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Mike Rowe

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Mike Rowe
Rowe interviewed by Reason TV, 2023
Born (1962-03-18) March 18, 1962 (age 62)
Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materTowson University
Occupation(s)Television host, narrator
Television
Rowe's voice
What he learned from hosting Dirty Jobs
Websitewww.mikerowe.com

Michael Gregory Rowe (born March 18, 1962)[1]: 6  is an American television host and narrator. He is known for his work on the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs and the series Somebody's Gotta Do It originally developed for CNN. He hosted a series produced for Facebook called Returning the Favor in which he found people doing good deeds and did something for them in return.[2] He also hosts a podcast titled The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe.[3]

Rowe has narrated programs on the Discovery Channel, The Science Channel, and National Geographic Channel such as Deadliest Catch, How the Universe Works, and Shark Week. He has also appeared in commercials for firms such as the Ford Motor Company.

Early life

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Rowe was born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland, to John and Peggy Rowe, who were both teachers.[4][1]: 6  In commercials for Dirty Jobs he stated that the show is a tribute to his father and grandfather. He became an Eagle Scout in 1979 in Troop 16 in Overlea,[5] and he read to students at the Maryland School for the Blind during his service project for Eagle Scout. He cites this as one of the reasons that he became interested in narrating and writing.[5][6]

Rowe attended Kenwood Presbyterian Church in Nottingham, Maryland, which his parents still regularly attend. He graduated from Overlea High School in 1980,[1]: 28  where he excelled in theater and singing.[7] He then studied at Essex Community College.[7] In 1985, he graduated from Towson University[8][1]: 28  with a degree in communication studies.[9]

Television career

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As host

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Rowe on Dirty Jobs in April 2010 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Rowe has hosted On-Air TV for American Airlines, No Relation for FX,[10] and New York Expeditions for PBS.

In the early 1990s, Rowe hosted the CD-ROM music trivia game Radio Active (as "Bobby Arpeggio") for defunct Sanctuary Woods. During the same period, he was an on-air host for the home-shopping TV network QVC.[11] Rowe has claimed that QVC fired him three times, rehiring him each time until he finally left of his own accord in 1993. When told in a 2008 episode of Dirty Jobs that the gourds he was working on would be sold via QVC, he said he was familiar with the corporation and proceeded to ad-lib a sales pitch for them.[12]

In the 1990s, Rowe hosted Channel 999 instructional guide for the defunct PrimeStar satellite television service.

In 2002, Rowe hosted Worst Case Scenarios for TBS.[10]

From 2001 to 2004, Rowe hosted The Most for The History Channel.[10] From 2001 to 2005, Rowe hosted Evening Magazine on KPIX-TV in San Francisco. During this time, he appeared in a news segment called "Somebody's Gotta Do It", profiling a number of unpleasant professions; the concept later grew into Dirty Jobs. Rowe's first work with the Discovery Channel included a trip to the Valley of the Golden Mummies to host Egypt Week Live!, where he explored ancient tombs live with Zahi Hawass, an Egyptian archaeologist.

In September 2012, Rowe hosted a three-part series How Booze Built America on the Discovery Channel.

CNN announced on April 10, 2014, that Rowe would host Somebody's Gotta Do It, a new "Original Series" that began in the fall of 2014 lineup. The final season aired on the TBN in 2018. Rowe highlights "unique individuals" in their respective passionate undertakings, whether it be work, hobby, or fanaticism. Somebody's Gotta Do It is produced by Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Studios.[13] In mid-July 2020, Discovery Channel aired Dirty Jobs: Rowe'd Trip, a four-episode miniseries, billed as "part reunion, part road-trip, part look-back-special".[14]

As narrator

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In addition to hosting programs, Rowe has an extensive background as a narrator. His work with Discovery Channel includes narrating American Chopper, American Hot Rod, Deadliest Catch, Wild Pacific, Silver Rush, Ghost Lab, How the Universe Works, and Syfy's Ghost Hunters. Rowe hosted the Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week in 2006 and 2008, and has hosted the special You Spoof Discovery, an amateur parody video special which poked fun at some of the popular series on the Discovery Channel's lineup.

Rowe poses for a photo during filming at Skulls Unlimited International

Rowe was originally tapped to be the on-screen host of the Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch, a show about crab fishing in the Bering Sea, and shot footage aboard several crab boats in addition to narrating the series. When Dirty Jobs was picked up by Discovery, he was told to choose which show he wanted to appear in on-screen.[15] Rowe chose to host Dirty Jobs and narrate Deadliest Catch; the footage of him on the boats was not used in the series, although he did appear in a season finale of Deadliest Catch, interviewing the boat captains. Rowe hosted a related show about life on the Bering Sea, a 2007 miniseries, After the Catch, a show which has continued after each season of Deadliest Catch.

Other narration work by Rowe includes Mystery Diagnosis, Drydock: A Cruise Ship Reborn, Southern Steel, Powertool Drag Racing, Scavengers Rock (Animal Planet), Airplane Repo and the opening of Ghost Hunters, a Syfy series from the producers of American Chopper. Additionally, Rowe has done voiceover work for the reality television show The Ultimate Fighter and the NASCAR pre-race show for the 2009 Chase on ESPN.[16]

From December 21, 2009, to June 2012, Rowe was the announcer on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.[17][18]

He hosts a podcast called The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe, in partnership with Red Seat Ventures.[19]

Additional appearances

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On October 7, 2007, Rowe appeared on Fox's American Dad! as the voice of a meter maid.

Rowe appeared on an episode of Sesame Street (Season 39) in a segment called "Dirtiest Jobs With Mike Rowe", which aired on October 13, 2008. Rowe visits Sesame Street to find the dirtiest job, which happens to belong to Oscar. Rowe must do all the things Oscar does. His tasks include finding and counting stinky cheese, sorting trash, and giving his pet pig, Spot, a mud bath. To Oscar's chagrin, Rowe does not want to stop, as he is having too much fun.

Mike Rowe spoke to more than 70,000 scouts, leaders, and visitors at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, and a second time at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree in Bechtel Summit. Rowe, an Eagle Scout, spoke to the crowd about the importance of being physically and mentally clean, but emphasized the need for all scouts to get dirty.[20]

In 2012, Rowe appeared in the 'Baxter & Sons' episode of the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing playing the role of Jim Baxter, the brother of Tim Allen's character.

In June 2013, Mike Rowe spoke to the delegates at the 49th Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference for SkillsUSA in Kansas City, Missouri. He addressed the crowd of 15,000+ at Kemper Arena about the importance to "Work Smart and Hard".[21]

In 2017, Rowe was a guest on the premiere episode of Season 39 for This Old House. This first project of the season spotlights "Generation Next", an organization that is training young people to learn the building trades. Rowe, through his "mikeroweWORKS" foundation and the "This Old House" people are supporting this initiative.[22][23]

As pitchman

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Beginning in March 2007, he was featured in several Ford Motor Company F-Series truck commercials, presented in a style similar to Dirty Jobs, including one for Ford Sync.[24] In the summer of 2009, he appeared in advertisements for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury vehicles that used the tagline, "Why Ford. Why Now."[25]

On July 26, 2010, Rowe became the spokesperson for Caterpillar, "spending time with Caterpillar customers and dealers to get a real world perspective on their jobs and how the two partner to be successful."[26]

In 2011, Rowe appeared with his parents in television spots for Viva paper towels.[27]

Trade activism

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On Labor Day 2008, Rowe launched the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which is focused on the decline in the blue collar trades and the crumbling state of infrastructure.[28] A trade resource center has been launched and provides information, resources, and forums for people interested in learning about, or pursuing a career in, the trades,[5] as well as a new blog aggregator for the trades and construction industry, called the "Trades Hub", which launched in April 2011.

On September 29, 2010, Mike Rowe and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers started a campaign called "I Make America", aimed to create jobs in the manufacturing sector by encouraging infrastructure investment and export agreements. The group stated that the campaign would improve the economy and global competitiveness of the United States.[29]

In May 2011, Rowe testified on the issue of trade activism before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.[30][31][32]

Rowe has contributed video content to The Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute's trade-worker recruiting campaign GoBuildAlabama.com, culminating in an Iron Bowl-themed commercial broadcast on local CBS affiliates during Thanksgiving weekend 2010.[33]

Rowe sent a letter to President Obama at the start of his first term offering to help promote the three million "shovel ready" jobs promised during the campaign, suspecting it might be a tough sell, "given the country's then-current relationship with the shovel." He did not receive a reply. During the 2012 presidential election, Rowe contacted GOP candidate Mitt Romney and appeared with him on September 26, 2012, at a campaign event in Ohio. "He's non partisan, he's not here to endorse me, he's not here to add support to one campaign or another," Romney said of his guest. "He's here to talk about his ideas about how to help America create more jobs."[34]

In spring 2013, mikeroweWORKS launched its newest initiative, Profoundly Disconnected. Rowe states, "many of the best opportunities that exist today require a skill, not a diploma. The purpose of this site is to promote that simple truth." While in high school in 1979, Rowe saw a poster in his guidance counselor's office that read "Work Smart, Not Hard". He hated it so much, he changed it to "Work Smart AND Hard"; he now prints such posters and wants them hanging all over the country to get people to change the way hard work is perceived.[35]

Rowe describes himself as a cheerleader for both blue-collar workers and white-collar workers, hoping to promote individual initiative and positive thinking throughout the U.S. economy. He has stated that he feels alienated from the current U.S. political system given that both business owners and regular workers receive, in his opinion, unfair criticism, with issues such as geographical mismatching and a lack of job training causing unemployment. Rowe has stated that he is a gun owner and a supporter of the U.S. 2nd Amendment, but not a member of the National Rifle Association because he is "not much of a joiner".[36]

His mikeroweWORKS Foundation has received financial support from Charles Koch.[37][38]

In April 2021, when asked about the debate about raising the minimum wage, Rowe said, "I worry that the path to a skilled trade can be compromised when you offer an artificially high wage for, I hate the expression, but an unskilled job."[39]

Personal life

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Rowe sang professionally with the Baltimore Opera.[9][40][41] A former resident of San Francisco, California,[41][36] Rowe now resides in nearby Belvedere, California.[42] A voice-over for a Walmart ad in 2014 sparked death threats from fans.[41] In 2016, he was subject to rumors describing his death, leading him to quote the famous line attributed to Mark Twain: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."[36][41] He is in a long-term relationship, but not married.[43]

Accolades

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Rowe was the first winner of the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Reality Show Host in 2011.[44] In June 2012, Rowe was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America.[45][9]

In 2017, Rowe was made an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.[46]

Rowe received the Outstanding Host for a Daytime Program award for Returning the Favor at the 2020 Daytime Emmy awards.[47]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes Source
2000–2004 The Most Host & narrator History Channel
2002 Worst Case Scenarios Host TBS
2002–2010 American Chopper Narrator Discovery Channel
2003 Incredible Basements Host & narrator HGTV
2003–2012,
2020–present 		Dirty Jobs Host Discovery Channel
2004 American Hot Rod Narrator The Learning Channel and Discovery Channel
2004–2010, 2021–present Ghost Hunters Narrator A&E Discovery+
2005–present Deadliest Catch Narrator Discovery Channel
2005–2010 The Ultimate Fighter Narrator Spike TV
2006 Shark Week Host Discovery Channel
2007–2012 After the Catch Host Discovery Channel
2007 American Dad! Meter Maid Season 3, episode 2
2008–2010 Ghost Hunters International Narrator Syfy
2009 Wild Pacific Himself Discovery Channel
2010, 2014–present How the Universe Works Narrator Seasons 1, 3, 4, 6–11
2011 Human Planet Narrator Discovery Channel
2012 How Booze Built America Himself Discovery Channel
2012 Last Man Standing Jim Baxter Episode 18
2013–2014,
2019–present 		Bering Sea Gold Host Discovery Channel
2013–2015 Airplane Repo Narrator Discovery Channel
2013 Bering Sea Gold: Under The Ice Host Discovery Channel
2013 Huckabee Himself TBN
2013–present C.R.A.P. Host web series [48][49]
2014 Building America Host & narrator TheBlaze
2014–2015
2018 		Somebody's Gotta Do It Host CNN
TBN 		[50]
2016 America's Greatest Makers Guest judge TBS
2017–2021 Returning the Favor Host Facebook Watch
2021 Six Degrees with Mike Rowe Host discovery+
2021–present How America Works Host & narrator Fox Business
2024 Tuttle Twins Himself Lbertas Institute [51]
2024 Something to Stand For Himself

Bibliography

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  • Rowe, Mike (2019). The Way I Heard It. Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1982130855.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Jill C. Wheeler (June 2015). Getting Gritty with Mike Rowe. ABDO. ISBN 978-1-62969-835-9.
  2. ^ "Mike Rowe surprises veteran in 'Returning the Favor'". Fox News. August 31, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Podcast pick of the week: 'The Way I Heard It'". USA TODAY. August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Community College of Baltimore County – Mike Rowe Alumni Interview". MikeRowe.com. May 24, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "It's A Dirty Job And He Gets to Do It!". Eagletter. 35 (2). Irving, Texas: National Eagle Scout Association, Boy Scouts of America: 3–5. Fall 2009.
  6. ^ "Transcript of March 7, 2006, Online Chat with Mike Rowe". Discovery Channel. March 7, 2006. Archived from the original on June 18, 2006. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Mike Rowe named honorary life member of the Barbershop Harmony Society". Barbershop Harmony Society. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "You Ask, He Answers (Dirty Jobs FAQ)". Discovery Channel. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c Courtney Fox (July 2020). "Mike Rowe of 'Dirty Jobs' was once a professional Opera singer". WideOpenCountry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Rowe, Mike (April 27, 2012). "Dick Clark". The Office. Mike Rowe Works. Retrieved April 29, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ All Things Considered. National Public Radio, February 16, 2014.
  12. ^ The Complete Dirty Jobs Show Guide Archived October 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine from Discovery Channel.com
  13. ^ "Mike Rowe Brings Original Series To CNN". Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  14. ^ Julius Young (June 23, 2020). "Mike Rowe to premiere 'Dirty Jobs: Rowe'd Trip' in Discovery Channel return". Fox News. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  15. ^ Collis, Clark (June 21, 2007). "Shock And Awe: The stars of Survivorman, The Deadliest Catch, and Dirty Jobs share jaw-dropping tales from their brave work". Entertainment Weekly. Time, Inc. Archived from the original on August 9, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  16. ^ "1st Race of the 2009 Chase"[permanent dead link] on Mikeroweworks.org
  17. ^ "A Much Cleaner Job for Mike Rowe: The Voice of 'World News with Diane Sawyer'". www.adweek.com. December 22, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "The Ticker (Revolving Door Edition): O'Keefe, Kudravi, Rowe". Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  19. ^ "Mike Rowe To Launch Podcast With Red Seat Ventures". All Access. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  20. ^ Boy Scout Troop 815 - "A Scout is Clean...but not Afraid to get Dirty!" Mike Rowe - 2010 National Scout Jamboree: Facebook. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  21. ^ SkillsUSA (August 8, 2013). "Mike Rowe - Full Speech at Opening Ceremony of SkillsUSA's 2013 national conference". Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2016 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ This Old House: A House for the Next Generation (S39 E1) : FULL EPISODE. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  23. ^ "Mike Rowe Visits This Old House And Gives Us A Special Thanksgiving Message!". TheMix.net. November 25, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  24. ^ Bernstein, Marty (March 1, 2007). ""Dirty Jobs'" Mike Rowe To Tout Ford Trucks as Spokesperson". The Auto Channel. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  25. ^ "Ford, 'Dirty Jobs' host Mike Rowe part ways". Michigan Live. February 20, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  26. ^ "Mike Rowe Is Ready to Hit the Dirt with Caterpillar Customers and Dealers". Caterpillar Inc. July 26, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  27. ^ Kimberly-Clark. "Mike Rowe and His Parents Join Viva Brand Towels to Tackle Tough Messes". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  28. ^ "About Us". mikeroweWORKS Foundation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  29. ^ "'I Make America' Campaign Kicked Off by AEM and Mike Rowe of 'Dirty Jobs'" (Press release). Association of Equipment Manufacturers. September 29, 2010 – via PR Newswire.
  30. ^ "Testimony of Mike Rowe".
  31. ^ Mike Rowe Asks Congress To Support More "Dirty Jobs". May 14, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ "Mike Rowe's U.S. Senate Testimony on Jobs". www.enr.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  33. ^ ""Dirty Jobs" host in Iron Bowl-themed commercial". November 25, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  34. ^ "Romney gets down and 'Dirty' in Ohio". CNN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  35. ^ "mikeroweWORKS Foundation". www.mikeroweworks.org. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  36. ^ a b c Nick Gillespie & Todd Krainin (October 21, 2016). "Mike Rowe Wears Trump's Robe, Fights a Drone, and Solves the Labor Shortage". Reason.com. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  37. ^ "Koch Industries Teams Up with Mike Rowe to Improve the Skills Gap". OpportunityLives. August 8, 2016. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016.
  38. ^ "Mike Rowe". DeSmog.
  39. ^ Napoli, Jessica (April 10, 2021). "'Six Degrees' star Mike Rowe weighs in on minimum wage debate". FOXBusiness. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  40. ^ "TV Review: Mike Rowe dishes up "Dirty Jobs"". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  41. ^ a b c d "The Untold Truth of 'Dirty Jobs' host Mike Rowe". April 26, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  42. ^ "Belvedere considering use of federal snipers to kill all coyotes in city". March 4, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  43. ^ "Peggy Rowe answers burning questions: Mike's love life, social media, fans + fame!". YouTube.
  44. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 20, 2011). "Critics' Choice TV Award Winners Include Stars from Fringe, Justified and Cougar Town". TVLine. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  45. ^ "Mike Rowe – Distinguished Eagle Scout Award". United States Scouting Service Project. June 4, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  46. ^ "Forefront - Sweet and Lovely (feat. Mike Rowe)" YouTube, July 10, 2017.
  47. ^ "Daytime Emmys Announce Kids, Animation, Lifestyle Awards: 'Sesame Street' Among Big Winners". Yahoo. July 27, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  48. ^ "'Dirty Jobs' Host Aims to Revitalize Trade Jobs". Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  49. ^ "Mike Rowe". YouTube. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  50. ^ Rowe, Mike (November 25, 2017). "Off The Wall: Somebody's Gotta Do It on TBN". www.mikerowe.com. Mike Rowe. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  51. ^ Rowe, Mike (May 7, 2024). "Tuttle Twins 'The College Conundrum'". Mike Rowe. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
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