TV REVIEWS : ‘Dreams Come True’ for Billy Ray

To doff or not to doff?

That is the question--pretty much the only one--addressed in “The Billy Ray Cyrus Special--Dreams Come True,” airing at 10 tonight on ABC (Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42). This facile one-hour show about the man with the “Achy Breaky Heart” makes USA Today’s personality profiles seem long-winded by comparison.

Of course, Cyrus ultimately does doff his long-sleeved shirt so he can flash those pumped-up pecs and biceps, to lustful squeals of delight from his predominantly female audience.

The bulk of this special consists of live renditions of six songs from his multimillion-selling debut album, “Some Gave All.” As a songwriter, he is a workmanlike talent at best. His over-the-top success probably has more to do with his chameleonic voice that’s a bit Springsteen, a bit Mellencamp, even a little Elton John.

Oh, that chiseled nose and square jaw haven’t hurt, either.

The only new music is included with the premiere of the video for Dolly Parton’s latest single, “Romeo,” in which Cyrus plays (and sings) a modern-day Romeo, opposite Dolly’s frisky Juliet.

Naturally, there’s no mention of tabloid stories from last year alleging that Cyrus once worked as a Chippendale’s dancer.

The truth is, it doesn’t matter. His performances (accurately documented here) contain enough pelvic grinds, come-hither stares at the crowd and stripteasing--albeit PG-rated--to satisfy habitues of male exotic dance revues.

His teasing isn’t restricted to losing articles of clothing. Three times before he gets around to actually singing that silly ditty about his faulty coronary muscle, he leads different groups in mini-sing-alongs to make sure we realize that everyone everywhere has it indelibly etched in their achy-breaky brains.

Some gave all, indeed.