You have to give producer’s Sharon Browne and Phil Coulter credit for their honesty. They make no attempt to hide the fact that Celtic Thunder, the latest sensation to join in on PBS’ Irish Invasion, is basically Celtic Woman with testosterone. The formula for both projects, in member selection and production, is almost identical, leaving this concert special feeling somewhat forced and a little too overblown for several of the individual group members. Still, once you allow yourself to forget the hideous lighting and ridiculous set, you’ll find there is a lot to enjoy in this production.

One departure that Celtic Thunder: The Show makes from its females predecessors is the decidedly masculine feel of the music. The opening group number, entitled “Heartland” is rousing and percussive, setting a promising tone for the rest of the show. The subsequent group numbers don’t disappoint. Most notable are the patriotic “Ireland’s Call,” and the dreamy “Caledonia.” The only ensemble piece that misses its mark is “Steal Away.” The repetitive, mostly a cappella piece is, frankly, boring and just can’t be saved no matter how hard the boys tried to sell it. Rest assured, this is not a problem throughout. The guys know how to throw out the power hits, be it together or solo.

The first solo in the televised special introduces us to Keith Harkin, 21. With a sweet face and a sweet voice, Harkin is an all-around feast for the eyes and ears. He is presented here as the brooding, romantic, somewhat lost soul who just wants to know what love is. Whether any of it’s true or not doesn’t matter: it works! If your heart isn’t pounding too loudly, you’ll love his renditions of “The Island,” Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and his own original composition, “Lauren and I.”

Another truly beautiful guy is Ryan Kelly, 28. Kelly is the embodiment of tall, dark and handsome, complete with piercing eyes and a smirk that will capture the heart and keep you hanging on his every word. A true performer, his songs cater to his musical theatre background. No where is this better seen than in the wonderfully entertaining song, “Heartbreaker,” in which he portrays a self-involved but irresistible ladies man. He keeps up the fabulous work in his other numbers, too, namely with “Ride On,” a powerful and dramatic piece; and with his rendition of The Eagles’ “Desperado,” which is beautifully sincere and heartfelt.

Tenor Paul Byrom, 29, adds a classical flare to the Celtic Thunder mix. He certainly looks and sounds great, but he would be so much more enjoyable if only there were less of him. Individually, his solo numbers are beautiful, but there isn’t a lot of variation among them. This is most painfully clear when he has two plodding solos in a row: a version of “She,” followed by the sickly romantic “Remember Me.” However, one exception, which almost makes up for all the others, is his commanding performance of The Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin.” Bryom’s version is so real and passionate, making it just as good, if not better, than the original. Also working in his favor is that Byrom seems genuine and likable. He’s most fun to watch during ensemble numbers in which he sincerely seems to be having fun.

Unfortunately, with the likes of Harkin, Kelly and Byrom in their midst, the remaining members of Celtic Thunder, George Donaldson, 40, and Damian McGinty, 15, seem mediocre by comparison. Donaldson’s solos are filled with typical Irish melancholy and suffer the same lack of variation as Bryom’s. The directors must have realized this and made up for it by giving him the lead on some of the more powerful ensemble numbers such as Paul McCartney’s “Mull of McIntyre” and “Ireland’s Call,” which is so good, it truly deserves a second mention here. McGinty, on the other hand, is young and definitely sounds like it. He’s got a charming voice, but he’s not the kind of remarkable young talent like we’ve seen in the likes of Charlotte Church or Chloe Agnew. Even so, he finds redemption in his thoroughly enjoyable (if out-of-place) version of the classic, “Puppy Love,” complete with adorable, over-the-top staging. Indeed, Donaldson and McGinty have their strong points; it’s simply harder for them to shine.

Ultimately, Celtic Thunder pales in comparison to its female counterpart. It seems there’s just no beating the original. However, when taken by itself, it really is a very entertaining, and even touching couple of hours. Even with its flaws, I would happily recommend this concert to PBS viewers of all persuasions. It’s replayed frequently on television and the DVD and two CDs are currently available for purchase. So answer Ireland’s call and check out Celtic Thunder today.