Jean G

Death by Resurrection - S1-E12

Continuity mistake: McBride and Ryan are driving through town in heavy traffic. When the shot cuts (and their conversation continues uninterrupted), not only does the rear view mirror disappear, but an obvious rear screen projection changes their locale to a country road with trees and no traffic at all. (00:06:00)

Jean G

The System - S3-E15

Continuity mistake: Phelps takes the tape from the recorder's right-hand spindle. When he opens the acid vat, we can see the tape he just removed back on the recorder - but on the left spindle. The tape he then drops into the acid doesn't remotely resemble the one he pulled, and when he drops it, the recorder's left spindle, where the full tape was in the last shot and where the empty reel should be, now has nothing on it at all. (00:02:50)

Jean G

Candidate for Crime - S3-E3

Continuity mistake: During his poolside talk with Nelson Hayward, Columbo carries a large cardboard box under one arm. His coat tail is hanging straight at his side in the master shot, but when it cuts to another angle, the coat is draped over more than half of the box. (01:15:00)

Jean G

Lovely But Lethal - S3-E1

Continuity mistake: Viveca's beauty mark switches cheeks several times between shots while she talks to her assistant. (00:07:45)

Jean G

Double Shock - S2-E8

Continuity mistake: Columbo stands in the doorway of Lisa's balcony while he questions her, and her gold drapery catches and hangs over his right shoulder, where it remains in all the close-ups. When the shot cuts, the drapery is no longer caught on his shoulder, but is safely folded against the wall behind him. (00:32:00)

Jean G

Étude in Black - S2-E1

Continuity mistake: When Columbo questions her about the carnations, Janice Benedict's sweater is either off her shoulders or covering them completely, depending on the shot. (01:11:00)

Jean G

Blueprint for Murder - S1-E8

Continuity mistake: When Columbo confronts Markham in the lecture hall and helps him erase the chalk board, most of the word "architecture" remains, visible over Columbo's shoulder. In the next shot, it disappears. (00:31:00)

Jean G

Like This It Means Father... Like This - Bitter... Like This - Tiger... - S4-E15

Continuity mistake: The bruise on Wilcox's cheek switches from the right side of his face to the left and back again several times throughout the episode.

Jean G

Short Fuse - S1-E7

Continuity mistake: When Buckner's car leaves the chemical plant, it's a stretch limo with three bench seats. When it explodes on the mountain road a few scenes later, it's only a two-seat limo. (Buckner, who was initially in the distant rear seat, is suddenly close enough to reach up and take the cigar box the chauffeur hands him from the front seat. The entire middle section of the limo has disappeared.) (00:13:40 - 00:15:30)

Jean G

Short Fuse - S1-E7

Continuity mistake: As Roger helps Columbo remove the pink Silly-String from his hair, the amount and configuration of the string differs radically with each change of camera angle. (00:37:30)

Jean G

Death Lends a Hand - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: During his lunch with Brimmer, Columbo's wine and water glasses switch places several times. (00:00:50)

Jean G

A Wrath of Angels - S1-E23

Continuity mistake: When Harry confronts Father Torres, he holds the gun at chest height in the over-the-shoulder shots, but only waist high in the reverse angles. (00:43:25)

Jean G

Season 3 generally

Continuity mistake: When George Maharis walked out over a salary dispute, his character Buz was said to be in the hospital and was absent for about 10 episodes. (The tiff finally resulted in his removal from the series in the 4th season.) Airing out of production order, however, rendered the bizarre third season phenomenon of a supposedly hospitalized Buz who re-appeared periodically as though he'd never been away, then was "sick" again in the next episode.

Jean G

Hey, Moth, Come Eat the Flame - S3-E11

Continuity mistake: In this episode, without explanation, Todd is suddenly driving a brand new 1963 Corvette instead of the previous 1961 model. But because the episodes were not aired in production order, the old car reappears six episodes later in "A Gift for a Warrior."

Jean G

The Night of Miguelito's Revenge - S4-E12

Continuity mistake: When West and Pike pour a drink for "absent friend" Arte, the glass is placed between a newspaper and a silver dish. In the following close-up, the paper and dish have disappeared and the glass sits alone on the table. (00:49:50)

Jean G

The Night of the Circus of Death - S3-E9

Continuity mistake: The draperies are fully engulfed in flames when the murderer runs through them and out onto the balcony. Cut to an exterior shot as he escapes, and the window dressings are perfectly intact with no sign of the fire. (00:03:10)

Jean G

The Night of the Sudden Plague - S1-E28

Continuity mistake: West draws a chalk outline around Arte, but leaves a large gap at the top, on the right side of the figure's head. A few shots later, the gap has filled itself in. (00:43:25)

Jean G

The Night of the Two-Legged Buffalo - S1-E23

Continuity mistake: Artemus is knocked unconscious and left alone on the floor of the train car when the prince is kidnapped. When he wakes up, he's lying in a different place and in a different position than before. (00:18:25)

Jean G

Show generally

Continuity mistake: Season 4, Episode 22, "Bonds of Steele": When the Unidac security chief confronts Laura, her wind-blown hair changes from over her eyes to not over her eyes with every change of camera angle. (00:25:00)

Jean G

Show generally

Continuity mistake: Season 4, Episode 18, "Steele at Your Service": When he meets Laura and Mildred in the mansion, Steele takes off his gloves. Just a few shots later, they're back on his hands. (00:16:10)

Jean G