The West Wing

Faith Based Initiative - S6-E10

Other mistake: In the flashback episode where the early days of the first Bartlet campaign are shown, Toby is "teaching" C.J. the proper technique for passing a basketball, something she is not very good at. Yet in this episode, when C.J.'s sexuality is questioned in the news, her history as a star basketball player in high school and college is revealed.

NSF Thurmont - S6-E1

Continuity mistake: Leo enters the situation room and is told the "planes are on the deck". He watches a video feed as a plane is launched from the USS Lincoln. The S3-B Viking is seen approaching one camera (single vertical tail fin, wing-mounted engines), then from another angle, we see an F-14 Tomcat lifting off (dual tails and fuselage-mounted engines) and moving away from camera. This is supposed to be live video, and it isn't possible two different jets are launching from the same carrier at the same exact moment, so it can only be a bad choice of stock footage by the show's makers. (00:38:55)

johnrosa

NSF Thurmont - S6-E1

Deliberate mistake: While a nice approximation, the helicopter used as 'Marine One' is significantly different (and much smaller) than the real ones used by the real White House (http://www.minihelicopter.net/Marine1/MarineOne.jpg). (00:38:10)

johnrosa

2162 Votes - S6-E22

Continuity mistake: Josh and another aide on the Mat Santos campaign are walking up the stairs to go out into a public area, as they reach the top of the stairs and about to go out the door they are not wearing sunglasses as obviously they are indoors, but in the next shot outside they are both wearing sunglasses without putting them on. (00:08:30)

carwilhan

365 Days - S6-E12

Continuity mistake: As the President leads the staff out of the Oval Office, the rear angle shot shows Kate Harper is ahead of Annabeth Schott. But the angle reverses to show them emerging from the office as Kate is coming around Annabeth's right side to pass her. (00:40:00)

johnrosa

NSF Thurmont - S6-E1

Continuity mistake: When C.J. and Toby discuss and have a snack in Toby's office while the president waits for Chairman Farad's call, at some point C.J. talks while holding the pack of peanut butter crackers in one hand, and one that she is about to eat in the other. Less than a second and a half later, the camera is back on her, but she is now seen holding a bottle of water that was on the table only seconds before. (00:24:25)

365 Days - S6-E12

Continuity mistake: When Kate Harper and Sec. Hutchinson are arguing about the hostages in Bolivia, the digital clocks on the wall behind Kate don't sync properly as the shot switches between the two of them. (00:30:15)

NSF Thurmont - S6-E1

Continuity mistake: When Kate is in Leo's office with the red folder on her lap, the position of her hands changes depending on the camera angle. Viewed from in front both hands are gripping either end of the folder, from behind her hands are clasped together and rested on top of the folder.

pinkwafer

365 Days - S6-E12

Factual error: When Will comes to Leo's office at the scheduled time of 6PM, the sun is shining brightly through Leo's window. Since this is the day after the State of The Union address which is mid-January, it would already be dark in DC.

bnemirow

The Birnam Wood - S6-E2

Other mistake: During the peace talks between the Arabs and Israelis CJ tells the press that the group had Maryland Crab Cake for lunch. Jews would not eat crab and some Muslims also would not.

The Birnam Wood - S6-E2

Factual error: Near the end of episode 1 in series 6, General Alexander is briefing Leo, and the screen shows the Alpha strike headed east toward Syria from the USS Lincoln, which is depicted as being in the Mediterranean. In episode 2, he briefs the press, telling them that the strike was launched from the Lincoln in the Gulf.

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In Excelsis Deo - S1-E10

Question: This is as good a place to ask as any. In various US TV shows (including this one, and this episode), someone says "I could care less", when they always seem to mean "I couldn't care less", ie. they have no interest in what's going on. Surely if they COULD care less that means they actually care a reasonable amount? Is there any logic to this, or is it just a really annoying innate lack of sense?

Jon Sandys

Chosen answer: A really annoying innate lack of sense. My friends and family say the same thing all the time, and I'm endlessly trying to correct them. I think people just don't know any better and (ironically) couldn't care less that they're speaking incorrectly.

Answer: It's an endlessly annoying dropped negative, and it's been a common colloquialism for far too long. I believe it comes from an original (and now omitted and merely implied) "As if" preceding the statement. "As if I could care less." (Meaning "As if it were possible that I could care even less than I do.") But there's really no way to know.

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