Michael Bolton's Big Sexy Valentine's Day Special

When Aukerman and Schaffer pull out and pull back and break the rules, the comedy proves transcendent; if they’d gone just a little bit further, this could have been 54 minutes of pure magic.

It’s ideal Valentine’s Day programming for people who hate the nonsensical commercialism of Valentine’s Day and for anyone who can’t resist unfettered silliness.

At its best, it’s a glorious, only partly ironic homage to the vocal power and unfettered sexual magnetism of one of the most indelible figures in balladry. At its worst, it’s baffling. Michael Bolton superfans will likely hate it. And yet it’s Bolton who makes it work, entirely committed to his role and transforming himself from a potential punchline into a hero.