The West Wing

Correction: While it may traditionally be done, it's not a rule and not a mistake. In the past, some members of the First Family have had names starting with different letters (Rose Kennedy for example), and some presidents and First Wives have been given two code names with different letters (Barbara Bush was Snowbank and Tranquility).

Bishop73

Access - S5-E18

Corrected entry: At the end of this episode the narrator of the documentary claims that C.J. Cregg is the only woman in history to serve two full terms as White House Press Secretary. In later episodes C.J. is promoted to Chief of Staff; not serving a full eight years as Press Secretary.

Correction: The narrator only says "two terms", never "two full terms". Her first term was served in full, her second term partially served (perhaps 2/3 of it).

johnrosa

An Khe - S5-E14

Corrected entry: Early in the episode a four-star US army general notifies President Bartlett that a US Navy E2 "Hawkeye" was shot down over the Sea of Japan. The footage shows the operators of said aircraft sitting in single file. E2 operators sit side by side. The pilot is controlling the aircraft with a control stick. E2's have a steering yoke. The footage shows the operators ejecting. E2's don't have ejection seats. Finally, the sound of the plane is that of a turbojet. E2's are turboprop powered aircraft, and are, in fact, known for the distinctive humming sound that they make. (00:01:40 - 00:04:40)

Correction: The opening sequence is that of Leo and his friend in Vietnam in a Thunderchief - no footage of the Hawkeye is shown. Leo being shot down in Vietnam provides the backstory for the episode and helps to explain his limp.

Season 5 generally

Continuity mistake: When the plan to kill the Qumari defense minister is being contemplated, several times in the last episodes of Season 3, and at least once in season 4, he 's referred to the Sultan's brother. In season 5, he is referred to as both his cousin and his brother.

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Trivia: Martin Sheen also played the President in the mini series "Kennedy" and in another character's vision in 1983's The Dead Zone.

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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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