Michael Albert

23rd Sep 2018

Grease (1978)

Question: Toward the beginning of the movie, when Sonny is being chastised by Miss McGee for dawdling in the hallway, he mutters something in Italian when she turns away. It's audible enough to cause her to turn back and suggest a session of "banging erasers." Does anyone know what he's muttering?

Michael Albert

Answer: Its not really Italian, but roughly he says something like "Fanabala Puttana" which means "You bitch whore." Again, not fully correctly spoken as the actor knows hardly any Italian.

lionhead

Answer: Sonny says "un altra brutta putana" which translates to another dirty slut.

Answer: Translates to "another stupid b****".

22nd Oct 2017

Will & Grace (1998)

Grandpa Jack - S9-E4

Question: This is a question without a knowable answer. But I wonder if anyone has thoughts as to why we hear nothing of Elliot's mother? Jack and Elliot are estranged. Elliot's mother, Bonnie (originally played by Rosie O'Donnell), acknowledged to Jack that she is a lesbian in the original run of the series. So, when Elliot marries a conservative woman, moves to Texas, and makes plans to send his gay son to a gay conversion camp, where is Bonnie in all of this?

Michael Albert

23rd Jan 2017

La La Land (2016)

Question: I may have missed this, but early in the film, how did Mia and Sebastian get into the empty planetarium? It must have been locked up pretty tight. Did someone let them in? Did they break in? I'm guessing this was explained and I didn't catch it.

Michael Albert

Chosen answer: The answer is, "It's a movie." They wouldn't have been able to drive up to the entrance either. The entire sequence is fantasy-driven.

30th Jun 2016

The Time Machine (2002)

Other mistake: When Vox, the New York Library database, is bidding farewell to Professor Hartdegen, it states, "live long and prosper" while holding up the hand shape Mr. Spock used in the original "Star Trek" series. It is produced incorrectly. The thumb should not be next to the forefinger. It should be extended at an angle from the other fingers, so the hand represents the Hebrew letter "shin." This, as Leonard Nimoy has explained, is derived from a hand gesture used by Orthodox Jewish rabbis during blessing rituals.

Michael Albert

13th May 2016

Designing Women (1986)

Julia Gets Her Head Stuck in a Fence - S4-E8

Stupidity: Once he decided to finally saw into the banister, all Anthony had to do to get Julia's head out was to saw through one of the thin posts on either side of her head. Instead, he saws through an enormous section of the staircase, later causing the governor to accidentally fall through. If he didn't realise that, one of the other designers, all who were looking on, should have. It's a lot to presume they all would have been that careless just for the benefit of a sight gag.

Michael Albert

Rightful Heir - S6-E23

Plot hole: During a private conversation with Worf, (the not yet revealed to be clone of) Kahless recounts a time during Worf's childhood when the actual Kahless appeared to Worf in a vision and told him he would do something no other Klingon had ever done. However, it would be impossible for a clone to have such a memory, as his creators would have no knowledge that such a memory even existed, let alone the circumstances and specific content of that vision.

Michael Albert

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

Suggested correction: The implication is that Koroth or one of the other priests knew of Worf's vision. Given the purpose of the temple, and the fact Worf had discussions with Koroth prior to the clone appearing, it is obvious that Worf told either Koroth or one of the other priests the specifics of his vision and that his purpose for being there was he wished to see Kahless again.

BaconIsMyBFF

14th Dec 2015

Law & Order (1990)

Show generally

Question: There were a few times during the series when the police would be looking for information from, say, a group of prostitutes on the street, or a group of men involved with buying/selling drugs in an alley, or some low level criminal they were questioning. Detective Briscoe would pull out one of his business cards, and announce something like, "this is a get out of jail free card" for the person who would come forward to tell them where to find the person they were looking for, or to identify a photo. I always wondered, would some future police officer or detective investigating some new crime really honor that? What if it was a more serious crime? Or even if it was just another simple drug or prostitution bust, and not something more serious, wouldn't that later officer lose the leverage of that arrest, and maybe the possibility of finding a "bigger fish" or whatever they were trying to do?

Michael Albert

Chosen answer: If the prostitute with the card was arrested, she would likely ask to speak to Briscoe. Briscoe would visit, recognize her, and have her released because of it, if it was simply prostitution or a drug Possession charge. Those crimes mean nothing when looking for a murderer or rapist.

Greg Dwyer

19th Oct 2015

The Practice (1997)

Life Sentence - S4-E22

Trivia: Camryn Manheim uses sign language with her client, played by Marlee Matlin. Before becoming an actress, Camryn Manheim actually worked as a sign language interpreter and job trainer/placement specialist for the deaf. She also used her sign language skills in an episode of "Law and Order" called "Benevolence," where she portrayed a defense attorney for a deaf man accused of murdering his girlfriend.

Michael Albert

19th Oct 2015

Law & Order (1990)

Benevolence - S3-E22

Character mistake: When the focus of an investigation of the murder of a deaf woman turns from a deaf activist named Paul Crandall, to Gordon Bryce, the hearing director of an institute for the deaf, Ben Stone instructs Mr. Robinette to "tell Crandall's attorney we're dismissing the charges against his client." However, Crandall's attorney, seen earlier in a scene with Stone and Robinette, was actually a woman, played by Camryn Manheim.

Michael Albert

11th Sep 2015

Capote (2005)

Continuity mistake: While having dinner at the home of Alvin and Marie Dewey, Capote takes a large drag off a cigarette. The shot then immediately changes to close-up, so it appears as though he never exhales.

Michael Albert

Darmok - S5-E2

Revealing mistake: When Picard takes his seat in the Captain's chair after informing Dathon's crew he has been killed, the reflection of an overhead rig of gelled lights can be seen in the blade of Dathon's knife, which Picard is holding, as Picard says the line, "but at least they're not new enemies."

Michael Albert

2nd Jul 2015

Airplane (1980)

Other mistake: In the closing credits, Ann M. Nelson, who hung herself early in the film out of sheer boredom at Striker's longwinded story, is listed as the "Handing Lady" rather than the "Hanging Lady."

Michael Albert

9th Jun 2015

Will & Grace (1998)

A Little Christmas Queer - S8-E9

Continuity mistake: Shortly after arriving at their mother's house, Will's brother, Sam, nervously excuses himself from a conversation with Grace. "Excuse me," he says, "I have to go get a ladder. There's a couple of bulbs out in front, and now it just says 'Happy Ho-days.'" However, exterior shots of the front of the house show no holiday lights whatsoever.

Michael Albert

25th Feb 2015

Glee (2009)

What the World Needs Now - S6-E6

Continuity mistake: When Rachel is singing the final long note of "Promises, Promises," she slowly raises her arms to above shoulder level. Then, a shot from behind shows her arms well below shoulder level, then a return to a front shot shows her arms slightly above shoulder level again.

Michael Albert

2nd Feb 2015

Sybil (1976)

Question: I have always wondered how the movie crew and cast worked with Natasha Ryan, the actress who played young Sybil. There were scenes that were very frightening, dealing with terrible tortures. I always wondered if that was traumatic for the young girl? Or, if not, how was trauma avoided. More generally, does anyone know how movie productions deal with children on the set of films with frightening, traumatic and/or controversial themes?

Michael Albert

Chosen answer: In these types of movies, where young actors are involved in intense scenes, every precaution is taken to ensure that they are never frightened or emotionally compromised. Child psychologists, acting coaches, and the director are on set and work closely with them. A child's parent or guardian is also always close by. Child Protective Services oversee how child actors are being utilized in films and TV shows and there are strict laws and regulations regarding how child actors are treated, how many hours per day they can work, etc. Scenes are also carefully filmed and edited in such a way that can appear to be very intense, but were not emotionally stressful to the child. Also, stand-ins can be used for certain shots.

raywest

Trivia: The iconic song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft. Mr. Ravenscroft (who died in 2005 at 91 years old) is also famous for providing the deep, resonant voice of Tony the Tiger, the brand mascot for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.

Michael Albert

9th Jan 2015

Will & Grace (1998)

Fred Astaire & Ginger Chicken - S6-E20

Plot hole: Jack spends part of this episode clumsily teaching Karen basic steps of the fox trot for her wedding dance with Finster. However, in season 4, episode 16 ("A Chorus Lie") It is established that Karen and her husband Stan have, for years, performed an annual spotlight dance at their Valentine's party on Shelter Island. Later, she and Will are seen beginning a rather elegant fox trot to "Someone to Watch Over Me," complete with spins and a dip.

Michael Albert

9th Jan 2015

Will & Grace (1998)

No Sex 'N' The City - S6-E19

Character mistake: When talking to Will on the phone, Grace misuses the term "pied-à-terre" (which means "apartment" in French) instead of "pas de deux" (a dance for two) while describing the delicate and complex nature of a relationship between two gay men. When Will points out her error, she says she knows what pied-à-terre means because she took Spanish in high school. However, in season 1, episode 20 ("Saving Grace"), Grace correctly and easily used the term pied-à-terre while showing her sample book to a potential client.

Michael Albert

22nd Oct 2014

Resurrection (2014)

Old Scars - S2-E4

Character mistake: At the end of the scene in the grocery store when Rachel collapses and people run to her aid, the camera pans out to reveal a sign that prominently reveals a sale on "Pop Tards" or possibly "Pop Taros."

Michael Albert

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