Movie Nut

16th Sep 2020

M*A*S*H (1972)

Show generally

Question: Whenever there are scenes in the shower tent, it seems that the direction of the showerheads change. Assuming the door is facing North, sometimes the showers are on the East side, sometimes West. Is this considered a mistake?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: According to the show, they have "bugged out" (moved) more than once. The shower would not necessarily have been put back in the same place each time.

stiiggy

Question: In the beginning, the journalist says "this is the first Starship Enterprise in thirty years without James T. Kirk in command." According to canon, the Enterprise-A was decommissioned in 2293, the same year the B was launched. Was she referring to Kirk's retirement in 2263?

Movie Nut

Answer: She was saying that Kirk had been captain of the Enterprise for around 30 years, so the reference to "the Enterprise without James T. Kirk in command" was referring to Christopher Pike's tenure as captain until 2265 (a bit less than 30 years but she was rounding up).

Sierra1

Question: When Kirk and Scotty first enters the Enterprise, the hatch is numbered 5. But the computer announces that a travel pod is available at Cargo 6. Would that be considered an error?

Movie Nut

Answer: Possibly, or there could also be another travel pod that is available at Cargo 6, and that is what is being announced.

raywest

12th Jun 2020

Mad Max 2 (1981)

Question: In the initial chase scene when Max secured the Semi for pulling the tanker, the driver of the car with the man in back firing the triple arrow cannon gets the snake dropped on him and fires the arrows into the back of the driver's seat. The arrows stop because of the padding. Am I mistaken, or did the arrows not go through enough to reach the driver?

Movie Nut

Answer: From what I saw in that scene, the arrows did penetrate through the padding into the driver, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Scott215

Season 1 generally

Question: In Season 1, Episode 23 "Skin of Evil", Tasha Yar was killed. But in the three following episodes, in the opening credits, Denise Crosby (Lt. Tasha Yar) is still listed. Am I correct in thinking that the producers decided to use the original opening credits for the remaining three episodes of the season, and changed them after Gates McFadden left the series for Season Two?

Movie Nut

Answer: The producers would not change the credits so near the end of the season, nor was there any reason to. She was a cast member for Season One, even if she did not appear in all episodes, and therefore is credited. It would also be expensive to redo the opening cast credits.

raywest

8th Oct 2019

Knight Rider (1982)

No Big Thing - S1-E8

Question: In this episode, in an aerial view of KITT travelling before meeting the semi, KITT is passing a parked car that seems to be one of the other cars used as the stand-in for the 'hero car'. Would that be any sort of error? (00:23:35)

Movie Nut

Answer: I would say that unless there's visual evidence it was another K.I.T.T. car, as in you could see the bar scanner or cut steering wheel, people on here would correct the mistake by saying more than one 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am was sold and there's no reason it's meant to be a random car.

Bishop73

7th Oct 2019

Knight Rider (1982)

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

Relics - S6-E4

Question: When Scotty was at the door of the Holodeck, he calls for the bridge of the Enterprise, "no bloody A, B, C, or D." When the doors open, it's the bridge of the original ship. However, he was Chief Engineer on the refit Enterprise (no A). Besides the obvious "it's in the script", why didn't the computer ask for a distinction?

Movie Nut

Answer: As a product of 24th Century technology, the ship's computer is an example of extremely advanced artificial intelligence that is capable of intuiting deeper meanings based on inflection and speaker personality profiles. The computer probably (and correctly) intuited from Scotty's profile and the exasperated tone of his voice that he meant the original, unmodified Enterprise NCC 1701.

Charles Austin Miller

17th May 2019

Gilligan's Island (1964)

Chosen answer: Since there is no way any of them could have opened the curtain I would say it is a mistake.

Bowling255

I think it's the monkey! Maybe they cut them out of that episode and forgot about the curtain part.

Question: When Bond hands Moneypenny the photo before he leaves, he writes "From Russia With Love" on it. Would this be another in a series of Bond sight gags, similar to stopping the bomb timer at "007" seconds in "Goldfinger"?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: It would, yes. Also I am to understand that it's his sense of humour.

Alan Keddie

19th Sep 2017

Hogan's Heroes (1965)

The Gold Rush - S1-E18

Question: In this episode, Hogan and company used gold bars disguised as bricks to replace the destroyed wooden steps. However, the next episode, "Hello Zolle", the steps are back to wood. Is this considered a Continuity mistake or was it cost a cost cutting measure?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: It was neither of those. In earlier TV shows, it was typical that each episode was a self-contained story, and the plots and non-regular characters were rarely carried over from previous shows to the next. Any problems or situations were resolved at the end, even if some plot threads were illogically left unexplained. This allowed episodes to be aired in any random order. Today's TV series usually have ongoing linear timelines and continuous plots that are played out over multiple seasons.

raywest

14th Sep 2017

Mary Poppins (1964)

Question: If the children had run after the kite, and were on the other side of the park, how did they know that Katie Nanna was gone?

Movie Nut

Answer: It wasn't exactly specified exactly how far they ran, so they could have been very far away from her. Also, she probably saw them run away but didn't care too much about it, or at least didn't notice their kite, and just left.

18th Jul 2017

Doctor Who (2005)

Rise of the Cybermen (1) - S2-E8

Question: This and the next episode credits John Lumic with the creation of the Cybermen. However, in "The World and Time", it appears the Master creates the Cybermen. Which is the correct line?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: This episode takes place on an alternate Earth. This is where this version of the Cybermen were created. However the Cybermen first debuted in 1966 in the episode "The Tenth Planet". Originating from the planet Mondas. So both are true. The Master's Mondasian Cybermen, and Lumic's Cybus Cybermen.

MasterOfAll

In classic There were Cybermen from this universe which were people whose bodies were failing so they used spare parts to become Cybermen they came from places like Mondas it was destroyed so they went to some other plants to live. The new Doctor Who rise of the Cybermen takes place in an alternative universe where people's brains were put in Cybermen suits these Cybermen ended up coming through to are universe. Matt Smith's last season the Cybermen were mentioned to being from this universe. The Cybermen the master used in the world and time - the master had people's Souls uploaded in gallifreyan technology and then she downloaded them into Cybermen suits. So you have original Cybermen/ alternative universe Cybermen/ back to original Cybermen/ Then Masters Cybermen/ and then Cybermen from Peter Capaldi's episodes to do with the original.

The original Cybermen planet was destroyed but they were seen on other planets.

Dan23

Chosen answer: Yes, Data's contacts did noticeably drift on occasion, which was a source of angst for Brent Spiner (who played Data and Lore). Spiner never had anything good to say about his yellow contact lenses, as they were his least favorite part of the lengthy makeup process. Rather than further discomfort Spiner by constantly adjusting the contacts, they would often just continue shooting in spite of this minor makeup malfunction, unless he looked positively cockeyed.

Charles Austin Miller

23rd May 2017

Gremlins (1984)

Question: Looking at the Gremlin-filled theater, there seems to be a definite line between the last row of white seats and first row if red seats in the middle, as if two scenes were super imposed. Is this a filming error?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: There is a walkway in between those seats, hence why they are separated like that.

lionhead

30th Jan 2017

Star Trek (1966)

Chosen answer: Rank and position aren't directly correlated. An officer may be promoted to a higher rank, but maintain his/her current position. And an officer may be assigned new duties without a promotion. Spock is eventually promoted to full commander, but it isn't a requirement for the job.

23rd Jan 2017

Star Wars (1977)

Question: In Obi-Wan's home, he explains that Luke's father wanted Luke to have his lightsaber when he was old enough. But in "Revenge of the Sith", in Anakin's (Vader's) last fight with Obi-wan, Anakin's legs and right arm were severed and his saber was lost. So how could he give it to Obi-Wan to give to his unborn son if it was lost and Vader left for dead?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: Anakin's Lightsaber was never lost. When Obi-Wan cut Anakin down (when Anakin jumped at him), Anakin's lightsaber falls to the ground next to Obi-Wan and when Obi-Wan leaves, we see him pick it up.

Bishop73

And as far as "your father wanted you to have this", it's a lie. Remember that Obi-wan is spinning a yarn to Luke about his father to keep from revealing that his father is Darth Vader.

Well, he might have wanted him to have it, "from a certain point of view."

Show generally

Question: Ted (Lurch) Cassidy was a total of six feet nine inches tall. A number of times, especially in Season 2 Episode 6, "Cousin Itt's Problem", it seems the top of his head barely clears to top of the door jamb. Were the doors seven feet tall back then?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: Being that this was filmed in a TV studio, the set would have been specially designed and built to accommodate Cassidy's height. Also, I live in an older house (100 years-old), and all the inner and outer doors are eight feet tall.

raywest

16th Oct 2016

Hogan's Heroes (1965)

The Antique - S5-E12

Question: When Hogan gives Klink $100 for the cuckoo clock, the bill handed over was a crisp American $100 note. How did Hogan get an American $100 note? At best, in this time period, he should only have Reich Marks. And how would he have 333 Marks, 33 pfennigs? Unless he had a side businesses going, this seems unlikely.

Movie Nut

Answer: It's a comedy, not a documentary.

stiiggy

Perhaps it was counterfeit. There are numerous episodes where they deal in counterfeit monies.

Answer: Werner Klemperer fled Nazi Germany as a teenager. His two conditions for taking the role of Colonel Klink were that he had to be a bumbling idiot and he always had to lose. It would then be a character mistake that if Hogan offers him a fresh American hundred-dollar bill, he's not going to ask questions, he's going to take the deal. The fact that he's Commandant and could just confiscate the money from Hogan would never occur to him because, again, he's a bumbling idiot who, by the actor's contract, always has to lose.

Captain Defenestrator

Chosen answer: Hogan and his men are running a spy ring out of the camp, they have access to supplies from outside. (In another episode, they have to convince a defecting German officer that they're legitimately working for the Allies by arranging a specific personal ad to run in the next day's London Times, so a new $100 bill is not beyond their capabilities).

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: Rightfully, Hogan should not have any money at all. POW were stripped of all cash they carried. The intention was to make escape more difficult. The fact that Hogan has what is the equivalent of a third of the price of a KdF-Wagen (You'd probably know it as a Volkswagen Beetle) in cash should rightfully make Klink more than a litle suspicious.

Chosen answer: Dr. Zaius did know the true history of man and ape, but he deliberately hid the truth from the other apes. For Zaius (and other high-ranking apes who were guarding the secret), it would be shameful and demoralizing to ever admit that humans were far superior to apes in the past and that they could, potentially, conquer the apes. In more than one scene (such as the paper airplane scene in the first film), we see Zaius obviously frustrated that Taylor's very existence threatens to expose the truth.

Charles Austin Miller

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