Better Late Than Never takes a unique twist on travel doccies. Actors Henry Winkler and William Shatner, sports analyst and former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw, Olympic gold medalist George Foreman and comic Jeff Dye leave their assistants and limousines behind as they embark on an international adventure in the hopes of having a life-changing experience.
They navigate Tokyo, Kyoto, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Chang Mai, taking part in local traditions and trying exotic foods, all while checking items off their “bucket lists.” Their only “help” comes from Jeff Dye, a young, strong, tech-savvy comedian with an agenda of his own – who isn’t above leading the men off track.
With a pinch of salt
The series sounds as though it could have its endearing moments – as long as you buy into the idea that this is a “spontaneous” trip that hasn’t been scripted by a team of professionals. And that the five men really are good friends, and not a demographically-neat collage of loveable old-timers.
The Hollywood Reporter had its problems with the show, noting that: “Better Late Than Never begins with a worrisome voiceover intoning ‘Asia … land of exotic beauty,’ threatening an almost colonialistic view of the continent. But in a world of Orientalist TV stereotyping that inflicted two seasons of I Survived a Japanese Game Show on viewers, this show’s worst offense is that it’s simply prone to easy cultural cliches. In the first episode, the gang stays at a capsule hotel, visits and is horrified by a yakitori restaurant, sings karaoke and participates in some wacky hi-jinks on a Japanese morning show. Is it a fetishization of modern Japanese life? Yes. Is it a fetishization of modern Japanese life in which actual Japanese people are almost entirely absent other than Randomly Naked Guy at Hotel and Woman Who Explains They’re Eating Chicken Vaginas? Yes.”
So, you have been warned. But if you like the idea of watching five (some of them grumpy) old men trying to have fun on holiday, then give it a try. The show has been renewed for a second season, so it can’t be all bad!
M-Net, Channel 101, Wednesday, 18 January, 7.30pm.
WS
