Character mistake: Art expert Dale Kingston describes Goya as 'the penultimate artist'. "Penultimate" has nothing to do with greatness or artistry, it means second to last, and nowhere during his speech does he indicate that Goya is 'second to last' in anything to do with the discussion. In the context he uses it the word is completely meaningless.
Dead Weight - S1-E4
Character mistake: When Columbo first comes to the general's apartment, the general is showing Columbo a submachinegun. He also shows him a magazine and says it is an "extra clip." A retired general would know the difference between a clip and a magazine; the terms are not interchangeable.
Character mistake: Piloting a helicopter, Leslie ends a radio conversation by saying "Over and out." "Over" means "I'm done talking; please respond." "Out" means "I'm done talking and I'm ending this communication." An experienced pilot would never say "Over and out." They are two different terms.
Character mistake: The policeman gets the bag for the ransom from the wife of the kidnapped person, grabs it with bare fingers and puts the money into it - without gloves, too. (00:23:30)
Character mistake: This episode opens with James Ferris typing the final chapter of a mystery novel. He is using all-capital letters, No professional writer would do that.
Suggested correction: It's not meant to be all capital letters, but block letters. Just look at the title card and credits in the opening - they're block letters too.
Character mistake: When Lee Grant cuts the reel-to-reel tape at the point after her husband says, "They've got me," she actually cuts the tape on the wrong side of the recorder. Her cut would probably have destroyed the section she's trying to capture. (00:01:17)
Character mistake: When at the golf course, the golf pro says that the club Columbo has in his hand is a #1 wood. When they're outside, it's obvious that it is more like a #3 wood.
Character mistake: Columbo talks to the cardiologist. The doctor gives him information about his patient, Mr. Williamson. Columbo has no warrant, so the doctor is violating privilege. He wouldn't give that information to Columbo.
