Best TV mistakes of all time

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Christmas Special 2012 - S3-E9

Continuity mistake: In this episode, Cora tells Mr. Gregson that she started reading "The Sketch" when Edith began to write for him. In Season one, episode one, Carson tells William to iron "The Sketch", because "her ladyship only ever reads the Sketch."

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India Special - S18-E1

Revealing mistake: Watch the opening sequence of this episode very carefully - Clarkson, May and Hammond are not in Downing Street (they are on a set that stands on the BBC backlot) and library footage of the Prime Minister is cleverly edited in to make it look as if they were there at the same time. Even taking into account the fact that the Prime Minister's security service would never allow such an intrusion onto Downing Street, the line up of the shots does not quite match - our three intrepid heroes should be visible in shot when the Prime Minister is shown exiting number 10, but they are nowhere to be seen. It is all sleight of hand and clever editing, but detectable if you watch carefully enough.

PEDAUNT

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Shalom - S4-E1

Visible crew/equipment: When Gibbs and Ziva are in the "safehouse" Ziva set up for Ari, a crew member and his boom microphone are seen on the left of the screen, right before Gibbs climbs the ladder to remove the hidden camera spying on them. (00:30:10)

JackAndtheBox

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Show generally

Other mistake: During the closing theme (early seasons), when Fred walks by to close the birdcage, Wilma is shown in the background sleeping and her entire mouth is missing.

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The Uniform - S2-E11

Character mistake: While handcuffing an auxiliary officer in his apartment, there is a poster on the wall reading, "attention military personal..." Personal is misused. It should read "attention military personnel." (00:16:02)

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Possibility Two - S1-E17

Character mistake: They are in the interrogation room questioning the fiancé of the scientist Natasha when the captain says, "the blood we found at the scene of your fiance's murder, it didn't belong to Bobby Cordero." The characters name was Benny Cordero, which the captain says correctly a few lines later. (00:33:25)

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Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: This series is not meant to be taken in exact chronological order. Most episodes have no dates or time of the year set. Unless we have reference to a date or time period of the year; we have no way of knowing if the continuity is truly off as this series is meant for the episodes to be taken within a generalized time. Not in any specific chronology except for a few where the time period is specific. Neither this episode or the one before it has reference to a date in time.

Suggested correction: While the other correction is wrong, the real reason this isn't a mistake is because the episodes were aired out of order they were produced, which means it's not a mistake within the context of the show. "Bend It Like Baxter" (production code 315) was filmed before the previous episode, "Double Vision" (production code 318).

Bishop73

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Enemy Fire - S3-E2

Continuity mistake: In episode 2-4 "The Funk Hole " which takes place in the fall of 1940, Andrew states to Sam that his mother died when he was eight years old. In this episode (Feb to June 1941), Foyle is looking at his wife's grave; it shows his mother died in 1932, which would have meant Andrew was born in 1924, and only 16 in 1940, far too young to be a Spitfire pilot. Also, his commanding officer states "the younger pilots look up to you, Andrew", before one of the "younger" pilots (age 19) is badly burned in a crash in Andrew's plane.

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The Blind Banker - S1-E2

Continuity mistake: When Sherlock is backstage at the circus and finds the yellow spray paint, he draws a line on the mirror. In the next shot, the line he drew is completely different (and in fact is more of a squiggle). (01:07:40)

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Death Takes a Holiday - S9-E5

Visible crew/equipment: After Charles confronts Choi Sung Ho about the candy, Ho explains that he sold it on the black market to buy real food, and when Ho reenters the mess tent through the side door, we can see that outside there's a director's chair, which actors also use, with something printed on its back.

Super Grover

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First Day - S1-E1

Character mistake: When Will tries to quote the law to the barman, he states that the group must be "accompanied by an adult" in order to drink alcohol with food. However, since he just served Jay, he believed Jay was an adult; and Jay is accompanying the group. Both Will and tha bartender miss this.

Moose

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Curtain Call - S4-E13

Revealing mistake: When Elsa is waiting in the lobby, she's wearing a dress which shows her normal, not wooden legs. It's very apparent when she is crying on the floor.

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The Whine Cellar - S2-E10

Other mistake: When Sylvia is outside the Sheffield mansion she says "I wonder if my daughter Fran is at home? I will see if she is" the doorbell rings as soon as she finishes that line, but you can see both her hands are visible. She can't have rung the doorbell.

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Red Dress - S1-E2

Visible crew/equipment: When Dewey yells for Lois because the bow was put on the present, if you look to the left of Lois, you will see a crewmember kneeling down, handing Lois the Red Dress, who is holding a bucket of water. He quickly gets out of the camera's view. [This is on the DVD of the first season. Someone said on the audio commentary that after catching it, they deliberately left it in to see if anyone would spot it. It's still a mistake, but that's why it's there.]

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Pandora - S3-E4

Other mistake: Cook and Effy manage to fall through Pandora's Mum's wardrobe, into the next door neighbor's bedroom. But this is not possible as the neighbors' houses are detached.

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