You’d think putting Captain Kirk and The Fonz in a room together would cause some kind of 1970s pop culture implosion. For decades, they were the twin pillars of American television—one the stoic space explorer, the other the leather-jacketed king of cool. But honestly, for most of their careers, they were just two guys working on different lots. They didn't really "know" each other. Not in the way you’d expect.
Then 2016 happened.
When NBC launched Better Late Than Never, a reality travel show based on a South Korean format, they threw William Shatner and Henry Winkler into a blender with George Foreman, Terry Bradshaw, and comedian Jeff Dye. They sent them to Asia with no assistants and no plan. What resulted wasn't just a "fish out of water" comedy; it was the start of one of the most unexpected, prickly, and genuinely touching bromances in Hollywood history.
People always ask: was it real? Were they actually friends, or was it just for the cameras? The truth is a lot more interesting than a scripted PR friendship.
The Reality of the Shatner-Winkler Dynamic
Let’s get one thing straight: William Shatner is a lot to handle. Even at 94, the man has more energy than a lithium battery. Henry Winkler, on the other hand, is famously the "nicest man in Hollywood." He’s the guy who stops to talk to every fan. He's patient. He's empathetic.
Shatner? Not so much.
During the first season of their travels, particularly in Tokyo, the friction was visible. Winkler was the executive producer of the show, but Shatner is... well, he’s Shatner. There was this one specific moment in a Japanese train station where Winkler was doing his "nice guy" routine, signing autographs and taking photos with everyone who recognized him. Shatner stood there, visibly annoyed, waiting for the "Fonz" to finish so they could actually move.
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"Bill Shatner I knew a little bit, but I'd never met George before," Winkler admitted in an interview back when the show premiered. Shatner was even blunter, saying they were essentially "being paid to be friends" at the start.
Why the "Odd Couple" Label Actually Fits
- The Ego Clash: Shatner reportedly got a bit miffed when George Foreman was recognized more than he was in certain countries.
- The Pacing: Winkler wants to experience the people; Shatner wants to experience the thing. Whether it’s eating a cow penis in Hong Kong or climbing 800 stairs to see "Mount Fuji Adjacent," Shatner is a bull in a china shop.
- The Vulnerability: This is where the magic happened. In a capsule hotel in Japan, these two legends sat down and had a real talk about death. Shatner, then in his mid-80s, admitted he was terrified of the end. Winkler didn't offer a platitude; he just listened.
That Infamous "F**k Off" Moment
You haven't lived until you've heard about the time Henry Winkler told William Shatner to fly a kite—in much more colorful language.
It happened during filming. Shatner was being his usual, demanding self, pushing buttons and directing things he wasn't supposed to be directing. Winkler, the producer and the "nice guy," finally hit his limit. He turned to the man who commanded the Enterprise and told him exactly where to go.
The crazy part? Shatner loved it.
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He respected the spine. It's a classic Hollywood trope, but for these two, it was the moment the "work friendship" became a real one. You can't be real friends with someone until you've had a screaming match in a foreign country after 14 hours of filming in the monsoon heat.
Survival of the "Geezers"
The show took them through some pretty brutal stuff. They ate fermented herring in Sweden—which Winkler described as smelling like a "village of dead people stuffed into a can." They rode camels in the Sahara. They dealt with "pixilated nudity" in European bathhouses.
Through it all, the bond between William Shatner and Henry Winkler solidified. By the second season, they weren't just icons on a paycheck; they were "framily." That's the word they used. Friends who became like family.
What We Can Learn From Their Friendship
It’s easy to look at celebrities and see caricatures. We see the toupee jokes about Shatner or the "Ayhh!" of the Fonz. But watching these two navigate the late stages of their lives together is actually a masterclass in aging.
Honestly, it’s about authenticity. Winkler defines "cool" now as just being yourself. Shatner defines it as never stopping.
They are opposites. Shatner is the fire, Winkler is the water.
Takeaways from the Shatner-Winkler Saga
- It’s never too late to make a best friend. They didn't become close until they were both in their 70s and 80s. Your social circle isn't fixed at 30.
- Conflict is a bridge. That "f**k off" moment was the foundation of their respect. If you’re always "nice," you’re never real.
- Admit the fear. When they talked about death in that tiny capsule hotel, they became more than TV stars. They became human.
If you want to see this dynamic in action, go back and find old clips of their press tours. They talk over each other, they roast each other, and they clearly adore each other. Shatner will make a joke about Winkler's height, and Winkler will fire back with a comment about Shatner's ego. It’s a beautiful, messy, very public bromance.
The show was canceled after two seasons, which is a shame. But the relationship survived the network's axe. In an industry built on fake smiles and scripted "encounters," the bond between the Captain and the Fonz stands out as something remarkably, stubbornly real.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the episodes: If you can find Better Late Than Never on streaming, watch the Season 1 finale in Thailand. It’s where the group's emotional wall finally breaks.
- Read the memoirs: Shatner’s Boldly Go and Winkler’s Being Henry offer different, fascinating perspectives on their time together and their views on life.
- Look for the 2024-2025 updates: Both men are still active on the convention circuit; seeing them on a panel together is the closest thing you'll get to a Season 3.