History Series / DirtyJobs

* BlackHumor: After releasing several seals into the ocean after they've been rehabilitated Mike muses that he may see them again someday, "Perhaps on Shark Week."

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* NoFourthWall: No real attempt is made to hide the cameras or cameramen from the viewer; on the contrary, Mike often draws attention to them. He even occasionally mentions the work that goes into getting certain camera shots. A few episodes have been "behind the scenes" episodes devoted to telling the viewer everything that goes in to each episode.

** Troy let Mike try to shave his neck with a straight razor; fortunately Mike was too freaked out to actually do it (it was "too ''SweeneyTodd''") since even the professional barber caused him to bleed.

** HilariousInHindsight when you remember teaser to Shark Week 2013 featuring [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_i3PPe3i9Y Snuffy the seal,]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4s7g1sBUwo its sequel.]]

* NeverWorkWithChildrenOrAnimals: Though there haven't been too many children, there have been ''plenty'' of animals, and whenever he does work with them [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiVndB8bFlw hilarity tends to ensue]].

* FollowTheLeader:
** "The Worst Job I Ever Loved" segments on the Los Angeles CBS news; ''{{Series/Hoarders}}'' (the cleanup crew and filmmakers have to deal with ''psychologically disturbing'' levels of clutter that includes rotten food and dead animals); ''Dhani Tackles The Globe'' on Travel Channel and ''Sports Jobs With Junior Seau'' on Versus; the [[CulturalTranslation second US variation]] of ''Secret Millionaire'', ''Series/UndercoverBoss'' (the premier episode features the CEO of Waste Management).
** ''World's Toughest Fixes'' on National Geographic is a slight variation - Sean Riley is a rigger by trade, so he often contributes more to the task at hand than Rowe does. Riley also knows when to get out of the way.

** A number of [[strike:female]] [[EvenTheGuysWantHim fans]] seem to find Mike Rowe sexually attractive. Look up ''any'' video on YouTube of Dirty Jobs or just Mike by himself, and there will be at least one comment on just how hot he is.

As of 2014 Mike has a new show called "Somebody's Gotta Do It" on CNN, which has a similar premise.

Popular Creator/DiscoveryChannel show in which host Mike Rowe visits a variety of job sites that are filthy, dangerous, weird, disgusting, or all of the above. He interviews workers, learns about the job, and tries his hand at performing each task. Cancelled in 2012 after eight seasons.

** Aside from, y'know, all the ''actual'' feces (human and non) Mike has dealt with over the years, how about the time he visited a mannequin factory, copped a feel with some undressed torsos (with a pervy far-away look on his face) and asked the guy who makes the vinyl hand replicas if he had "hundreds of hand jobs" every day? Did I mention all of this aired with no bleeping or blurring?

** And the time he was working at a bone black factory and was hammering on the side of a container while making it sound like a BDSM session. The look on the face of his host was priceless.

Popular DiscoveryChannel show in which host Mike Rowe visits a variety of job sites that are filthy, dangerous, weird, disgusting, or all of the above. He interviews workers, learns about the job, and tries his hand at performing each task. Cancelled in 2012 after eight seasons.

** Mike also does a lot of voiceover/narration work for other DiscoveryChannel shows and documentaries, which showcases his quite authoritative [[strike:and sexy]] voice.

** He was positively delighted to learn that the hole on the sides of wine barrels is indeed called the [[BeavisAndButthead bunghole]] (twice over: once while actually making the barrels and once while making wine to put into them), and similarly pleased to hear that termite droppings are referred to as "frass."

** [[TwoWords Three words:]] ''Barsky gets waxed'' (three more: ''[[SadistShow including nose-hairs]]'').

** Sometimes crosses over with camera''man'' abuse (though usually not intentional) like how Troy got his hair caught in the pull line half way up a skyscraper in Hawaii. If he'd fallen he would have been ''scalped'', but luckily all he lost was a bit of hair thanks to a member of the window washing team and a swiss army knife.
* {{Cancelled}}: Sadly, as of November 2012, the show is No More.
** Briefly subverted in 2013 with Dirty Jobs Down Under, then it got canceled again.

* YanksWithTanks: Several jobs have been done with members of the United States Armed Forces, including the US Coast Guard and US Army.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: One particular example in the ''Mike's Day Off'' special, where the series executive producer and CEO of the show's company [[KingIncognito take over as the host]] for one episode. Craig Piligian (the CEO) during a stint as a custom wheel manufacturer bluntly refuses to partake in one of the steps (sanding the wheels, which involves getting dangerously close to the machine) and actually argues with Barsky on camera. Given that Craig signs Barsky's paychecks, he gets his wish and opt out of the sanding. Amusingly, this occurred right after a segment where Craig [[LaserGuidedKarma boasts about how easy Mike's job is]].

** Dirty Jobs Down Under had catching Brown Snakes (one of the top ten deadliest, with only a pillowcase to hold said snake, who has fangs that can bite through it), Opal Mining (Be careful you don't fall in a hole, you'll either break a leg or die, and then Barski almost did), Stingray fishing (Okay, actually the least dangerous), Crocodile Catching (at night, I might add, with one boat not working); Even just driving to some locations was dangerous (Road to Cougar Pede, and watch out for Water Buffalo).

** "The Worst Job I Ever Loved" segments on the Los Angeles CBS news; ''{{Hoarders}}'' (the cleanup crew and filmmakers have to deal with ''psychologically disturbing'' levels of clutter that includes rotten food and dead animals); ''Dhani Tackles The Globe'' on Travel Channel and ''Sports Jobs With Junior Seau'' on Versus; the [[CulturalTranslation second US variation]] of ''Secret Millionaire'', ''Series/UndercoverBoss'' (the premier episode features the CEO of Waste Management).

** Dirty Jobs Down Under had catching Brown Snakes (one of the top ten deadliest, with only a pillowcase to hold said snake, who has fangs that can bite through it), Opal Mining (Be careful you don't fall in a hole, you'll either break a leg or die, and then Barski almost did), Stingray fishing (Okay, actually the least dangerous), Crocdile Catching (at night, I might add, with one boat not working); Even just driving to some loactions was dangerous (Road to Cougar Pede, and watch out for Water Buffalo).

** Some Camera abuse happens anytime there's snow or ice on the ground, such as when Troy slips while they're shrinkwrapping a boat, and Doug slips following Mike at the Soo Locks.

Mike Rowe now (2014) has a new show 'Somebody's Gotta Do It' on CNN, which has a similar premise.

Mike Rowe now (2014) has a new show 'Someone's Gotta Do It' on CNN, which has a similar premise.