Best TV character mistakes of 1990

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Seinfeld picture

The Dog - S3-E4

Character mistake: When George and Elaine go to the coffee shop after The Movie without Jerry, they establish that Elaine moved to NYC in 1986. Then they make fun of the way that Jerry throws up; both imitating Jerry. The "Dinner Party" episode is after the "The Dog". In the "Dinner Party" episode, Jerry brags that he hasn't thrown up since June 29th, 1980. The black and white cookie ended this streak. Elaine would not have been around to see this, not arriving in NYC until 1986.

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Twin Peaks picture

Episode Sixteen - S2-E9

Character mistake: At the Roadhouse Cooper states that the second victim (Maddy) was found dead two days ago. It has been less than 24 hours since the body was found: he likely means she was murdered two days ago.

pinkwafer

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Law & Order picture

Remand - S6-E10

Character mistake: McCoy asks his witness, an expert geneticist, what the odds are that a DNA sample presented in evidence does not match that of the defendant. He answers "About one in two hundred." That is idiotic. If the DNA samples are identical the chances that the the sample presented in evidence does not come from the defendant is about one in two billion, not one in two hundred! A bright high school senior would know that, never mind an expert geneticist.

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

Suggested correction: If the odds are 1 in 200, that means the accuracy of the DNA is 99.5%. If the odds are 1 in 2 billion, that means the accuracy of the DNA is 99.9999999995%, which simply isn't true.

Bishop73

In fact as any geneticist (i.e, anyone like me) will tell you the chances of two identical DNA "fingerprints" coming from two different and unrelated individuals are around one in two thousand million. Two billion. In fact the odds are much higher than that but we scientists don't like to make claims that sound unlikely or fantastic. The accuracy of DNA fingerprinting is, as you point out, 99.9999999995%. You correction is wrong and the posting is correct.

Except that's not what happened in the scene or what happens in real life. You simply don't understand what you're arguing. You're not a geneticist.

Bishop73

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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air picture

Bang the Drum, Ashley - S1-E2

Character mistake: When Geoffrey serves tea after his sassy cough at Vivian's sentence about High Tea not being a sacred institution, the actor messes up when it's time to actually serve tea, with a napkin getting caught in the teacup saucer. Granted, accidents do happen, but it's quite uncharacteristic for the perfect butler Geoffrey is portrayed to be, and simply a flub by Joseph Marcell. (00:17:45)

Sammo

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Jeeves & Wooster picture

Lady Florence Craye Arrives in New York (or, the Once and Future Ex) - S4-E2

Character mistake: Cheesewright is trying to convince the police to raid the charity ball because alcohol is going to be served. The police chief tells him they stay out of private affairs and Cheesewright replies "The law's the law!" Prohibition made illegal the sale and transport of alcohol, but people were still allowed to have it in their homes or private functions. No laws were being broken. (00:33:30)

Captain Defenestrator

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The Bradys picture

The Brady 500 - S1-E1

Character mistake: Bobby gets injured in a racing accident. When the family is told by Greg that Bobby is paralyzed and can't walk, Marcia starts to smile, then quickly changes to a sad face to match the situation.

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