Best crime TV questions of all time

Please vote as you browse around to help the best rise to the top.

Elementary picture

M. - S1-E12

Question: How did Holmes know where M was, so he could have found him and taken him away? And how did Holmes transport M on his own? Was M unconscious, or alert and thus went where Holmes told him to go, or he'd kill him? But M wouldn't do that; he doesn't mind dying.

kh1616

Chosen answer: M broke into the brownstone and left a note. Holmes deduced he was staying at a high-class hotel from the soap scent on the note, and gave a picture from a hidden camera to his "irregulars" on the street to stake out hotels. One of them saw him, so Holmes followed him to his next intended victim and knocked him unconscious with a baton.

Sierra1

More Elementary questions
Knight Rider picture

Knight Rider [Pilot; a.k.a. Knight of the Phoenix] (1) - S1-E1

Question: At one point, after promising help, Michael parks, and goes to a pay phone to call Devon. As he gets to the booth, over his left shoulder, there is a badly altered Pepsi sign. Black tape has been put over the word 'PEPSI' in the familiar logo, and also over the "si" in the phrase 'say Pepsi please'. What type of mistake would this be?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: Before "product placement" became common, name-brand products were rarely, if ever seen in TV shows, mostly due to avoid advertising conflicts with program sponsors. The Pepsi logo may have been taped out to prevent any commercial infringements.

raywest

Are you kidding? Product placement was so rampant in the 50s that sometimes you'd wonder if you were watching a TV show or a paid ad.

Brian Katcher

Knight Rider wasn't produced in the 1950s. TV shows of that era had advertising more similar to the old radio shows from the 30s and 40s. The early 50s series often had a sole sponsor, so their product (and related items) was likely seen in a program. An announcer also informed the audience at the beginning that, "This program is brought to you by (insert brand name). " From the 60s on, brand-name products weren't generally seen in TV programs. Networks sold air time to multiple advertisers, and their ads were shown during the long commercial breaks. So no, I'm not kidding.

raywest

Answer: It wouldn't be a mistake. Anyone could have taped the sign for a number of reasons.

Brian Katcher

More Knight Rider questions

Answer: Tim Drake's origin in the DC Animated Universe differs significantly from his origin in the comics, but it also differs greatly from Jason Todd's. This version of the character is unique to this universe, similar to many of the other supporting characters with origin stories that range from being nearly identical to the comics to being entirely different from the comics.

BaconIsMyBFF

More The New Batman Adventures questions
Murdoch Mysteries picture

Show generally

Question: Why does Murdoch's bike not have a ring bell or horn? He is often seen cycling through the busy streets at high speed to arrive on a scene ASAP but never uses any sound warning apart from yelling occasionally - which looks pretty awkward for an official person.

Dangar

Answer: It's certainly a personal choice about using one, and probably similar to how some people refuse to wear a helmet or forego other safety equipment. Most bells and horns on bikes are not very loud and probably wouldn't be heard in busy traffic, making them mostly ineffective. Murdoch would likely still yell, even if he had a bell or horn.

raywest

More Murdoch Mysteries questions
The Wire picture

Slapstick - S3-E9

Question: What does ISD stand for in Baltimore police? It is mentioned by major Colvin to Carv after police officers correctly guess that somebody (Carv) has moved the dead body (Internal affairs is called IID during the show). It is mentioned again in Season 4 episode 8, when Herc worries about how to get back an expensive camera that Carv helped borrow to that ISD department.

Answer: ISD was the Inspectional Services Division, a controversial intelligence arm of the Baltimore PD which operated from 1966 to 1976 and reported directly to the commissioner, Donald Pomerleau.

Sierra1

More The Wire questions
The Blacklist picture

Show generally

Question: How can Lizzie's father have died in the fire when in an earlier season, Red killed him in the hospital when Lizzie was already an adult?

Answer: The man Red killed, Sam Scott, was Lizzie's adoptive father, not her biological one. However, at that time Lizzie (and thus the audience), was led to believe her real father abandoned her and her mother, so expect more secrets to be revealed how her real father actually died (or if he's even actually dead).

Bishop73

More The Blacklist questions
Cracker picture

Brotherly Love (2) - S3-E2

Question: In the final few scenes of this story, DS Beck has abducted David Harvey and has taken him to the top of a tower block in order that they can both leap off. Fitz and Penhaligon race to the top to try to talk Beck out of it. In the original broadcast on UK TV (1995), Fitz speaks with Beck at length on the rooftop (as in the novel), but in all repeats and subsequent VHS/DVD releases this scene is missing and has never been seen since. Now, Fitz only manages to reach the rooftop as Penhaligon is looking over the side after Beck has jumped pulling Harvey with him. Is this scene un-cut on the Region 1 DVD of this show? (I don't want to buy it just to find the same cut version again). (02:25:00 - 02:26:45)

Chimera

Chosen answer: I still own on tape the 1995 UK TV broadcast version of that episode, and it definitely doesn't have Fitz talking Beck out of jumping. It is definitely in the novel adaptation of 'Brotherly Love', but as far as I know never made it to the final cut of the TV version. I'm presuming therefore the scene wouldn't exist on the Region 1 DVD. The only TV version I have ever known to be of that scene is Fitz just turning up after Beck has jumped and then comforting Penhaligon. A few scenes did get lost from the original broadcast to the subsequent DVD/VHS releases though, but as far as I'm aware that was never one of them.

More Cracker questions

Answer: He calls him back.

More The Punisher questions

Answer: Gluto has quite a cowardly personality and never contributed too much in fighting against the Power Rangers. When he felt that the final battle was getting too intense for him, he decided that he would rather be frozen than participate.

More Power Rangers Time Force questions
The Borgias picture

Nessuno (Nobody) - S1-E9

Question: Why does Giovanni Sforza not prove he is not impotent? Was he in fact not able to perform in front of others or find the woman undesirable? I know historically he agreed to the annulment; but why? Was this scene historically accurate?

Bishop73

Chosen answer: The Borgias arranged Lucrezia's marriage to Giovanni Sforza for their own political gain. When Giovanni was no longer considered useful to them politically, they sought to end the marriage. Eventually, Giovanni reluctantly agreed to admit to impotence in exchange for keeping Lucrezia's dowry, which normally would have reverted back to the family in the event of an annulment. Divorce was rare at that time, and being unable to consummate a marriage was one grounds for an annulment. In the series, when the Borgias convene the College of Cardinals to have Giovanni prove his potency by performing with two overweight and unattractive prostitutes, he refuses because he is humiliated. The historical facts are mostly accurate, though the part about the prostitutes is probably fiction.

raywest

More The Borgias questions
Without A Trace picture

Copycat - S2-E5

Question: What song is being played when they find the woman in the car, and the paramedics are getting her on to the trolley?

Answer: "One of These Mornings" by Moby.

LuMaria 1

More Without A Trace questions
Numb3rs picture

Pilot - S1-E1

Question: After explaining why it is illogical to play the lottery, Charlie asks the FBI agent if he ever plays craps. I didn't get the joke. Any help?

Answer: Craps is a casino game where players bet on the outcome of a dice roll. It deals heavily with probabilities and is a favorite of math experts like Charlie. Whatever the odds, though, your chances of winning are much greater than winning the lottery.

More Numb3rs questions

Answer: It should also be noted, just because someone owns a small business (in this case a bar) doesn't mean they're rich, or they had to be rich or make enough money from another job in order to afford it. Banks provide small business loans and having steady employment, good credit history, solid business plan, etc would allow someone to get a loan. Most business owners even say they "own" whatever bar, restaurant, store, or business they run even if it's leased or mortgaged.

Bishop73

A proprietor may lease a building but they do own the business that is housed within it.

raywest

Answer: When Dwayne (Bakula) and his wife divorced, they divided their marital assets. The money for the "fixer-upper" bar that Dwayne bought came from selling their house.

raywest

More NCIS: New Orleans questions

Chosen answer: According to IMDb.com, it is Carly Simon.

Michael Albert

More Cold Case questions
Law & Order: UK picture

Care - S1-E1

Question: The defendant in this episode has prior convictions for GBH and HBH. I can deduce that GBH means "Grievous Bodily Harm," however, have never heard of HBH and can't seem to find a definition of it online. Anyone know it?

Captain Defenestrator

Chosen answer: You misheard ABH - Assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actual_bodily_harm.

Myridon

Ah, thanks.

Captain Defenestrator

More Law & Order: UK questions
Death in Paradise picture

Show generally

Question: Why did the cord on the wall phone in the police station change from straight in the early episodes to coiled later?

Answer: There's probably no particular reason. Sets and props on long-running TV shows often change as needed and for various reasons throughout a series run.

raywest

More Death in Paradise questions
Forever Knight picture

Show generally

Question: Two questions. 1. Was there some kind of contributing factor that made Nick want to be human again and if so what was it? 2. In one episode Janette is discovered to be human again. How did she accomplish this?

Answer: Nick was sick and tired of being an immortal bloodsucker. He wanted to be human, fall in love, get married, have children, grow old and die. As for Janette, according to her, she fell in love and the passion she felt "cured" her of her blood lust.

More Forever Knight questions

Answer: Louisa's watch was broken during the struggle to get away from her attacker.

Bishop73

More Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries questions

JAG (1995)

Chosen answer: When landing on an aircraft carrier, a pilot "calls the ball" by confirming to the landing signal officer (LSO) that they have the carrier, and more specifically its landing guidance systems in sight. Carriers use a Fresnel lens system which is a light only visible at a certain angle, so if a pilot sees the "ball" they are at the correct altitude and glide slope for landing.

Sierra1

More JAG questions
Ashes to Ashes picture

Episode #1.8 - S1-E8

Question: As we know Gene died in 1953 so how did he save Alex in 1981 from the car bomb, he was already dead and in the purgatory world?

Answer: Have you finished watching the entire series? I don't think it's fair to answer this for someone who hasn't.

Bishop73

Answer: Agree with the other answer. This is not the place for spoilers. I suggest checking the series' entry on Wikipedia. There is a synopsis of each season's episodes that may have the answer you seek. Check here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ashes_to_Ashes_episodes.

raywest

More Ashes to Ashes questions

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.