major Nelson leaves his Cocoa Beach, Florida, house and drives down the street. Behind the house at the end of the street (which is the home used for the Stephens family on "Bewitched"), there is a mountain. There are no mountains in Cocoa Beach.

bixxell

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The IT Crowd picture

The Red Door - S1-E4

Factual error: Richmond says that the song "Coffin Fodder" is track 4 on the Cradle Of Filth album that he gives as a gift at the funeral. In reality, it is track 9.

THGhost

More The IT Crowd factual errors
On the Buses picture

On the Omnibuses - S7-E6

Factual error: In the Edwardian street scene a modern car can be seen behind the cart on the left of the screen - a beige Morris 1800, 1968-1972 model.

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Kath and Kim picture

Season 1 generally

Factual error: Whenever Kim's phone rings during the first series, you can hear a polyphonic ring-tone yet she owns a Nokia 3315, which is a monophonic type.

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Phoenix Nights picture

Season 2 Episode 2 - S2-E2

Factual error: When Brian is talking to Kenny beside the inflatable, his phone goes off. He has a Motorola phone but it was a Nokia message alert sound.

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The Suite Life on Deck picture

Show generally

Factual error: In the beginning of the episode "Show and Tell", you can see Woody clipping his toenails on the bed. You can see how many toes he has one of his feet. He has 5 toes. Yet, in one of the first episodes, Woody states he has 8 toes on one foot and 3 on the other.

mld566

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All Grown Up picture

Tweenage Tycoons - S1-E4

Factual error: Judging from how they're talking, and when they go, tickets to the concert go on the sale the same day as the concert. Since when did they start doing this?

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Drake and Josh picture

Football - S2-E4

Factual error: In the scene after they won the football game, the football players and cheerleaders all come running into the locker room. At no time would girls be allowed in a boy's locker room.

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Little Britain picture

Season 1 Episode 3 - S1-E3

Factual error: When we see the rack of letters Kenny Craig has when he is playing scrabble with his mum, he has 3 "Y"s. There are only 2 letter Y's in the game Scrabble. (00:06:25)

Joe Mc

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