The Big Bang Theory

The Nerdvana Annihilation - S1-E14

Factual error: The time machine in this episode is supposedly the same one used in the H.G. Wells movie, but there are mistakes in the controls that would have been obvious to the characters: 1. When Leonard first gets into the machine he talks about traveling into the past and says something like "I'm setting the date to..." That is the method used to operate the Wayback Machine in the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon, but not the time machine in the H.G. Wells movie. Rod Taylor could not set the desired date on the controls, he simply used the lever to move forward and backward through time and the date display updated automatically to show the current date. 2. In the movie the default position of the lever was at a 45 degree angle. Pushing the lever forward moved the machine into the future, pulling back on the lever moved the machine into the past. In the TV show the default position of the lever is vertical and Leonard pulls the lever backwards to move forward into the future - opposite of the movie.

The Spoiler Alert Segmentation - S6-E15

Revealing mistake: Throughout the series much is made of the fact that Howard's mother is grossly obese, and in The Engagement Reaction (S4 E23) it is even mentioned that her arms are hugely oversized. However, at the end of this episode we see her arms when she grabs Raj to stop him climbing out of the window, and they are the arms of an average-weight woman - they aren't overweight at all.

The Nerdvana Annihilation - S1-E14

Character mistake: Being the first to play in the "time machine," Leonard says he will set the date for March 10, 1876. Howard says "Good choice. Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone and calls out for Doctor Watson." Bell's assistant, Thomas A. Watson, was an experienced electrical designer and mechanic, but he did not hold an advanced degree. It is well documented that the first words transmitted over the telephone identified him as Mister Watson.

MFWills

The Peanut Reaction - S1-E16

Revealing mistake: In the scene where Leonard is supposedly playing Halo 3 against somebody in Copenhagen, there is no ethernet cable or wireless adapter connected to the Xbox 360 (one of the originals without wireless inbuilt), which means that there is no way he can be playing online with someone in another country. (00:09:00)

The Platonic Permutation - S9-E9

Continuity mistake: In episode 16 of season 1, Penny is talking about making a cake for Leonard's birthday and states she knows his birthday because she was checking a horoscope for him. But in this episode she does not know when his birthday is, which leads to Leonard revealing he was secretly reading Penny's diary. (00:40:00)

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Suggested correction: It's certainly possible to forget something you knew eight years ago.

LorgSkyegon

This is perhaps true for two people who rarely have contact, but I would list this as a character mistake. Penny and Leonard are in a serious relationship and are married at this point.

Bishop73

This is also a couple who BOTH forgot it was their anniversary.

LorgSkyegon

I forgot my wife's birthday on a number of occasions. It's one of the reasons she is now my ex-wife.

There's a difference between forgetting and not knowing.

Bishop73

I've been married for seven years and my husband still doesn't know my birthday. It's the 24th but sometimes he thinks it's the 24th or the 4th or the 20th etc. And especially since Leonard doesn't celebrate his birthday, it's not something that's going to remain in the forefront of Penny's mind.

immortal eskimo

The Cushion Saturation - S2-E16

Factual error: Leslie Winkle takes shelter with Howard in the middle of a paintball game. Her gun has no hopper for paintballs and thus no ammo, so it's useless, despite her apparently using it outside seconds earlier. This isn't a model with an internal magazine - the port to attach the missing hopper is plainly visible.

Grumpy Scot

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

Suggested correction: No he doesn't, he tips it in sideways.

In which case the handles are still not easily accessible at the top.

Ssiscool

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

Suggested correction: Not obvious at any point in the show.

LordKelvin

"Not all the time".

Ssiscool

The Shiny Trinket Maneuver - S5-E12

Continuity mistake: Howard, Leonard and Raj play Jenga in a strange sort of way. Most notable is the playing order, 1. Howard, 2. Raj, 3. Raj, 4. Leonard, 5. Howard. When it's Leonard's turn he doesn't move any bricks, only pokes the tower and it's then Howard's turn. When its Raj's first turn he puts a brick on the top of the tower. When it's his turn again, the brick is gone and he puts a new one in its place.

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The Euclid Alternative - S2-E5

Question: Though it comes up in other episodes as well, this one is focused on Sheldon needing a ride everywhere he goes because he can't drive, not to mention his not being welcome on the bus. Of course, this story element would be nonexistent if there was a simple answer, but it does beg the question: Does Pasadena not have taxicabs?

MFWills

Chosen answer: It does. The variable cleanliness of the cab and the habit of taxi drivers to engage customers in small talk would be too much for Sheldon to handle, and not an option for him.

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: Sheldon DID finally use a taxi when going to the airport to see and propose to Amy in New Jersey.

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