Best western TV factual errors of all time

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Little House on the Prairie picture

Meet Me At The Fair - S4-E11

Factual error: When the hot air balloon comes down with Carrie in it you can see N410AA printed on it. This is commonly called a tail number on planes and is issued through the FAA, which of course did not exist during the time period of the episode.

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Suggested correction: Wasn't Mary the one in the balloon?

Mary was in the balloon earlier in the episode with the man who runs it but near the end, Carrie wondered off into it and it took off with her inside ALONE.

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The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. picture

Riverboat - S1-E6

Factual error: A character in the episode has invented denim, but denim was invented in 1873 and was being used widely up to the time period of the series, which is set in 1893.

Scott215

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Suggested correction: The entire series was set in an alternate history of sorts, so most, if not all, historical "inaccuracies" cannot be regarded as mistakes.

zendaddy621

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Alias Smith and Jones picture

The Man Who Broke the Bank at Red Gap - S2-E17

Factual error: An egotistical, prissy and dishonest lawyer like Mr. Fletcher wouldn't make the mistake of allowing his name to be misspelled on his office door. It reads "Winfred Fletcher." His first name, as it's pronounced throughout the episode, is "Winford." (00:26:50)

Jean G

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Longmire picture

Carcasses - S2-E2

Factual error: Several times firearms registration is mentioned, but Wyoming has basically no gun laws. No registration is required, and no concealed carry permits are required.

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Hell on Wheels picture

Derailed - S1-E8

Factual error: When the whore is talking to Lily, she says "The first thing she should do (in her new tent) is to get the carpenter to lay some boards, or she will be saying hello to Mr. Trench Foot", referring to the medical issue related to feet in wet and unsanitary conditions. This disease of the feet was not referred to as this until World War One. (00:23:10)

ExpatScott

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Gunsmoke picture

Custer - S2-E3

Factual error: In the opening scene Marshal Dillon walks in Boot Hill cemetery. Dates on grave markers include 1883 and 1882. At the end of the episode Marshal Dillon and Chester discuss an Army deserter who had just been acquitted of a murder that Marshal Dillon was sure he had committed. The army deserter is being sent back to his unit to fight the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians under Gen. Custer. The viewer knows the army deserter will soon die in the Battle of Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876 - seven years before the date on one of the grave markers. (00:00:25 - 00:24:30)

Junius

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Bonanza picture

Enter Mark Twain - S1-E5

Factual error: Samuel Clemens, who has written several humorous tales for the Territorial Enterprise, tells the publisher he would like to start writing serious news stories. The publisher replies, "This is a newspaper, not a comic strip. You write it and I'll print it." The first comic strip, "The Little Bears," debuted in 1893 and the term "comic strip" did not enter the vocabulary until 1920. "Bonanza" is set in the 1860s.

Steven Lee

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The High Chaparral picture

Sea of Enemies - S2-E14

Factual error: Graham repeatedly sings a song he says his grandmother taught him: "Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown, What You Gonna Do When the Rent Come Round?" This was a Vaudeville stage composition written by Andrew B. Sterling and Harry Von Tilzer - in 1905. High Chaparral is set in the 1870s.

Jean G

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Wagon Train picture

The Mark Miner Story - S5-E8

Factual error: At an 1868 church service, Mark sings "How Great Thou Art." While the tune of this hymn is 19th Century, the English lyrics he's singing weren't composed until the 1920s.

Jean G

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F Troop picture

Scourge of the West - S1-E1

Factual error: We see how the accident-prone Wilton Parmenter was a soldier at Appotomatox during the Civil War when he sneezed. Union soldiers mistook his sneezing for a call to regroup and charge, winning the battle. Wilton Parmenter was awarded the Medal Of Honour. Accident-prone, even in his moment of glory, when the medal was pinned on Wilton's chest it pierced his skin, drawing blood. Wilton was therefore awarded the Purple Heart, becoming "the only soldier in history to get a medal for getting a medal." This was not possible, for the "Purple Heart" (or "Badge Of Military Merit", to use its proper title) awarded to US soldiers wounded in action, was only instituted in 1932. (Before somebody corrects me, George Washington did institute the award for some distinguished combatants during the War Of Independence, but it was never awarded during the nineteenth century, and revived in 1932).

Rob Halliday

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Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman picture

Brother's Keeper - S4-E4

Factual error: None of the Swedish wedding traditions Ingrid mention actually existed in the 19th century and the bread she's baked is not traditionally Swedish. When she later speaks in her mother tongue it's definitely not Swedish.

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1883 picture

The Crossing - S1-E4

Factual error: The Dutton camp as well as Shea Brennon and Thomas are using modern thin Teflon/non-stick coated coffee mugs/pot.

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Yellowstone picture

No Good Horses - S1-E3

Factual error: The intro takes place in March. The trees in the background say otherwise. In the mountains in March, leaves are usually not fully developed on trees until April at the earliest. The scene was likely shot in the fall.

manthabeat

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Westworld picture

Trace Decay - S1-E8

Factual error: When the armed party comes into town to steal the safe in the bar, the leader points a repeating rifle at a victim on the ground and shoots. When he fires a used cartridge flies from the gun. Repeating rifles do not eject cartridges when they are fired. Automatic weapons eject a spent cartridge when fired. Repeating rifles only eject the cartridge when the lever is wrenched. (00:32:20)

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Kung Fu picture Kung Fu mistake picture

The Chalice - S2-E3

Factual error: After the opening credits, Caine is walking along the beach. On the beach behind him, you can see a modern long-board surfboard lying in the sand which gets caught up in a wave.

Bluejay70

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The Rifleman picture

Show generally

Factual error: Lucas is constantly twirling the rifle after rapid firing a few shots. Since the cocking ring is set on semi-automatic, the rifle should fire as it comes around.

Paul Rybak

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Suggested correction: He twirls the rifle in the opening of the show, after he's just emptied it completely.

The original comment doesn't state the beginning of the show. This does happen throughout the series.

terry s

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