Elderly celebs travel the world in ‘Better Late Than Never’
LOS ANGELES — Most people have a bucket list. But few are as quirky as Henry Winkler’s. The former Fonzie helped latch on to a popular Korean TV series and conspired to translate it onto American television. The result is “Better Late Than Never,” which premiered Tuesday night on NBC. The idea is to trace the steps of four famous grumpy old men as they sweat their way through Asia fulfilling some people’s idea of a dream come true.
A motlier crew you couldn’t find. There’s former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, world famous space traveling captain William Shatner, champion former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, and Winkler himself.
Tagging along to carry the bags and act as an outside observer is standup comic, Jeff Dye — nearly 40 years younger than his companions.
Long list
When Winkler was recruited as one of the show’s executive producers, he developed a long list of possible fellow travelers. “Bill was at the top … our executives at Universal were all in on it. We would sit in Paul Telegdy’s (exec for alternative and reality shows for NBC) — office and we would put the pictures up on a board and move them around. And then we would meet everybody individually,” said Winkler, the grandfather of three.
“Terry — I’ve never met Terry before, never; I never met George before. George came in and sat down, and within 30 seconds knew that this guy should absolutely be on the trip with us,” said Winkler, 70.
“George, for me, was the most remarkable,” added Shatner, at 85, the oldest of the quartet.
“His history, of course, is remarkable. His comeback 10 years later with the heavyweight championship again, under complete different circumstances, especially his internal self, was remarkable,” Shatner said.
“The evolution of a street kid, to somebody who I think of as the essential Buddha, he emanates the rays of wisdom and kindness and beauty and singleness of purpose and knowledge of who he is and what he does. He’s a remarkable human being now.”
Grueling trek
Their trek through Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Korea was grueling. Sometimes the grizzled grandpas would find themselves sleeping in cubicles the size of Volkswagens or munching on animal body parts better left to the buzzards. But by far the most reluctant was the 67-year-old Bradshaw, said Dye, 33.
“I think the biggest coward was Terry for sure, but a lovable coward … But I think he really is afraid of — he’s afraid of sharks, sea turtles, water, heights, needles, food — any kind of food. He’s afraid of everything, but he’s very lovable, the way he’s afraid of everything.”
The most courageous was none other than Capt. Kirk. “I think the bravest was Bill,” Dye said. “Because … your instinct, when you try something new is like, ‘This is different and I don’t … I have an opinion about something that’s different than what I’m used to.’ And Bill would always be the one that’s, like, ‘That’s what this is, that’s what this is about, that’s what this whole trip (is about).’ He was constantly reminding us to embrace something that you’re scared of …”
Everywhere they went they met kind and gracious folk, Shatner and Winkler agree.
Friendly people
“There were a lot of friendly people. Friendly toward Americans; friendly toward us,” Shatner recalled. “And they didn’t know who we were, because the shows — certainly the shows I’ve been in weren’t playing in Asia. And it was interesting. The only people that recognized most of us were American tourists, which we found plenty of, going place to place.”
“We met families, we met children everywhere that we went, and there was no language between us,” Winkler said.
“And like with George, George would sit down, and all of a sudden it was like these children, who had no idea who this gigantic human being was, didn’t understand him, they could have been his grandchildren. They found games to play, and punching, and sitting and jumping. It was truly emotional.”
Winkler said his favorite city was Chiang Mai in Thailand. “The reason was I met an elephant. And I’m telling you, this 15,000pound elephant looked me in the eye, and I looked the elephant in the eye, and I started crying. You felt the dearness. And I have a picture on my phone in my house, in everywhere.
“You see the elephant leaning into me when I’m standing next to him, like he was a puppy. I’m telling you, and this is not hyperbole. It came out of him like a river, this emotion. It was one of the great moments, outside of my children, grandchildren and family.”