Capt. Kirk, Fonzie, two champs boldly go to Asia

A heavyweight boxing champ, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Captain Kirk and The Fonz walk into a Tokyo bar ....

That's not a joke setup, although "Beam me up, Fonzie" might make for a good punchline. Instead, it's a scene from NBC's Better Late Than Never (Tuesday, 10 ET/PT), a four-part series based on a South Korean format. It follows George Foreman, 67, Terry Bradshaw, 67, William Shatner, 85, and Henry Winkler, 70, on a whirlwind trip to Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand that includes a ride on a karaoke bus, a visit to a Japanese morning TV show and a performance with a K-Pop group.

What sounds like the makings of a rolling international incident turned into "a journey both physical and spiritual, an extraordinary time," Shatner tells USA TODAY during a break from an equestrian event in Los Angeles. He and Winkler, an executive producer, joined by phone for a Q&A seasoned with brotherly ribbing and plentiful sentence finishing.

Q: How did this group, which also included comedian Jeff Dye, 33, come together?

Winkler: "In the beginning, there were lots of people in the discussion. (As for Shatner), there was a time about five years ago when I auditioned for a movie. It went poorly, and I was disheartened, and as I was leaving the office, Bill's assistant came out of another office and said, 'Bill Shatner would like to talk with you.' And Bill talked me down and built my spirit back up and sent me on my way. That was the last positive experience I had with Bill."

Shatner: "You're a wonderful actor. They just didn't want a graying Fonzie."

Winkler: "I was not graying and I was not that person you just said."

Q: How did you all get along?

Shatner: "There was an understanding that each of these people had his own strong personality. Like a good marriage, where there's no such thing as perfection, you appreciate the good qualities and ignore the bad qualities. That was very different with Henry, but I was able to ..."

Winkler: "Overcome? That is why you are my idol."

Q: Please discuss those qualities.

Winkler: "George perfected the nap into an art form. Bill has read every book written in English and wants you to know every word on every page. Terry is a gigantic, soulful fellow who, if he puts his arm around you, will crush you like a boa constrictor."

Q: Were you worried about appearing like Ugly (North) Americans (Shatner is Canadian)?

Shatner: "What level do you play the culture of a country? Do you totally absorb it and take it seriously (when) the admonition was, 'Hey guys, we want laughs'?  Do you play everything for laughs or do you want to absorb a different lesson from four different countries? It was quite a balancing act."

Winkler:  "I honestly can say we left America’s good name untarnished, because we were respectful to everyone we met."

Q: Any personal goals accomplished?

Shatner: "I wanted to catch a pass from Terry Bradshaw, which I did. I wanted to get in the ring with George Foreman, which I did. I wanted Henry Winkler to make me laugh, and he told me the funniest joke. I haven't stopped laughing since. I achieved my bucket list on that show."

Q: Serious matter: Who's cooler, Captain Kirk or Fonzie?

Shatner: "I'd have to say The Fonz because of that motorcycle. ..." Voice drops as he talks to someone at the equestrian event.

Winkler: "See how easily he gets distracted when he's talking about somebody else."

Shatner: Fonzie is "the coolest because of the motorcycle. The spaceship is not too cool. Everybody has a spaceship."

Q: As world travelers, do you have advice for Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte?

Winkler: "He should stay in the pool."

Shatner: "If you have to go pee, Ryan, pee in the pool."