Welcome Back, Michael Bolton

Who's peaking out from the back?

In early-2002, Michael Bolton was promoting his latest album and stopped by the radio station I worked.  At the time, Bolton's career was in a slump after a healthy decade sporting long hair, Nicolette Sheridan, and heavy exposure on Adult Contemporary radio stations.  His days of putting his name on an old Motown song and watching it hit #1 were over.  That day I was escorting Michael Bolton and his entourage into the radio station, Michael was wearing leather pants.  He mentioned his hotel had a basketball court and how he wanted to play that afternoon.  He asked me if I played.  I informed him that I last played for the St. Joseph Warriors in the 5th grade and averaged 0.0 points that season.  Despite my impressive resume, he still welcomed me to shoot some hoops with him later that day.  I imagined myself speaking to the hotel concierge: "Hi, I'm Todd Ganz.  I'm here to play basketball with Mr. Bolton."  Needless to say, I didn't play.  Fast forward another decade, and Bolton has survived another Nicolette Sheridan breakup and continues to live off the royalties of "How Can We Be Lovers If We Can't Be Friends?" while turning up in roles that no one would expect.  First, he appeared in an SNL Digital Short as Captain Jack Sparrow and now plays a supporting role in Honda's holiday commercials.  Here's a guy who has found his next niche--one where he doesn't take himself too seriously.  Just like leather pants, Michael Bolton has returned.