Todd VaziriDec 2
This is absolutely real. The current HBO Max version of this "Mad Men" episode "remastered for 4K" did not include an updated visual effects shot, which originally painted out the crew and equipment. Not just that, the HBO Max episode titles/order is jumbled for s01.
Show threadTodd VaziriDec 2
In addition, it seems like "Mad Men" season one titles/episodes are jumbled on HBO Max. The vomit scene is in "Red in the Face", but on HBO Max it's labeled "Babylon". (The one labeled "Red in the Face" is actually "5G", too.) Some interesting QC issues afoot.
Show threadTodd VaziriDec 2
To be clear - "Mad Men" was originally mastered in HD in 16:9, so this isn't an issue of "exposing more film negative to fit a new aspect ratio", like "Friends" and "Seinfeld".
Show threadTodd VaziriDec 2
live shot of me, wondering what other things got screwed up on this show, one of the most prestigious shows in the history of television
Show threadTodd VaziriDec 2
sorry but you know i had to do it
Show threadTodd VaziriDec 2
more in season two
Show threadTodd VaziriDec 2

made a quick blog post

http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-mad-men-in-4k-on-hbo-max-debacle.html

The "Mad Men" in 4K on HBO Max Debacle

Reader warning: there's gonna be a lot of pretend puke photos in this post. If you've fired up HBO Max recently, you've probably seen that o...

Show threadTodd VaziriDec 3

Put together a new comparison... from the very first scene of s01e01.

updated blog post: http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-mad-men-in-4k-on-hbo-max-debacle.html

Show threadTodd VaziriDec 3

I found another one. Modern Los Angeles hotel lobby signs removed... but are visible in the HBO Max version.

http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-mad-men-in-4k-on-hbo-max-debacle.html

Show threadTodd VaziriDec 4

update: it doesn't look like EVERY visual effects shot was missed. HBO Max includes a VFX shot in s01e04, which means that it's a sporadic issue, either on a per-shot or per-episode basis.

http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-mad-men-in-4k-on-hbo-max-debacle.html

Show threadTodd VaziriDec 4

update 12/4/25, 1:00pm PT: Looks like the puke has been cleaned up. This is how s01e07 looks right now on HBO Max.

Other examples in the blog post are still wrong on the service, but it's just a matter of time, it seems, before they're fixed.

http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-mad-men-in-4k-on-hbo-max-debacle.html

Show threadManni
@tvaziri Congrats to the VFX crew for the quick turnaround on the 4K restoration footage 😂
Dec 5 at 6:55pmWeb