Corrected entry: Season 5 Episode 104 "Family 8108": In the final 10 minutes, several characters make reference to a "Distinguished Combat Medal." There is no such medal awarded to U.S. military personnel, but there is a Distinguished Service Cross. Players of certain war-oriented video games can earn a Distinguished Combat Medal, but not in real life. [[According to the West Wing Continuity Monitor, there have also been references to a DCM on the show "West Wing," but the Monitor website also notes there is no such medal.]].
Cold Case (2003)
1 corrected entry in show generally
Starring: Kathryn Morris, Jeremy Ratchford, John Finn, Thom Barry
Revealing mistake: When Mr. Hathaway contacts Scotty as they dig up his son's bicycle, a shot of Hathaway shows Los Angeles' US Bank Tower in the background. The series is set in Philadelphia.
Lilly Rush: People shouldn't be forgotten. They matter. They should get justice, too.
Question: Who sings the song "You Are My Sunshine" at the end of this episode?
Chosen answer: According to IMDb.com, it is Carly Simon.
Correction: Fictional medals and awards are often used out of respect for real-life combat veterans who earned real awards (especially if the show is portraying the character as the killer). As long as they remain consistent and true within the world of the show, fictionalized elements aren't mistakes.
JC Fernandez