Never say never
Asia welcomes four aging icons in ‘Better Late Than Never’
What do a Super Bowl champion, a starship captain, a boxing star and the Fonz have in common? Not much, until you add a few decades, a rising young standup comic and the trip of a lifetime.
“Better Late Than Never” mixes comedy, travel and reality TV as four huge stars don their backpacks and take on the world’s biggest continent. Terry Bradshaw (“Fox NFL Sunday”), William Shatner (“Star Trek”), George Foreman and Henry Win- kler (“Happy Days”) form an unlikely quartet as they spend 35 days traveling through Asia without luxuries or assistants, accompanied by their intrepid young guide, Jeff Dye (“Money From Strangers”). The series makes its debut Tuesday, Aug. 23, on NBC.
If you’re familiar with South Korean TV, the premise for “Better Late Than Never” may sound familiar. The show is adapted from “Grandpas Over Flowers,” a popular South Korean series that has enjoyed a four-season run and spawned two successful spinoffs. The series was a ratings hit that has been credited with renewing popularity and recognition for its aging cast and, according to Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, an increase in occupancy rates on flights to cities that were visited in the show.
“Better Late Than Never” kicks off in Japan, with stops in Tokyo and Kyoto, before moving on to South Korea, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Chiang Mai. With “help” from the ever-witty Dye — who doesn’t hesitate to lead them way off track to his own ends — the brave explorers meet the locals, eat some weird and wonderful food, and take in all that each stop on the map has to offer. It’s one heck of an adventure, and just the latest accomplishment on four long and impressive lists.
At 67 years old, Bradshaw has packed a lot into his life thus far. In his 14-year career as quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he won four Super Bowls, the first QB to do so. He’s also a two-time Super Bowl MVP and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
After retiring from the NFL, Bradshaw brought his football know-how to his job as a sports analyst, ending up at “Fox NFL Sunday,” where he’s spent more than 20 years and earned three Sports Emmys for Outstanding Sports Personality — Studio Analyst.
As if that isn’t enough, he also launched an acting career — appearing on both the big screen and the small — is a New York Times best-selling author, has recorded six country and gospel albums, and boasts the distinction of being the only NFL player with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
His traveling companion Shatner is instantly recognizable for his long and storied acting career, having starred in series such as “T.J. Hooker” and “Boston Legal,” as well as more than 50 roles in movies and TV. It’s his portrayal of James T. Kirk, the original — and arguably dreamiest — captain of the starship Enterprise in the Star Trek franchise, however, that won him true fame.
Shatner is a two-time Emmy winner, a Golden Globe winner and has stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame, and has written a best-selling autobiography as well as a slew of novels. And let’s not omit a widely parodied music and spoken-word career that includes very special renditions of “Rocket Man,” “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” which will no doubt forever remain in our collective memory. At 85, Shatner is the oldest of the “Better Late Than Never” bunch by 15 years, and his humor and spot-on delivery are sure to be a welcome addition to the trip.
Sixty-seven-year-old boxing legend Foreman took home the gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics, and from there, his star just continued to rise. Within two years of going pro, he became the No. 1 heavyweight challenger in the world, going on to wow the world as half of one of the most famous fights in history: Rumble in the Jungle against Muhammad Ali.
The fighter turned his hand to sales in the ‘90s, and meat lovers everywhere credit Foreman with the Lean Mean Grilling Machine — a line of grills that have sold more than 100 million worldwide and made him even more of a household name.
Last but not least of the brave travelers is the original shark-jumper himself, Winkler. The 70-year-old Yale graduate and Golden Globe winner spent a decade as one of TV’s most iconic characters, Arthur Fonzarelli in “Happy Days,” going on to appear in, direct and produce countless other series and films. He’s an executive producer for “Better Late Than Never” as well as a cast member and all-around good sport — watch for him contending with a meal of live octopus as its suction cups fasten to the inside of his cheek.
Follow along as these four highly accomplished senior citizens and their witty young helper prove that age is just a number as they add another feather to their already heavily laden caps. The journey begins Tuesday, Aug. 23, when “Better Late Than Never” premieres on NBC.