Mike Rowe

From the MRW Water Cooler: Q: Are there other shows that you know came from a Dirty Jobs idea? Do you guys get credit for that? – Anita L Hi Anita, I talked to a reporter the other day who observed that Dirty Jobs launched an entire genre of cable programming. That might be a bit grand, but it’s not crazy. Back in 2003, when I first pitched the idea, there was nothing like Dirty Jobs on the air. (Monster Garage however, had proven that a hit show could actually take place in a garage, but there was really not Read More

From the MRW Water Cooler: Q: On those long exhausting days where nothing seems to go right, what do you do to keep from being discouraged? — Jessica   Hi Jessica “Discouraged” is an interesting word. Literally, it implies the absence of “courage.” I don’t have any advice on how to be courageous. You either are or you aren’t. The only thing I know for sure is that it’s scary to be brave, as it should be. And if the situation in question isn’t frightening, courage is not required. Feeling discouraged though, is not just feeling cowardly. It’s also a Read More

History with Baltimore, TSU, and Freddie King ~ Freddie was one of my main memories of college life, many years ago. He was going back to school to get, I believe, his Masters of Arts or doctorate in conducting? I don’t remember which. I dO remember, however, those teeth of his. He was always popping them at us during performances. Drove us crazy trying not to laugh on stage, but oh the sound he got from us. – Malkah Fred got most of his teeth knocked out playing football in high school. Rather than replacing those that had gone missing, Read More

From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Mike, over the years I have spent time working with young people that are excited about working in one trade or another, until their parents “put out the fire” and announce “oh no, you are going to college”. Although I agree that one should try to continue their education, many students would benefit by first obtaining an associate degree in a technical subject they love.  Is there anything being planned by mrW to send this message to the parents? To have you Mike, for example, record a PSA about this country’s growing issue of Read More

From the MRW Water Cooler:   Q; Mike, I’m just kind of curious why this particular sitcom and why now….? Was it that the script and character were too good to pass up appealing to your repressed inner thespian or something more mercenary? And how long does it take for them to make you beautiful anyway? Was it at all difficult to get into character and perform in front of a live audience after many years of being yourself in front of the camera? Or does it all come back to you, like riding a bike? I have a behind Read More

Men’s Health News By J. Rentilly Not since Huey Lewis and the News has America’s working class had such an iconic, affable brother in arms—or elbow grease, or sewage sludge or aviary vomit, as the case may be—as in Mike Rowe. Host of Discovery Channel’s much-watched Dirty Jobs (Tuesdays, 9 p.m.), which casts a loving spotlight and a spitball of mischievous humor on some of the nation’s grungiest gigs, the 49-year-old Rowe has become an unlikely spokesperson for the blue-collar brethren. Last year, Rowe went to Washington, addressing the United States Senate on employment issues and trade activism. Rowe has Read More

That’s a tough one. Nobody likes a bully, but they’re easy enough to deal with if you’re willing to fight back. Crybabies on the other hand, while not overtly dangerous, pose a more insidious threat to polite society. They sow the seeds of victim-hood with their chronic whining, slowly replacing personal responsibility with self-pity and misplaced blame. Either way, bullies and crybabies are both a drain on the species, but relatively harmless when compared to the specter of the dreaded Cry-Bully – an unhappy hybrid of the two. Every now and then I stumble across one of these cowardly Gollums, Read More

From the MRW Water Cooler: Q: “Obama was trying to make a point about the amount of money various groups of people contribute to the country compared to what they earn, how else could he say it without mentioning the rich or the poor?” — A Ok, I’ll give it a shot. (cough cough) “My fellow Americans. I know that many of you are suffering. And I know that many of you look around and see a country where not all things appear to be equal. Well, guess what? They aren’t. They never have been, and I can assure you, Read More

Mike instructs young Wyatt on the safest way way to maneuver in a sewer. Feel free to take notes in case there is a pop quiz or in case you find yourself in a sewer too. My son and daughter love Dirty Jobs and I watch it too. My son Wyatt’s favorite episodes are the ones in the sewer. He would love for you to tell him about the sewer. Our family thinks you’re great Mike. – B Hi Wyatt, Your Mom tells me you enjoy the sewer. I think that’s great. The sewer is an interesting place, full of Read More

When you’re a freelance actor struggling to find work in an industry where unemployment hovers around 95%, you have two recurring dreams: • Finding steady work on a hit TV show. • Finding a friend with steady work on a hit TV show. Personal relationships in show business are very important, and the easiest way for an actor to find a job is to be good friends with someone who already has one – someone like me. I say someone like me, because being friends with me specifically won’t do you much good. Unless you’re willing to put on a Read More

Mike recalls his 2006 Shark Week adventure  for the Discovery Channel. One day down the road, when I’ve had an opportunity to fully digest the events, I’ll look back on April of 2006, and shake my head in wonder and gratitude. I arrived home to San Francisco, by way of Baltimore, by way of Nassau, by way of Bimini, by way of Durban, by way of Cape Town, by way of Johannesburg. My crew and I have seen some sights, and return home with more than a few memories, and a story or two that may be worth telling. We Read More

From Mike’s forum on Discovery: Q: Mike, I know the number of people doing voice overs are fairly small, relatively speaking (no pun intended). Do you ever meet with other voice over actors – the ones who narrate the other DC shows? I know your schedules tight, but is there a trade group – like SAG for film actors, conventions? – N Voice over conventions – that’s funny.  Who would be the announcer? Relatively speaking, the voiceover community is indeed small – maybe 10,000 altogether, celebrities notwithstanding. At the highest level, there are two or three dozen people that you Read More

Part of the ‘Mike Rowe’ appeal is that you come across as an “Average Joe” yet a “Renaissance Man” – well read, polite, caring about those you work with, self-deprecating, great sense of humor, an appreciation for good music, fine wine & opera yet you are seen sitting around barefoot, drinking beer with a baseball cap on & have an appreciation for the working guy. You are also willing to try things even after stating your reluctance to do so. You are too normal. It makes people think of you as a friend rather than a celebrity – which is Read More