Dirty Jobs‘ Mike Rowe was recently interviewed by US News and World Report and we have a snippet of the interview, wherein Mike discusses his family, work ethic, the economy, and one of our favorite shows, Dirty Jobs.

So when the president talks almost romantically about putting people to work building wind turbines and installing solar panels, is that music to your ears?

Well, it’s music, all right. Like Philip Glass. Politically, there’s no smart response for me. I’ll plead my record. I basically took the position a year ago that Dirty Jobs was the greenest show on television, by far. I theorized, on camera, that it didn’t get any love in that regard because unlike every other green show, we made no claim to be green at all. What if the greenest people on the planet were the people with dirty jobs? And what if so much of the tension in the environmental movement was coming from the fact that a huge percentage of the country was being asked to accept role models that didn’t resonate with their core beliefs? What if, for instance, millions of people in the heartland didn’t cotton to Leonardo [DiCaprio], or maybe weren’t comfortable with Vice President Gore, or just looked askance at any idea that came out of Hollywood or the beltway?

I figured, maybe we’ve got some great role models on Dirty Jobs. You don’t see it because they’re too busy making a living doing what they do. There are other things that are more important to them than saving the planet—namely making a living and taking care of their family. The more I looked back at shows, everywhere I looked, I saw examples of brown before green. Matt Freund, who makes flowerpots out of cow s—t in northwest Connecticut. He started doing it because nobody was buying his milk. Now, he’s buying more cows because he needs more crap. How much browner could you get? It’s a completely environmental play, and yet this guy is covered in crap 24-7 and making a fair amount of green as a result. But it all happened because of his personal economy, not because he was looking to leave a lighter footprint.

To see more of the article, go on over and check out their website right here.

Despite doing voice-over/narration work for shows like Ghost Hunters, Mike claims to not believe in the supernatural and this includes the elusive creature known as Bigfoot. One of his fans asked him what he would do if he ever saw a Bigfoot and, well, I just loved Mike’s answer:

If I came face to face with a Bigfoot, I would bolt toward him with extreme prejudice, screaming loudly, doing my level best to tackle and throw him to the ground. I would then go about the process of attempting to remove the creature’s head, secure in the knowledge that I was wrestling with a regular mortal man inside a Bigfoot Suit. Having removed his costume head, I would then insist on pictures, along with a signed admission and videotaped confession by the perpetrator of his intent to defraud the general populace of their time and/or money by advancing another weird fiction. Then, armed with such irrefutable evidence, I would corner my dear friend Simon, who still believes that crop circles were created by aliens, and show him yet another example of mans endless capacity for mendacity and fraud. It would be of course, a total waste of time, as Simon has built his entire belief structure around a world with ESP, alien abduction, haunted houses, astral projection, and reincarnation, and is now so hopelessly enamored of things that go bump in the night I fear there is no hope left for him.

Mike

You can find more of Mike’s question and answer segments on his Discovery blog.

Discovery occasionally has sales for their popular shows and it’s on again. Imagine your favorite Discovery Channel shows available on DVD and Bluray for up to 70% off! Dirty Jobs, MythBusters, Deadliest Catch, Planet Earth, Treasure Quest, Wreckreation Nation and much more.

This isn’t exclusive to the Discovery Channel shows. It also includes other Discovery networks like TLC, Animal Planet, Military Channel, and Science Channel. So on top of the Discovery Channel shows, you can get Jon & Kate Plus 8, Whale Wars, LA Ink, American Chopper and so much more.

Wait no further. Check out the Discovery Channel Store DVD Sale.

Just before Father’s Day, we mentioned the first of Mike Rowe’s articles about Father’s Day. We loved it and forgot to tell you all about the three additional articles that Mike penned later that week. I feel ashamed.

In case you miss the first article, you can find it right here with the subsequent articles listed below. I highly recommend reading them when you have time. They’re insightful, but really, they’re hilarious.

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

With Father’s Day just a couple of days away, Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe took some time recently and wrote one heck of a story, giving us some insight into what his childhood was like. One of the qualities most people seem to like (including me) about Mike is that he’s an average guy. Whatever fame and fortune he may have amassed hasn’t turned him into some sort of celebrity. After reading his recent blog entry about his childhood, I say that he really is like everyone. His trials and tribulations as a child are fairly universal. Just about everyone can share a similar tale.

Here’s a snippet from Mike’s entry:

My Mother had grown tired of watching hamburgers and hot dogs slip through the cracks, and desired a table with a solid surface. “Am I asking too much, John? I know it’s terribly unconventional, but really, couldn’t we just try eating on a table without any holes in the top?” My father maintained the table was just fine the way it was. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like we entertain out here.” With a staple gun and three roofing shingles, the offending gaps were covered, as my mother looked sadly on. “There you go, Peg. Good as new!”

Read more

I always enjoy reading Mike Rowe’s blog entries. The host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs is often noticed at various places he goes to, just as anyone on television is and in Mike’s latest entry, he offers an insight into how his mother and father perceive their son’s fame. Here’s a snippet:

My father is still appalled that Discovery actually gave me my own show, and is still trying to process the very notion that strangers might go out of their way to watch it. At the game, Dad was confronted with the reality that such people not only watch, but might also appear in person, for the specific purpose of meeting his son. It is simply too much for him to digest.

Read more

Like many viewers, I’m often disappointed by what I see on TV. And it seems Mike Rowe has similar feelings, particularly when it comes to what “reality tv” actually is.

Take a gander at his blog for what I would have to say is one of the best posts I’ve read in a long, long time on the subject.

Here’s a snippet:

Last year, twice as many people died from Ostriches as Sharks. And yet, most people believe Sharks are more dangerous than Ostriches. Ocean of Fear was a true story. But did showing that “truth” ultimately perpetuate a misconception about sharks? If so, does that make Shark Week less non-fictional and more Reality? More Documentary? Beats me. I’m just waiting for Ostrich Week.

Discovery, so when are we getting Ostrich Week? Let’s hope Mike wears a cup when he goes toe to toe with those bizarre, dangerous creatures.

Read more.

As we mentioned this past Sunday, Dirty Jobs will be having a huge marathon on Saturday, June 6th.

Below is a list of what you can expect to find on Discovery come Saturday, June 6th. All times are Eastern Standard Time.

9am - Sewer Inspector
10am - Plumber
1pm - Cave Digger
2pm - Mud Mineral Excavator
3pm - Dirty Jobs of the Big Apple
4pm - Alligator Egg Collector
5pm - Leather Tanner
6pm - Cave Biologist
7pm - Buoy Cleaner
8pm - Bridge Painter
9pm - Cranberry Farmer
10pm - Maggot Farmer
11pm - Bridge Painter

And the marathon continues into early Sunday morning:
12am - Cranberry Farmer
1am - Maggot Farmer
2am - Buoy Cleaner

Be sure to tune in to support Mike Rowe and Dirty Jobs.

Mike Rowe, the host of Discovery’s Dirty Jobs, has signed a deal with Discovery to create a DirtyJobs/MikeroweWorks co-brand designed to deliver the right tools and clothing for every job. Mike is starting to remind me of Tim Allen, whose Home Improvement sitcom allowed him to do a similar thing.

Here’s the official press release:

Discovery Communications and Mike Rowe, host of one of Discovery Channel’s top-rated series, Dirty Jobs, have partnered to create a DirtyJobs/MikeroweWorks co-brand designed to deliver the right tools for every job.

Discovery and Mike Rowe will initially focus on product categories including work wear, footwear, accessories, tools, safety gear and cleaning products designed for on-the-job and outdoor use. Additionally, interactive games and publishing based on content and themes from the program will also be a focus for the new brand.

“I’ve destroyed more work gear in the last five years than most people buy in a lifetime, said Mike Rowe. “Now, after 220 dirty jobs, I’ve finally decided to stop buying the same old crap, and start using better stuff. As it turns out, “better stuff” was easier to make than find. So I talked to my pals at Discovery and we agreed to roll out a practical line of useful and affordable gear that won’t fall apart when the going gets tough.”

The Joester Loria Group, Discovery Channel’s licensing agent, has been retained to represent mikeroweworks.com and the co-brand. Discovery Channel, Mike Rowe and The Joester Loria Group will look to build the co-brand across a wide retail spectrum. This will range from the mass market and outdoor/sporting goods landscape to home improvement, mid-tier department stores and home shopping channels.

In support of the co-brand, both Discovery Channel and Mike Rowe will collaborate on a comprehensive, multifaceted marketing campaign that will span on-air, online, and offline support.

Congratulations goes out to Mike Rowe and company. It’s nice to see a good guy doing well for himself.

Even though there are no new episodes of Dirty Jobs scheduled for the next few weeks, Discovery is airing a number of previously aired episodes on June 6th. Below is a list of what you can expect to find on Discovery come Saturday, June 6th. All times are Eastern Standard Time.

9am - Sewer Inspector
10am - Plumber
1pm - Cave Digger
2pm - Mud Mineral Excavator
3pm - Dirty Jobs of the Big Apple
4pm - Alligator Egg Collector
5pm - Leather Tanner
6pm - Cave Biologist
7pm - Buoy Cleaner
8pm - Bridge Painter
9pm - Cranberry Farmer
10pm - Maggot Farmer
11pm - Bridge Painter

And the marathon continues into early Sunday morning:
12am - Cranberry Farmer
1am - Maggot Farmer
2am - Buoy Cleaner

That’s one heck of a marathon!

Be sure to tune in to Discovery to catch those episodes next weekend.