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- The Winding Road that Lead to Dirty Jobs January 8, 2013
From the MRW Water Cooler:
Q: Dear Mike,
In one of your episodes you launched into a rather well-sung rendition of “Vecchia zimarra” from “La Boheme.” I’m an opera singer and voice teacher, and immediately recognized your excellent diction and lovely bass/baritone voice. Where did you train, and did you ever sing opera professionally? Also, for heaven’s sake, how does one begin ...read more... - Tom Hanks Called Me…Maybe? January 7, 2013
There’s lots of press out there around a documentary called Killing Lincoln, airing next month on the National Geographic Channel. It reminded me of a phone call I got from Tom Hanks a few months ago. Conversation went like this…
(Ring R…ing)
Mike: Hello?
Tom: Hey Mike, how’s it going?
Mike: Fine. Who’s this?
Tom: It’s Tom!
Mike: Tom?
Tom: Tom Hanks.
Mike: Get out of here.
Tom: No, ...read more... - A Turkey Without a Pardon November 21, 2012
It never fails.
Whenever Dirty Jobs goes off the air for a few months, people start to wonder if the show has been canceled. Rumors begin to swirl, and questions about the show’s future fill my inbox. Over the years it’s been my pleasure to assure anxious fans that Dirty Jobs is coming back for another season. And indeed, we always ...read more... - Well, THAT Was Fun… October 1, 2012Not long after Dirty Harry started addressing furniture on national television, I began to think seriously about the benefits of keeping my big mouth shut. Alas, it is difficult. Because after three hundred Dirty Jobs and eight years of unintended social anthropology, I’m now afflicted by the possibility that I might have something useful to say. Specifically, I think I’ve ...read more...
- The First Four Years Are The Hardest… September 3, 2012
Dear Governor Romney,
–
My name is Mike Rowe and I own a small company in California called mikeroweWORKS. Currently, mikeroweWORKS is trying to close the country’s skills gap by changing the way Americans feel about Work. (I know, right? Ambitious.) Anyway, this Labor Day is our 4th anniversary, and I’m commemorating the occasion with an open letter to you. If you ...read more... - Third Time’s the Charm…or so we believe June 25, 2012Soooo… an editorial appeared in the May issue of the Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN) Magazine. Needless to say, Mike wanted to further help clear the confusion about “Safety Third” and try to help people understand what he’s been saying all along. Over here at mrW, we know how busy he is and were quite surprised to get his thoughtful ...read more...
- MIKE ROWE’S FIRST PERSONAL PRESS RELEASE June 12, 2012
Mike Rowe here, Dirty Jobs™, etc. This is the first Press Release penned by yours truly. If it works, there will be more. If it doesn’t, I’ll hire an actual publicist. I would prefer not to however because I’m cheap. I’ll be brief.
Walmart and Lowe’s are now carrying a new cleaning product called Dirty Jobs™ Complete. Technically, it’s a laundry ...read more... - Mike Rowe Receives Distinguished Eagle Scout Award June 1, 2012
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award was established in 1969 to acknowledge Eagle Scouts who have received extraordinary national-level recognition, fame, or eminence within their field, and have a strong record of voluntary service to their community. Only Eagle Scouts who earned the Eagle Scout rank a minimum of 25 years previously are eligible for nomination. The award is given by ...read more... - American Legion Magazine: Mike Rowe’s ‘My America’ May 30, 2012In my America, there are two kinds of people: those who are willing to get dirty, and those who are not. I prefer to spend my time with those who do. It’s not that I have anything against cleanliness, or bear any ill will to those who toil in cubicles or office building. I’ve just learned over the years that ...read more...
- Community College of Baltimore County – Mike Rowe Alumni Interview May 24, 2012To everyone who has ever felt guilty about not having a career plan, look to Mike Rowe and hold your head high. Here’s a man who admittedly – and consciously – has lived a “go with the flow” life, and made it work remarkably to his advantage.
Even without a clear-cut occupational strategy, attributes like flexibility, spontaneity and healthy doses of ...read more...
- Dick Clark April 27, 2012Back in 1996 I got a phone call from a television producer. His name was Tom Frank, and he wanted to know if I might be interested in hosting a game show. Apparently, my demo reel had made an impression.
“This is quite possibly the worst demo reel I’ve ever seen,” said Tom Frank. “There’s nothing on here but outtakes and ...read more...
- Dirty Jobs Deserves Credit in Helping Launch the Reality ‘Jobs’ Genre April 19, 2012
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 ...read more... - Mike Rowe is not Discouraged by Discouragement March 29, 2012
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 ...read more... - The Humor of Fred King ~ Something He Really Sank his Chops Into March 8, 2012
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. ...read more... - The Education Gap brought about in part…by Education February 23, 2012From 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 ...read more...
