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{{Otherpersons}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Mike Rowe
|image = Mike Rowe.jpg
|imagesize =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1962|3|18}}
|birth_place = [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|occupation = [[Television host]]<br />[[Narrator]]
|website=http://www.mikeroweWORKS.com}}
'''Michael Gregory "Mike" Rowe''' ({{Pron-en|ˈroʊ}}) (born March 18, 1962<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/bio/bio.html|title=Biography of Mike Rowe |accessdate=2007-08-21|publisher=discovery.com}}</ref>) is an [[United States|American]] [[media personality]] best known as the host of the [[Discovery Channel]] series ''[[Dirty Jobs]]''. He can also be heard as narrator on a variety of series and has appeared in recurring commercials for Ford Motor Company.
==Personal life==
Rowe was born in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]. Rowe has said in commercials for ''[[Dirty Jobs]]'' that the show is a tribute to his father and grandfather. Rowe became an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]] on January 2, 1979 in Troop 16 in Baltimore.<ref name="troop16">{{cite journal|date=Fall 2009|title=It's A Dirty Job And He Gets to Do It!|journal=Eagletter|publisher=National Eagle Scout Association, Boy Scouts of America|location=Irving, Texas|volume=35|issue=2|pages=3–5}}</ref> During his service project for Eagle Scout at the [[Maryland School for the Blind]], he read aloud to students, and he cites this as one of the reasons he became interested in narrating and writing.<ref name="troop16"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/chat/transcripts/06march07/06march07.html|date=2006-03-07|title=Transcript of March 7, 2006, Online Chat with Mike Rowe|publisher=[[Discovery Channel]] |accessdate=2007-03-22}}</ref> On being an Eagle Scout he said "The Eagle Award is not really meant for people who need to be dragged across the finish line. It's meant for a select few... ."'<ref name="troop16"/>
Rowe attended Kenwood Presbyterian Church when he was younger in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents still regularly attend. Rowe attended [[Overlea High School]], where he excelled in both theatre and singing under the tutelage of choir director Freddie King, whom Rowe credits for first interesting him in performing.<ref name=bhsintvw>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/05/Artsandentertainment/Sure__it_s_a_dirty_jo.shtml|title=Sure it's a dirty job, but...|accessdate=20 December 2008}}</ref> An early [[stutterer]], Rowe was able to overcome the handicap while in school.<ref>[[Adam Carolla Show (Podcast)]], [http://www.adamcarolla.com/ACPBlog/2010/10/19/mike-rowe/ 2010/10/19]</ref> After graduation from high school, he attended [[Essex Community College]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barbershop.org/news-a-events-main/46-mike-rowe-interview.html|title=Mike Rowe Interview|publisher=Barbershop Harmony Society|accessdate=April 2010}}</ref> and briefly sang with the [[Chorus of the Chesapeake]], which at the time was directed by King. He later graduated from [[Towson University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/boards/faqs/faqs_03.html|title=You Ask, He Answers (Dirty Jobs FAQ)|publisher=[[Discovery Channel]] |accessdate=2007-03-22}}</ref> with a degree in [[Communication Studies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowerlight.com/blog/2009/11/the-dirt-on-mike-rowe/|title=The Towerlight - The Dirt on Mike Rowe|publisher=[[The Towerlight]] |accessdate=2010-07-11}}</ref>
Rowe sang professionally with the [[Baltimore Opera]].<ref>{{cite news|title=TV Review: Mike Rowe dishes up "Dirty Jobs"|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07028/757080-237.stm|date=28 January 2007|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|accessdate=30 August 2009 | first=Susan | last=Banks}}</ref><ref>[http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/bio/bio.html "Mike Rowe bio"] on Discovery.com</ref> He says about this job:
<blockquote>I joined the opera to get my union card and meet girls. I was a saloon singer, so I went down to the Baltimore Opera and learned an aria and auditioned. I figured I'd do one show and quit. But the girls were everywhere and the truth is, the music was really decent.<ref name="bhsintvw" /></blockquote>
Rowe currently resides in [[San Francisco]], California.<ref>[http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-mike-rowe-jobs-20110118,0,7205510.story Mirabella, Lorraine. "Mike Rowe, host of TV's 'Dirty Jobs,' tackles toughest task," ''The Baltimore Sun'', Tuesday, January 18, 2011.]</ref>
==Television career==
===As host===
In the early 1990s Rowe was an on-air host for the shop-at-home TV channel [[QVC]]. When interviewed, Rowe relates how he got the job at QVC:
<blockquote>I was in the opera at the time. I walked across the street with a buddy of mine (during a performance) - we're dressed as Vikings and we have a drink. The TV is turned to QVC. ... My buddy bets me $100 I can't get a call back. So ... I crashed the audition and got a job on the spot. I basically turned the whole thing into my own stupid David Letterman show - I made fun of the callers and made fun of the products.<ref name="bhsintvw" /></blockquote>
Rowe claims that QVC fired him three times.<ref name="bhsintvw" /> When told in a [[List of Dirty Jobs episodes#Season 4 (2008-2009)|2008 episode of ''Dirty Jobs'']] that the gourds he was working on would be sold via QVC, he stated he was familiar with the corporation and proceeded to ad-lib a sales pitch for them.<ref>[http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/episode/episode-tab-03.html The Complete Dirty Jobs Show Guide] from [[Discovery Channel]].com</ref>
Rowe has hosted ''Your New Home'' for [[WJZ-TV|WJZ]] in Baltimore, ''[[Worst Case Scenarios (TV series)|Worst Case Scenarios]]'' for [[TBS (TV network)|TBS]], ''On-Air TV'' for [[American Airlines]], ''[[The Most (TV series)|The Most]]'' for [[The History Channel]], ''No Relation'' for [[FX Networks|FX]], ''New York Expeditions'' for [[PBS]], ''Channel 999'' instructional guide for the now defunct [[PrimeStar]] satellite television service, and the [[CD-ROM]] music trivia game ''Radio Active'' (as "Bobby Arpeggio") for now-defr [[Sanctuary Woods]].
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; this concept later grew into ''Dirty Jobs''. Rowe's first work with Discovery included a trip to the [[Valley of the Golden Mummies]] to host ''Egypt Week Live!'', where he explored ancient tombs live on air with Dr. [[Zahi Hawass]], an [[Egypt]]ian [[archaeologist]].
===As narrator===
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]]'', and ''[[Ghost Lab]]'', as well as other Discovery specials and series, and [[Syfy]]'s ''[[Ghost Hunters]]''. Rowe has hosted the Discovery Channel's annual "[[Shark Week]]" in 2006 and 2008, along with hosting 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.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0982950/ You Spoof Discovery (2007) (TV)]</ref>
On ''[[Dirty Jobs]]'', Rowe frequently mocks his seeming omnipresence on Discovery Channel; when a segment on firefighting and salvage was unable to be completed in a single day, he assured his firefighter host that he would "send over the ''[[MythBusters]]'' ... maybe the ''[[American Chopper]]'' boys ... [to finish the job]".
[[Image:Dirty Jobs small.jpg|thumb|Mike 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. Rowe claims he was told by Discovery that the shows would air back-to-back on the same night: "We can't have you telling us stories about six dead fishermen on camera and making a fart joke with your arm in a cow's ass".<ref name="EW">{{cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20043289_20043293_20043300_3,00.html|title=Shock And Awe: The stars of ''Survivorman'', ''The Deadliest Catch'', and ''Dirty Jobs'' share jaw-dropping tales from their brave work|accessdate=2007-07-26 |last=Collis |first=Clark|date=21 June 2007|work=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Time, Inc.}}</ref> Rowe chose to host ''Dirty Jobs'' role and narrate ''Deadliest Catch''; the footage of him on the boats was not used in the series, although he did appear on a season finale of ''Deadliest Catch'', interviewing the boat captains. Rowe hosted a related show about life on the Bering Sea, a 2007 miniseries, [[List of Deadliest Catch episodes#After the Catch Miniseries|''After the Catch'']].
Other narration work by Rowe includes ''[[Mystery Diagnosis]]'', ''Drydock: A Cruise Ship Reborn'', ''Southern Steel'', ''Powertool Drag Racing'', ''Scavengers Rock (Animal Planet)'', 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]]. <ref> [http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/11/the-chase-race-1/"1st Race of the 2009 Chase"] on [[mikeroweworks]]</ref>
On December 21, 2009, Rowe became the announcer on [[ABC World News|ABC World News with Diane Sawyer]].<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/a_much_cleaner_job_for_mike_rowe_the_voice_of_world_news_with_diane_sawyer_146830.asp "A much cleaner job for Mike Rowe, the voice of World News with Diane Sawyer"] on [[MediaBistro]]</ref>
===Additional appearances===
On October 7, 2007 Rowe appeared on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s ''[[American Dad!]]'' as the voice of a [[meter maid]].<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010644/ "American Dad!" Meter Made (2007)]</ref>
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.<ref>[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_4178#ixzz0KKZCN1Pr&C Sesame Street episode on which Rowe appeared]</ref>
Mike Rowe spoke to over 70,000 scouts, leaders, and visitors at the [[2010 National Scout Jamboree]] in [[Fort AP Hill]], [[Virginia]]. 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.<ref name="arenatwo">{{cite news|last=Bowes|first=Mark|title=2010 Scout Jamboree comes to an end|url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/aug/05/jamb05-ar-413430/|accessdate=8 August 2010|newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=5 August 2010}}</ref>
===As pitchman===
In 1998, Rowe was the television spokesperson for Epic Pharmacy, a Baltimore-area association of independent pharmacies.
In 1999, Rowe was the radio spokesperson for Al Edwards Oatmeal, a short lived product sold exclusively in the [[Tidewater region of Virginia]].
Beginning in March 2007, he was featured in several [[Ford Motor Company]] [[Ford F-Series|F-Series]] truck commercials, presented in a style similar to ''Dirty Jobs'', including one for Ford Sync.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/auto/customervideos.mspx|title=The commercial in which Rowe was featured}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/03/01/038719.html|title=''Dirty Jobs''’ Mike Rowe To Tout Ford Trucks as Spokesperson|accessdate=2007-03-22|last=Bernstein|first=Marty|date=2007-03-01|publisher=The Auto Channel}}</ref> In the summer of 2009, he appeared in advertisements for Ford and [[Lincoln-Mercury]] vehicles that used the tagline: ''"Why Ford. Why Now."''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=115227|title=Mike Rowe Doing Tidy Job For Ford Trucks
|last=Greenberg|first=Karl|work=MediaPost|date=2009-10-12|accessdate=2010-05-25}}</ref>
In 2008, Rowe partnered with [[W. W. Grainger]], a [[Chicago]]-based Fortune 500 industrial supply company.
In 2010, Rowe appeared in internet spots for Motorola [[iDEN]] combined radios/mobile phones, explaining that the phones were used "by real people, for real work" as they were used for ''Dirty Jobs''-type applications.
In 2010, Rowe partnered with [[Lee (jeans)|Lee Premium Select Jeans]] and appeared in television spots wearing jeans that "makes my butt look good".
On July 26, 2010, Rowe became the spokesperson for [[Caterpillar Inc|Caterpillar]]. Rowe will work with dealers and customers "to get a real world perspective on their jobs".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cat.com/cda/files/2411931/7/072610%20Mike%20Rowe%20is%20ready%20to%20hit%20the%20dirt.pdf|title=Mike Rowe Is Ready to Hit the Dirt with Caterpillar Customers and Dealers
|last=Kenny|first=Kate|work=Caterpillar|date=2010-07-26|accessdate=2010-08-19}}</ref> These interactions will be featured at Cat dealers as well as on the [http://www.cat.com Caterpillar website] and [http://www.mikeroweworks.com mikeroweWORKS website].
In 2011, Rowe appeared with his parents in television spots for Viva paper towels.<ref>http://www.digitalnewsrelease.com/?q=KCC_Mike_Rowe</ref>
==Trade activism==
On Labor Day 2008, Rowe launched a website, [http://mikeroweWORKS.com/ MikeRoweWorks.com],<ref>[http://www.mikeroweworks.com mikeroweWORKS.com]</ref> which is focused on the decline in the [[blue collar]] [[Trade (profession)|trades]] and the crumbling state of the [[infrastructure]]. 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.<ref name="troop16"/>
On September 19, 2010, Mike Rowe and the [[Association of Equipment Manufacturers]] started a grassroots campaign called [http://www.imakeamerica.com/ “I Make America”]. The campaign aims to create jobs in the manufacturing sector by encouraging infrastructure investment and export agreements. The group argues that this will improve the economy and global competitiveness of the United States.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20100929/pl_usnw/DC72968 'I Make America' Campaign Kicked Off by AEM and Mike Rowe of 'Dirty Jobs']</ref>
Mike Rowe has contributed video content to The Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute's trade-worker recruiting campaign [http://www.gobuildalabama.com GoBuildAlabama.com], culminating in an [[Iron Bowl]]-themed commercial broadcast on local CBS affiliates during Thanksgiving weekend 2010.<ref>[http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2010/11/dirty_jobs_host_in_iron_bowl-t.html "Dirty Jobs" host in Iron Bowl-themed commercial]</ref>
On April 20, 2011, Mike Rowe, in partnership with [http://www.aggregage.com/ Aggregage], launched a blog aggregator called the [http://www.tradeshub.mikeroweworks.com/"Trades Hub"], under Mike's personal brand, [http://mikeroweworks.com/ Mike Rowe Works]. The Trades Hub aims to serve the trades community and those interested in the trades by providing relevant, quality content about the trades and construction industry. <ref>[http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2011/04/mike-rowe-is-no-expert-but-he-knows-where-to-find-them/]</ref>
In May 2011, Rowe testified on the issue before the [[U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/mike-rowe-senate-testimony.html |title=Testimony of Mike Rowe }}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.mikeroweworks.com Mike Rowe's official website]
* {{imdb name|id=1192046|name=Mike Rowe}}
* [http://www.maxim.com/amg/humor/articles/56769/2007sdudeliestdudesoftheyear.html Mike Rowe #4 on Maxim.com's 2007 list of Top Dudeliest Dudes]
* [http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html Mike Rowe presenting at the 2008 EG conference]
*[http://fora.tv/2008/12/12/Mike_Rowe_on_Discovery_Realization_and_Lamb_Castration Discovery, Realization and Lamb Castration] at The Entertainment Gathering, December 2008
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Rowe, Mike
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =1962-03-18
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowe, Mike}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ford Motor Company]]
[[Category:American television personalities]]
[[Category:American voice actors]]
[[Category:People from Baltimore, Maryland]]
[[Category:People from San Francisco, California]]
[[Category:Towson University alumni]]
[[Category:Eagle Scouts]]
[[Category:San Francisco, California television personalities]]
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[[fr:Mike Rowe]]
[[it:Mike Rowe]]
[[nl:Mike Rowe]]
[[ja:マイク・ロウ]]
[[pl:Mike Rowe]]
[[pt:Mike Rowe]]
[[fi:Mike Rowe]]
[[sv:Mike Rowe]]
[[zh:麥可·羅]]
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