Month: August 2026

As the world mourns legendary mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja, many people are also searching for the family he often credited with supporting his extraordinary career.

Purja, who died after an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, was married to Suchi Purja, who stood beside him throughout many of his biggest accomplishments—including his historic mission to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in record time.

Suchi Purja Supported Her Husband’s Biggest Expeditions

Suchi Purja has largely remained out of the spotlight despite her husband’s international fame.

Professionally, she built a career as a dental hygienist and therapist after completing her training in the United Kingdom. She has also served as a director for companies connected to Purja’s charitable and business ventures.

While she generally stayed behind the scenes, audiences around the world got to know her through Netflix’s 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, the 2021 documentary chronicling Purja’s ambitious “Project Possible,” which he sacrificed his entire military pension to fund.

In the film, Suchi describes her husband’s goal of climbing all 14 mountains higher than 8,000 meters in just months as “a crazy idea,” adding that it wasn’t entirely surprising coming from him. The documentary also highlights the sacrifices she made while supporting Purja during one of the most remarkable achievements in mountaineering history.

Nirmal and Suchi Were Married for Two Decades

Purja and Suchi married in 2006 after he joined the British Army’s Gurkhas. According to his obituary on The Times, the couple made their home in Eastleigh, near Southampton, while Purja served in both the Gurkhas and later the elite Special Boat Service (SBS) before becoming a full-time mountaineer.

The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Himani, in 2022 after announcing the pregnancy publicly with a maternity photo shoot.

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A Constant Presence Throughout His Career

Although Purja became known for pushing the limits of human endurance — breaking records on some of the world’s most dangerous mountains — he frequently acknowledged the role his family played in making those accomplishments possible.

His record-setting climbs, military service, and Netflix documentary brought him worldwide recognition, but those closest to him knew Suchi as one of his biggest supporters throughout the journey.

Following news of Purja’s death, tributes have poured in from across the mountaineering community, with many also recognizing the family he leaves behind after a career that inspired millions around the world.

During Rex Linn’s lengthy career, the widely respected actor has starred in Western movies like Wyatt Earp, Appaloosa, Django Unchained, and A Million Ways to Die in the West. He is also a big fan of the popular film genre whose expertise on the subject comes across in any interview it comes up in.

While speaking exclusively to Men’s Journal, Linn was asked to name the most underrated Western movie ever made. In response, the actor and expert chose a classic 1972 Robert Redford film and explained why he thinks it deserves more praise and notoriety among fans of the genre.

Why Rex Linn Chose ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ as the ‘Most Underrated Western Movie of All Time’

Men’s Journal: I have seen you in several Westerns. I’ve seen you speak about the genre during interviews that made it seem very obvious that you are passionate about the subject. I’m really curious, based on your expert opinion, what is the most underrated Western movie of all time if you had to pick one?

Rex Linn: The keyword that you used in that question is underrated, because so many of the great Westerns are not underrated, but let me think here. It may be a weird choice because it doesn’t fall neatly into the Western genre, but I’m going to say Jeremiah Johnson.

Now, you might think it’s not underrated. But if you talk to people about the great Western movies, they’ll name films like The Searchers, Unforgiven, or others of that caliber. If you ask people, as I have many times, “And what about Jeremiah Johnson?” They’ll say something like, “Yeah, that was good. Who was it? Oh, Robert Redford was in it?”

I’m going to say Jeremiah Johnson, but I’m going to be mad at you later in the day because I’m going to be thinking of about 10 more that will pop up. Again, some people will hear this and go, “Why would he say Jeremiah Johnson? That’s not underrated.” But it kind of is. What do you think? Which Western would you pick as the most underrated?

Men’s Journal: It is tough, but the one that I would go with is Young Guns. I just absolutely love that movie, and I could watch it over and over again. Similar to what you said, it is a movie that many people love, especially if they grew up around the time that it came out, as I did. But I never see it in discussions of the great Westerns. I understand that to a certain degree since it doesn’t live up to the level of the all-time greats like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly or Tombstone, and because it is so stylized and of its era. But I think it’s a highly effective and entertaining movie that really makes you care about its characters and what they are doing. So, I think it is highly underrated and needs to be given more credit than it gets.

Rex Linn: I agree with that. I enjoy Young Guns. I thought it was great. That would have been a good pick too, by the way. I’m a little jealous of your pick right now. That would have been a good pick. And I saw the look on your face when I said, “Jeremiah Johnson.” (Laughs) Your face was kind of like, “That’s a famous Western. I don’t know why you would think it was underrated.”

But the next time you talk to people about Westerns, ask them, “What’d you think about Jeremiah Johnson?” Shockingly, a lot of times people will go, “Yeah, that was good.” But if you ask someone to name five Westerns, Jeremiah Johnson is never going to be brought up.

Men’s Journal: I can totally see that for sure.

Rex Linn: But I love that movie, especially those little iconic moments like when Redford looks up at that bird man, and he goes, “Take me a week’s ridin’, and he’ll be there in… hell, he’s there already.” I mean, that was just a great moment in the film, and then he spits a little bit and gets up. There are tons of moments in that movie that are fantastic. I’ll tell you, a Western that’s not underrated that we just saw again recently, and I could watch it probably 10 times, is The Outlaw Josey Wales. I could just watch it over and over. Unforgiven too, as a matter of fact.

Men’s Journal: Unforgiven is an infinitely watchable masterpiece for sure.

Rex Linn on the Brilliance of ‘The Long Riders’

Rex Linn: I know another Western that’s underrated that people rarely ever say in the top 20, but everybody loved it.  And I’ve got buddies that are in it, The Long Riders. Wouldn’t you agree that that’s underrated?

Men’s Journal: Yes, I would. Indeed. That’s a really good Western.

It has the Carradines, the Keeches, the Quaids and the Guests. That is unheard of. That was unprecedented. I don’t know of another Western, or any film for that matter, that features four sets of brothers in it. Maybe there is that I don’t know about. But either way, that is a really good Western that you don’t hear people who love Westerns talk about enough. I highly recommend it to everybody. As a matter of fact, I might watch it tonight just for fun.

Men’s Journal: Similar to what you’re saying about a movie with fans that still doesn’t get spoken about enough, I would argue that Silverado is underrated.

Rex Linn: That is one of the best. I don’t know that it’s underrated, but you’re right. In the scheme of the question, it is underrated because it often doesn’t get talked about as one of the greats. But I loved Silverado. The great story about that was with Kevin Costner. Kevin was in The Big Chill, but Lawrence Kasdan had to edit him out except for his hand being in the casket.

But Larry said to Kevin, “Just stick with me. You’re going to have a lead role in another one of my films down the road.” It’s like, “Whatever.” But of course, Larry did it by casting him in Silverado.

Men’s Journal: I think Silverado is one of the greatest Westerns ever. I love many of the characters, and it has such a star-studded cast, including Kevin Costner, who is so entertaining in the movie, and Danny Glover, who gives an amazing performance.

Rex Linn Compares ‘Wyatt Earp’ and ‘Tombstone’

Men’s Journal: You starred in a different Lawrence Kasdan Western, Wyatt Earp. How do you feel about that movie today?

Rex Linn: I’m really proud of Larry’s 1994 movie, Wyatt Earp. Larry Kasdan wanted to make a film about the man, not about the shootout at the O.K. Corral, but about Wyatt Earp the man. That’s what he made. And he wanted to make everything realistic. For example, it took us nine days to film the shootout at the O.K. Corral because he wanted it to be realistic. It was around 30 shots in 30 seconds and that’s what we filmed.

Unfortunately for us, Tombstone came out six months earlier than Wyatt Earp, and it was for the target audience, which was 18-year-old males. They didn’t make that movie realistic. I mean, the shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone felt like it was 10 minutes or something. Most depictions of the shootout are like that and don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that.

But we got a lot of complaints from people who wanted to see it be less realistic. People would say, “You did a good job on Wyatt Earp. We like that movie. But it’s too long, and there wasn’t enough of the shootout at the O.K. Corral in it.” And I’d be like, “The movie is not called The O.K. Corral. It’s called Wyatt Earp because Larry wanted to make a movie about the man and that’s what it was.” I love Wyatt Earp, and I’m really proud of being in it.

Men’s Journal: Tombstone came out at the perfect time in my childhood. I remember being thrilled while watching it with my parents and brothers. I have to admit that when Wyatt Earp came out, I was one of those people who saw it as a slower version of a movie I already loved. However, when I watched it again as an adult, I developed a new appreciation for what makes Wyatt Earp a great movie. Have you had other people talk to you about going on a similar journey with the movie?

Rex Linn: Absolutely. Wyatt Earp has aged really well, especially if you don’t just compare it to Tombstone. So, I’ve had a lot of people call me and go, “You know, we were just watching Wyatt Earp again. And we didn’t remember it being this good.” I mean that. I have literally had people say that to me 20 years later. If you take Wyatt Earp and forget about Tombstone and just look at it by itself, it’s a great film.

And I want to say that Tombstone was great. I worked with Val Kilmer in two movies, and Val was a generous actor. But I want to tell you something: Dennis Quaid should have won an Academy Award for portraying Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp. His performance as Doc Holliday was brilliant. I don’t know how he didn’t get nominated at least.

He put his heart and soul into that. He lost 40 pounds, and that was 40 pounds that he couldn’t really afford to lose. He hired a trainer. It took us five months to film that movie. He was in character every minute of every day, whether he was working or not. I’m telling you, if you watch that film again, you watch his performance, it’s very realistic and very, very good. I’m not saying it because I was in it, but I love the film.

I love Tombstone too. I thought it was fun. It’s a good, fun movie to watch. There is nothing wrong with that film at all. I’ve talked to Kurt about comparing the two movies because Kurt Russell’s a good friend of mine. We have discussed the two different styles of films.

Rex Linn on the Making of ‘The Hunted’

Men’s Journal: I wanted to ask you about another movie that you have a supporting role in that I feel like people need to talk about more. To me, it’s not a Western per se, but it’s very Western coded. What are your memories of making The Hunted?

Rex Linn: Oh man. I was a nervous wreck because, first of all, just to work with Benicio del Toro was exciting for me because I’m a big fan of his. But the other problem was I knew at some point I was going to have to talk to William Friedkin about The Exorcist. I mean, I’m a horror freak. I love horror films, but I’m really particular about them, and 99% of them don’t scare me. I mean, one recent good one was Obsession. I went to see it and loved the movie. Did you see it?

Men’s Journal: I love Obsession!

Rex Linn: I do too because she scared me. I mean, she bothered me in the movie theater. So I was so happy to be scared. I hope I get to meet her someday. It was refreshing to be disturbed. I just loved it.

The scariest movie I have ever seen was The Exorcist, and nothing has come close to that since then. So, I knew that I was going to have to say something to William Friedkin since he directed it and I was working with him. I also knew that he had the reputation of not being cool. He was known for being really strict and kind of crazy, or whatever you want to say about him.

The scene I was in during The Hunted was filmed in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon. Benicio couldn’t have been better to work with, and he had just come off of starring in Traffic and getting huge accolades, including an Academy Award for that. He was really supportive and sweet. But I have to tell the story of talking to William Friedkin about The Exorcist.

I saw Mr. Friedkin sitting in his chair as he was smoking a cigar, and he had on the same thing he wore just about every day. He would wear a Los Angeles Dodgers hat, a different everyday linen shirt, and sweatpants most of the time. He was sitting over by himself. He wasn’t looking at the script, and the script supervisor wasn’t around as they were changing locations down a mountainside.

I just walked over to him, and I said, “Hey, Mr. Friedkin.” He said, “It’s Billy.” I responded, “OK, Billy. Can I? I just have to talk to you about something.” This story isn’t to say anything negative about him. God rest his soul. After I said that to him, he didn’t even say anything. He just looked at me, and it felt like he was saying, “Why did you come over here, idiot?” He didn’t say a word. He just looked at me that way.

But I kept going. I said, “I just want to tell you that The Exorcist is my favorite, one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s in my top 5 all-time favorites. It’s at number 1 as being the scariest movie ever made, and I just have one question.” He was sitting there and put that cigar in his mouth, and he’s just looking at me. Again, he didn’t say, “OK, what is it?” He just kept looking at me, and I was so intimidated.

So, I said, “Was making The Exorcist a good experience for you?” He then repeated my question. “Was making The Exorcist a good experience for me? Well, it took 2 years to make basically. We had all kinds of tragedies happen. I was dealing with all kinds of…” And he just went through this list that I’m not going to go through, but he just went through this whole list of things that clearly indicated that it was a real tough movie to work on. One of the things he said, which I’m not going to say here, made my mouth drop open.

After all that, he goes, “So let’s see, was it a good experience for me? It turned out pretty good.” That’s what he said. I said, “Pretty good?” And he just said to me, “That’s about all I have to say on that.” I got that moment with William Friedkin, and working with Benicio was great.

The other thing I think of with The Hunted was that there we were shooting a scene where Benicio kills me, and it was just not working because Billy wanted me to look in the camera lens when I was about to get killed. As actors, we’re trained not to do that. Obviously, you can’t look in the lens. So, Mr. Friedkin said to me, and I can’t use his language, but, he said, “Look, I know you guys are trained not to look in the lens, but when you hit the ground, I want you to back up in this mud, drop your gun and look directly in that lens because that’s going to be Benicio’s point of view. I mean, you look directly in that lens.” I said, “Okay.”

Well, I hit the ground during the first take, and I’m backing up, and they say, cut. Now, there was a tree right in the space where we were filming. I was hanging up there, upside down first, and then they chased me around it, and there was mud down there. We only had a camera operator, a focus puller, the woman to fix mud, the first AD, and a makeup person. That was it. Everybody else was about 400 yards away, but we couldn’t see them.

After the first take, they say, “Resetting.” We did it a 2nd time, then we did it a 3rd time, and then we heard these words over the radio: “Billy’s coming down.” I looked at Benicio, and he looked at me, and he goes, “I don’t know who he’s coming down for, but if it’s you, just be patient. It’ll pass.” I didn’t know what he was talking about.

Then, Mr. Friedkin just walked up to me, and he said, “Do you need to take a break?” I responded, “I’m sorry, what?” He repeated himself, “Do you need to take a break?” I said, “No, sir. No, I’m good.” Then he went, “Well, it looks like you need to rest because I’ve asked you to look in that camera lens when you hit the ground. And you haven’t done it in three takes.”

I’ll tell you, as it was coming out of my body, I was wishing to myself, “God, would you just stop me from saying it?” But it just came out, and I just said, “No, I think I did. I, I think I did.” He simply responded, “Follow me.” We turned around, and then I heard the ADs right behind me say, “Rex and Billy are coming up.” He walked me up to video village, where there were four monitors right there. He goes, “I want to roll B camera and then roll A Camera.”

Well, in the B camera, I didn’t look. I wasn’t even close to looking at that lens. After they showed that, he didn’t say anything. He just said, “Okay, show me A camera both takes 1 and 2.” He showed me both of them, and I saw that I never ever looked at the lens. I didn’t even look at the matte around the lens once, not even once. He turned around, looked at me, and he goes, “What’s your take on that?” I said, “My take is that I did not look at the camera lens.” He got up, and he goes, “Is there another way that I can explain this to make it clear?” I said, “No, sir.”

I walked back down to the set, and Benicio was looking at me. He was like, “Thumbs up?” I went, “Yeah, thumbs up.” The next take, I hit that ground in that mud, and I’ll tell you it was so bad. I looked directly in that lens and never looked anywhere else. I forgot to start looking for my gun. I just started backing up in the mud. I was just looking right in the lens.

We did two more takes, and then we heard, “Billy’s coming down.” Man, so Billy comes down, and he said to me, “Did you look in the lens?” I said, “I looked in the lens both times. I never looked anywhere else, Billy. I mean it.” He didn’t have a smile on his face or anything. He was just looking at me. There were about 5 seconds that went by, which is an eternity. Then finally, he said, “I know, I’m just messing with you. We got everything in there.” And he goes, “All right, let’s go to the next setup.” Then he just walked off. I looked at Benicio, and he goes, “Way to go, bud.”

Southwest Airlines has spent the last year-plus implementing a slew of changes to various aspects of its operations. Starting today, another one is being put in place for some flights.

According to Paddle Your Own Kanoo, Southwest is asking flight attendants on “all domestic flights operated by Boeing 737-800 NG and 737 MAX-8 series aircraft” to report for boarding 35 minutes before departure, as opposed to the typical 30 minutes.

Paddle Your Own Kanoo’s Mateusz Maszczynski says the company operates around 500 Boeing 737-800 NG and 737 MAX-8, which accounts for roughly 65% of its fleet.

This new policy is related to two other prominent Southwest changes

On May 28, 2025, Southwest ended its customary “Bags Fly Free” policy. Customers would now be charged $35 for their first checked bag and $45 for a second one.

“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect,” Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said at the time.

In late January 2026, the air carrier made an even bigger move, getting rid of its popular open seating policy. The changes caused some grumbling, though they seemingly haven’t affected Southwest’s bottom line or reputation with customers.

What they have impacted, Maszczynski writes, is the overall boarding experience. The combination of passengers bringing more luggage on the plane for free and now having assigned seating was causing delays.

“Passengers were boarding the plane only to discover that all the overhead bins near their assigned seat was already full, resulting in delays as passengers hunted for space, moving up and down the packed aisle,” Maszczynski said.

Earlier boarding may alleviate this problem

At least, that’s the hope of Southwest, which is building in an extra five minutes of boarding time on the “majority” of domestic flights.

“Flights within the United States operated by smaller Boeing 737-700 aircraft will, however, continue to board at 30 minutes, while all international services, as well as Hawaii flights will board at 45 minutes prior to departure,” Maszczynski said.

Attention over the last week has largely centered around former NFL quarterback and current CBS Sports color commentator Tony Romo.

Romo was arrested on July 23 on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated following a golf tournament. He failed a field sobriety test, and the incident went viral on social media after authorities released body camera footage.

Since then, CBS has had to make a decision regarding Romo’s future with the network. For now, the company has placed him on leave, leaving all possibilities on the table.

CBS will have J.J. Watt replace Romo for the foreseeable future alongside Jim Nantz as the 2026 NFL season approaches in just over a month.

For the time being, analyst JJ Watt will replace Tony Romo, and work alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. https://t.co/mop52FUDHM

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 31, 2026

Romo, CBS Could Be Heading Toward Financial Legal Battle

Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported Friday that Romo still has four years and $72 million remaining on his CBS contract after signing a 10-year, $180 million deal with the network in 2020.

That creates a complicated situation surrounding the contract’s stipulations and could lead to a legal battle between the two sides if CBS decides to part ways with Romo entirely.

CBS could look for a way to avoid paying the remaining money, or at least a significant portion of it. Marchand reported that Romo’s contract includes a morals clause, but if CBS attempts to fire him “for cause” while $72 million remains on the deal, Romo likely won’t simply accept that decision.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio explained the challenges Romo’s lawyers could face if CBS attempts to avoid paying him any of the remaining money on his contract.

“The challenge for Romo’s lawyers would be to find other situations in which CBS broadcasters engaged in potentially similar conduct without being fired for cause, in an effort to show that the morals clause was being invoked as a pretext for escaping a contract that CBS now regrets,” Florio wrote Saturday. “If, as many believe, Romo simply isn’t as good at his job as he used to be, that’s not enough for CBS to fire him for cause. They’d need something more, and the morals clause may give it to them.”

Florio also revealed that he believes the most likely outcome would be a contract settlement.

“The most prudent outcome would be a settlement of his contract,” he added. “That would come down to negotiating the amount that CBS would pay Romo to leave, and every dollar saved under $72 million would be a bonus.”

With all that said, a lengthy process remains ahead as both sides determine how the relationship will move forward and whether Romo will return to the booth.

Related: NFL and Disney Launch Ultimate Collaboration

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In This Story

Why We Love This Deal

Adidas’s Back to School sale is live through August 13, and it’s giving shoppers a chance to score up to 40% off sitewide ahead of the new school year (or just because). Everyday sneakers tend to be the strongest pickups during these sales, especially if you’re someone heading back to campus this fall. For our money, the Adidas Grand Court sneaker in white is the best one featured in the sale. 

Normally priced at $75, the Adidas Grand Court 2.0 Shoes in Cloud White/Core Black/Focus Orange are on sale for $56. The style comes in five colorways, all of which are on sale, ranging from 20% off to 45% off, but this particular one blends the always-good-looking white back with black and brown accents, which has a quintessential fall vibe to it. Find them in sizes 6.5 to 14 before they, like the other colors, sell out.

Adidas Grand Court 2.0 Shoes, $56 (was $75) at Adidas

What Shoppers Should Know

• Upper: Synthetic leather with textile leaning (minimum 50% recycled content)
• Midsole: Cloudfoam Comfort 
• Outsole: Rubber
• Best For: Everyday wear, school, casual wear

The updated synthetic upper keeps the classic three-stripe look intact while working in recycled material, so the sustainability angle doesn’t come at the cost of the retro look. 

Cloudfoam Comfort cushioning in the midsole is great for daily use and even long walks, but don’t expect to tackle any serious runs in them. The regular fit and rubber outsole keep it more functional as an everyday shoe rather than a training shoe. 

At $56, these are priced closer to a solid mid-level sneaker than a premium retro release. That makes them a pretty easy grab for anyone in the market for clean, classic everyday shoes, especially at this low price. 

Related: New Balance’s ‘Super Comfortable’ 515 Sneakers Are on Sale for Only $36

What Shoppers Are Saying

This silhouette has an impressive 4.8-star rating across 3,500-plus reviews. One called them, “One of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I have.” A second said, “These have become my go-to daily shoes. They’re comfortable, casual, but easy to clean and wear with just about everything.”

Given the affordable price, reviewers were also surprised by how much support these actually have: “I wore them to work and worked a 10-hour shift standing in them, and my feet didn’t hurt at the end of the day.”

The Adidas Grand Court 2.0 Shoes are available now for $56, and since sizes are already starting to run out, you should consider grabbing a pair soon if you’re interested. 

Also Check Out

• Adidas Superstar II Sneakers, From $72 (was $110) at Adidas
• Adidas Forum CL Sneakers, From $60 (was $100) at Adidas 
• Adidas Jabbar Lo Trainers, From $66 (was $110) at Adidas

Fifty-six years ago, who many consider to be the best country singer released one of his many No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

July 31 marks the anniversary of many popular songs throughout the years. This includes Bob Dylan’s Sara in 1975, Martha and the Vandellas’ Dancing in the Street in 1964 and Kendrick Lamar’s Swimming Pools in 2012. Even John Mellencamp’s classic eighth studio album Scarecrow was released on this day in 1985.

And on July 31, 1970, Johnny Cash released his hit single Sunday Morning Coming Down from the album The Johnny Cash Show.

The song eventually hit No. 1 on the Billboard US Country chart on Oct. 10, 1970, where it would stay for two weeks. It remained on the charts altogether for a total of 15 weeks.

Not only that, but Cash’s Sunday Morning Coming Down would go on to win the 1970 Country Music Award for Song of the Year.

Johnny Cash Ranked as the Best Country Musician of All Time

While Cash had 21 singles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, he never reached the top spot in the Billboard Hot 100. Even with classic hits such as Walk the Line, Ring of Fire and Understand Your Man.

Still, Cash became enough of an icon in the music business that he is widely considered the best country singer of all time. He was even voted by fans as No. 1 on The Top Tens.

Behind Cash are other country legends such as George Strait, George Jones, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams, who round out the top five.

Related: 1939 Classic Named the ‘Best Movie Song of All Time’

Throughout television history, a small number of sitcoms have been nearly universally recognized as the greatest comedy series. Those shows include titles like Friends, Seinfeld, Cheers, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Simpsons, I Love Lucy, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and All in the Family. Recently, one beloved series that premiered more than 19 years ago, 30 Rock, was ranked above them all and named the greatest sitcom of all time.

Who Ranked ’30 Rock’ as the ‘Best Sitcom Ever Made’?

On April 26, 2026, TVLine published its ranking of the “25 Best Sitcoms Ever Made.” After the list named the most iconic comedy shows of all time, one series topped the list to be ranked at No. 1: 30 Rock. That was a huge compliment to the series that had premiered more than 19 years earlier, on October 11, 2006.

That is far from the only time 30 Rock has been included on a list like that. It was previously ranked at No. 18 on Rolling Stone’s May 2021 list of the “Best Sitcoms of All Time.” It was also included at No. 75 on Time Out’s broader January 2026 “100 best TV shows of all time you have to watch” ranking.

Long before 30 Rock was included in those lists, it was already earning praise and accolades. For example, the series was nominated for a staggering 103 Emmy Awards, 16 of which it won, including prevailing in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. Most importantly, it has been embraced by generations of viewers. The show even currently holds a near-perfect 91% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes based on user ratings.

What Makes ‘30 Rock’ Such a Legendary Sitcom?

There are many reasons why 30 Rock deserves to be ranked as one of the greatest sitcoms ever produced. The most obvious is how brilliantly written it is, with each episode packing a staggering amount of truly hilarious jokes. Just as important as that is the fact that virtually all of the show’s humor hits hard.

Another one of the best elements of 30 Rock is how the show manages to be incredibly goofy and whip-smart at the same time. A show that is absolutely absurd in one moment and a sharp satire of the corporate world of network television in the next, it works on every level.

30 Rock will also always be remembered for having an incredibly stacked cast of comedy heavyweights, including Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, and Alec Baldwin. Those actors have made characters like Liz Lemon, Tracy Jordan, Jenna Maroney, Kenneth Ellen Parcell, and Jack Donaghy truly beloved. Additionally, the show features a non-stop cavalcade of talented guest stars who step in to elicit laughs.

The final key element that has helped build 30 Rock‘s incredible legacy is that it is a wonderful comfort watch. One of the best parts of the show is that it features a slew of characters who are both wildly successful and a complete mess. That allows viewers to have the joy of watching them reach new heights and the delight of basking in their many foibles at the same time. That is an incredibly comforting combination.

Next: NBC Series Ranked the ‘Best American Sitcom of All Time’ Is Releasing an Extended ‘Superfan’ Edition

Few criminal cases have forced Americans to confront the boundaries of parental responsibility as intensely as that of Colin Gray. On Thursday, a Georgia judge sentenced the 55-year-old father to 15 years in prison after concluding that his criminal negligence helped pave the way for one of the deadliest school shootings in recent memory.

The punishment closes one chapter of the Apalachee High School tragedy while opening another debate that may continue for years. Is 15 years behind bars an appropriate punishment for a father whose actions did not involve pulling the trigger, but whose failures were found to have contributed to four murders?

Judge Nicholas Primm acknowledged that the case occupied unfamiliar legal territory.

“Mr. Gray committed crimes, but his crimes are tethered to the crimes committed by his son,” the judge said before explaining why the sentence could never be viewed like that of a conventional murder defendant. He stressed that Colin Gray did not know his son planned the attack, did not participate in it, and never intended for anyone to die. Those distinctions, he said, mattered.

Yet they did not erase the devastating consequences of his decisions.

Gray, dressed in a striped prison uniform, stood breathing heavily as the sentence was read before deputies escorted him from the courtroom in shackles. He declined to address the court, while his attorney announced plans to appeal what remains one of the most significant parental accountability convictions in American legal history.

The Decisions That Led to a School Massacre

To understand why the sentence has become so controversial, it is necessary to examine the long chain of warnings presented during trial.

On September 4, 2024, Colin Gray’s then 14-year-old son, Colt Gray, entered Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, carrying an AR-15-style rifle hidden inside his backpack. He opened fire inside a math classroom before shooting victims in the hallway.

Teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, along with students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, were killed. Seven other people were wounded.

Investigators did not accuse Colin Gray of planning the attack or encouraging his son to commit violence. Instead, prosecutors argued that his repeated failures amounted to criminal negligence.

Evidence presented during the trial painted a troubling picture. Colin Gray had purchased the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift for his son months after law enforcement had visited their home following an FBI tip about an online school shooting threat linked to Colt. Although investigators could not prove Colt authored the threat, prosecutors argued that the encounter should have prompted extraordinary caution rather than the purchase of another firearm.

Jurors also saw photographs showing numerous unsecured firearms and ammunition inside the family home. Colin Gray admitted that the weapons were neither locked nor secured and acknowledged that Colt sometimes kept the rifle inside his bedroom.

The trial also revealed repeated signs that Colt’s mental health was deteriorating. His estranged mother testified that their son suffered panic attacks, anxiety, and severe emotional struggles that demanded professional treatment. Family members described escalating behavioral problems, while evidence showed Colt had displayed an image of a notorious school shooter inside his bedroom.

Perhaps most disturbing was Colin Gray’s own acknowledgment that his son had become physically violent and had previously sent a chilling text message stating, “Whenever something happens, just know the blood is on your hands.”

Even with those warning signs, Colt maintained access to firearms.

Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Colin Gray on all 27 charges, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and cruelty to children.

Is Fifteen Years Is Too Lenient?

For grieving families, Thursday’s sentence felt painfully inadequate. Barrow County prosecutors had requested an 80-year prison sentence, arguing that Colin Gray’s choices created the conditions that allowed the massacre to occur.

District Attorney Brad Smith told the court that Gray was “the reason four people are dead, seven were injured and countless others were traumatized.” Victims’ relatives echoed that argument with heartbreaking testimony.

Richard Aspinwall’s widow, Shayna Aspinwall, called Colin Gray “a pathetic excuse for a father.” She described leaving her teaching career because of post-traumatic stress disorder while her young daughter now requires therapy.

“Colin could not take his son to therapy; therefore, I have to take mine,” she said.

Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son Mason died in the attack, drew a distinction that resonated throughout the courtroom.

“There is a world of a difference between struggling to parent, and refusing to parent.”

Christian Angulo’s brother delivered perhaps the most powerful criticism, calling Colin Gray “a complete failure of a father.”

“He made a choice to buy that rifle, he made a choice to ignore every red flag, and because of his choices, my little brother Christian and three others are gone.”

Taylor Jones’ grandfather spoke even more directly, pointing toward the defendant while declaring that although Colin Gray did not fire the weapon, “he bought the bullets.”

Their arguments are rooted less in legal technicalities than in moral accountability. To the victims’ families, the shooting did not result from one isolated mistake. It reflected years of neglected warning signs, unsecured firearms, and decisions that repeatedly placed a troubled teenager in possession of deadly weapons.

From that perspective, fifteen years may appear far too small a punishment for failures that permanently altered dozens of lives.

The Legal Limits of Punishing Parental Failure

Yet criminal courts are designed to punish proven crimes rather than moral outrage. Judge Primm’s sentence reflects that distinction.

Although Colin Gray’s negligence was found to be a legal cause of the shooting, prosecutors never argued that he intended for anyone to die. Unlike his son, who pleaded guilty to 55 felony charges and received life without parole earlier this week, Colin Gray was convicted because his conduct fell so far below reasonable parental responsibility that it became criminal.

That difference carries enormous weight in American law.

The sentence also closely resembles another landmark parental accountability case. James and Jennifer Crumbley, whose son killed four students at Oxford High School in Michigan in 2021, each received prison terms of between 10 and 15 years after convictions for involuntary manslaughter.

Seen through that legal lens, Colin Gray’s punishment falls within the emerging range courts have imposed on parents whose negligence contributes to mass shootings. Whether fifteen years is “proper” therefore depends largely on the question being asked.

If the question is moral, many people will never believe justice was fully served. Four people are dead, families remain shattered, and evidence showed repeated opportunities to prevent the tragedy. No prison sentence can restore those lives.

If the question is legal, however, the answer becomes more complicated. Colin Gray was not sentenced as a killer. He was sentenced as a father whose reckless decisions crossed the threshold into criminal conduct. Punishing negligence exactly like intentional murder would challenge long-established principles of criminal law.

His conviction nevertheless establishes a powerful precedent. Parents who knowingly ignore unmistakable warning signs, provide dangerous weapons to troubled children, or fail to secure firearms may now face consequences extending far beyond civil liability.

The debate surrounding Colin Gray’s punishment is therefore unlikely to end with Thursday’s sentencing. Instead, it will continue to shape future prosecutions, influence parental responsibility cases across the country, and force courts to balance compassion, accountability, and justice whenever a child’s violence is linked to an adult’s failure.