Expectations have been discussed on this board. At any given time, there are numerous threads chiding or encouraging you Mike regarding expectations. Are dust ups the inevitable outcome as some expectations remain unmet while met ones are thrown into the ring as trophies won?
The expectations from Dirty Jobs has been upped quite a few notches since I started watching. I admit to feeling unsettled at times. I now realize I like the unexpected from you. I want the ‘caught by surprise’ burst of laughter. Oh dear, another expectation. At least you always cater to this one.
Those few notches bring a few more notches of political correctness. Silly jokes about turkeys and cod fish do not prevent you from being so. Personally I’m hoping you are not relying upon that to think you are still thumbing your nose at the establishment.
I do not advocate remaining a starving artist as necessary to retain your integrity. I think you and I agree that is foolish. But attempting to be yourself doesn’t guarantee that you are not trying to be all things to all people. You will evolve as surely as the pressure of these expectations weighs more and more upon you.
When surrounded by enthused advocates, it can be difficult to separate out what to listen to. Who to rely on as a barometer of how you evolve? How to decide that an expectation is worth fulfilling? Time tested friends, close colleagues, family, yourself?
Simple politeness, good manners, and self deprecation become less effective as more eyes dissect the money to be made off of you and the Dirty Jobs machine. Each situation has more strings attached and the more strings, the more expectations. It would make me lie awake at night.
Why do you think he's got insomnia, Kathy? I wouldn't want to be Mike Rowe for all the money in the world. So, Mike, how much of your soul do you intend to sell to keep Dirty Jobs on top? How important is it to you, really? You've managed to avoid a lot of the pitfalls associated with being "in the business" so far, but how long can it last?
Kathy, This seems to be something that we've discussed before and it will continue to rear it's head whenever Mike seemingly has made or is about to take a small detour in his career or a change in the show.
As outside observers we can only speculate at the criteria Mike uses to make and gage the descions he makes but it appears to me that so far he has been spot on. The show continues to gain in popularity, Mike's star is rising,and Barsky and Doug seem to be profiting also. He's aided others in their move up the ladder of success and apparently there is no end in sight for the immediate future.
The only caveat I would give Mike is, if things start to tumble out of control, and if the fun is waning and the smiles and "giggles" are getting farther and farther apart, remember nothing is worth losing yourself.... ...."Consider Quitting"
Unfortunately so. With more that is given more is always and will be expected in return. I'm not speaking only of what may be expected on the board. That ship has sailed and sunk. Here we have a small microcosm of the outside world. You see the same dynamics in every group. Office politics or the wrong side of the tracks. Played out in a variety of characters of every description. With preset designation of who is the exalted and who is the al so-ran. Changing that would be the equivalent of changing hearts and minds. Good luck with that.
Mike thumbing his nose at the Establishment is an odd notion since he is in a sense very much part of it. As far as Political correctness goes, it's what people who put themselves in a position to tell others what to do say it is. What was not acceptable 50 years ago is now common practice.
All the best plans in the world have nothing on the trip life can send you. That is enough to keep anyone up at night. Sometimes you have to rely on faith. Being still in ones mind to consider what comes your way fully and find the peace to deal with pitfalls and the tricks others try to pull on you. And the trick is in. I remember part of a graduation speech Bill Cosby gave at a university somewhere years ago. He didn't go for the "world is out there for you with arms to embrace you" kind of speech. He said the arms are out stretched for you alright. But the difference is instead of an open hand beckoning you to come there is at the end of each arm sometimes a fist. It is up to you to be ready for it. Oddly enough there is a certain peace to that message. Being fore warmed with reality is better than thinking just because you are who you are everything will be given to you. It's not.
I wasn't trying to address any changes that might be in the works for Dirty Jobs or Mike's career. I am a huge fan and am happy to let Mike make his choices.
I was thinking along much more fundamental lines. And the question can be asked of each of us.
Situations are presented every day that allow for modifications in personality. We all try to fit comfortably into a situation when faced with certain options. How much modification do I allow before I am no longer making good decisions?
Mike you have made television your career. Should you worry about how you are perceived? Expectations become based upon past behavior, which then causes future behavior to be moderated.
We could just not give a tinker's d@mn, but that wouldn't be PC, and would result in all sorts of negative press.
You see the same dynamics in every group. Office politics or the wrong side of the tracks. Played out in a variety of characters of every description. With preset designation of who is the exalted and who is the all so ran. Changing that would be the equivalent of changing hearts and minds. Good luck with that.
I think there are a number of people in this world who stand out as not following their 'preset designation', as you put it. People who can't be lumped into a group, unless that group is entitled, 'everyone else'. Assumptions can always be made as to someone's character, but are not necessarily representative of reality.
What you see is not always what you get.
What I see of Mike, may also be an illusion of reality. I believe he may have told me that himself at one time.
Maybe he should get on with that book and analyze himself to everyone's satisfaction.
Can't quite put my thoughts into eloquent form like you all have done so I'll paraphrase a discussion, as much as I can recall, that I had with a friend recently about the show...
Tricia(me) - "Hey, you gonna watch "House" or DJ on Monday night?"
Kelly(friend) - "I don't know, all the poop stuff is getting old."
Tricia - "Yup, it's like watching a live action Beavis and Butthead episode sometimes."
Kelly - "Does he not get how stupid that looks?"
Tricia - " Well, they are trying to show all those jobs no one wants to do, but are necessary."
Kelly - "Yeah I know but still, he seems actually smart."
Tricia - "Probably, most actors who have found a niche somewhere are usually smarter than the public thinks."
Kelly - "Well, I just wish the show could stop the poo nonsense and get on with more Dirty Jobs. #@$% there has to be millions of them still out there."
Tricia - "I hear ya."
So, what is preconceived may indeed be false but none of us will get the chance to sit down with Mike and have a great debate. We're stuck basing opinions off TV shows and mass media culture.
If Mike doesn't care that's great. But there is a fine line between being that guy who pays homage to all the hard working people(an intelligent endeavor) and the guy who gets dirty and makes poo jokes for ratings(getting tiring).
Or is there? After watching some of those ridiculous "Romantic Escape" clips and knowing Mike survived that tripe...there may be a future out there for him anyhow.
I've often wondered if Mike has wondered, "what if...?"
What if, he hadn't taken that bet and gotten a job with QVC?
What if, he hadn't decided to move on and out to the west coast?
And, most importantly, what if, he hadn't decided to pitch Dirty Jobs?
What would he be doing now, where would life have taken him? Like T. McGee, would he be sitting at a bar at the beach, telling anyone who would listen, about what could have been?
Or would he have continued in television, and actually ended up as the new host of The Price Is Right, heaven forbid!
And don't we all, from time to time, consider the "what ifs" in our lives? And that goes back to the question of whether our life was planned out for us from the time we were born, or is it all one big cr@p shoot?
You're right, Melinda. Only Mike can know Mike, and to make assumptions is foolish. It's just that that whole "be true to yourself" philosophy isn't usually compatible with success in the entertainment industry. Entertainers are often asked to make adjustments, physical and/or mental to suit a certain perception trying to be put out there. I don't know if Mike has been asked to sacrifice specific values to fit into a certain mold. I get the impression he hasn't which is great. Maybe he can have his cake and eat it too. He'd be in the minority, that's for sure. Not to mention very, very lucky.
Liz, the "what if". I started a thread about that the other day. It has since fallen off the first page, but, yeah, that's what I was getting at.
You see the same dynamics in every group. Office politics or the wrong side of the tracks. Played out in a variety of characters of every description. With preset designation of who is the exalted and who is the all so ran. Changing that would be the equivalent of changing hearts and minds. Good luck with that.
I think there are a number of people in this world who stand out as not following their 'preset designation', as you put it. People who can't be lumped into a group, unless that group is entitled, 'everyone else'. Assumptions can always be made as to someone's character, but are not necessarily representative of reality.
Melinda
Melinda I'd count myself in that preset group who refuses to follow what may be thought of me. But remember many people put themselves in classes, especially if they consider it being a leg up over someone else.
Here in America we have called ourselves a "classless society". As opposed to the levels of classes that are still quite strongly followed even to this day in England. But we do have levels and or classes. Many based on income and then sub groups go on from there. Which may be based on things like where one was born, is living or even what schools they went to.
As far as what you see is not always what you get. Mike should know about that. He sold stuff for a living for a few years on QVC. Television has never always been about showing total realism. Even the shows lumped into the Reality genre are as much contrived as sit-coms and procedural cop shows. Everything just short of a script with preset lines for characters.
His book would be welcomed by all his fans. Of course there could be criticism of what was left out. What wasn't given as much space in the book as other subjects. Or if a certain person wasn't mentioned. And then who do you dedicate the book to if you do a dedication at all. There is a lot to consider. Should he save something for another book and why one story and not another saved for later. If he cannot please everyone in the flesh how in the world will the book do it in immovable print on paper.
The best analyzing is done privately. Examining ones own navel is not for public consumption. You must always keep something for yourself. Away from the pick locks of biographers and assorted other over curious people.
Examining ones own navel is not for public consumption
You do know even belly button lint isn't private with Mike.
Paul Kelley was my favorite host at QVC. Like me, his tenure was punctuated by a passive/aggressive desire to be fired in some memorable fashion. Like me, he was often relegated to overnight shifts. And like me, he was more concerned with amusing himself than selling anything. We had some fantastic on-air exchanges.
One evening, during "An Hour of Flannel," I stuffed a pillowcase down my shirt to conduct an "experiment." I was curious to see how much of the material would collect in my belly button during the course of an hour. The result was spectacular - a dime-sized wad of brownish lint that rose from my naval like the head of a curious woodchuck. I removed it, on camera, and presented it to Paul, who had joined me on stage to bear witness. Paul received my gift with appropriate reverence, and tried to sell it during his shift. Those were the days.
Mike
Posted 07-02-06 08:08 PM
chris
sorry but I just had to post this (sitting here just snickering to myself)
Examining ones own navel is not for public consumption
You do know even belly button lint isn't private with Mike.
Paul Kelley was my favorite host at QVC. Like me, his tenure was punctuated by a passive/aggressive desire to be fired in some memorable fashion. Like me, he was often relegated to overnight shifts. And like me, he was more concerned with amusing himself than selling anything. We had some fantastic on-air exchanges.
One evening, during "An Hour of Flannel," I stuffed a pillowcase down my shirt to conduct an "experiment." I was curious to see how much of the material would collect in my belly button during the course of an hour. The result was spectacular - a dime-sized wad of brownish lint that rose from my naval like the head of a curious woodchuck. I removed it, on camera, and presented it to Paul, who had joined me on stage to bear witness. Paul received my gift with appropriate reverence, and tried to sell it during his shift. Those were the days.
Mike
Posted 07-02-06 08:08 PM
chris
sorry but I just had to post this (sitting here just snickering to myself)
I love that you are able to find a Mike post on just about anything but I do wonder if Mike ever has the urge to call Mod Ivy & ask to have all of his posts deleted so he can start with a clean slate...
Now back to Kathy's regularly scheduled thread, joined already in progress...
Examining one's navel, hey, how'ld that get in there. I am so glad that everything I see on TV is not true. I am all out of psych 101 but I do know psycho pretty well. Anyway , after reading this thread,which is competing with a migraine, I come to think of some of the sly comments that Mike makes during the show. Things like ,I quit. Dave, what were you thinking, I could have been a game show host, and others that lead me to believe that even Mike Rowe has his line drawn. Where that is only Mike will decide. I cannot expect anyone to continue doing three different dirty jobs a week for 6 months a year just for my amusement. It would be like getting over tickled. First ,it's great. then it's annoying. then you wet yourself and you're really angry. Mike has suffered several humiliations not to mention physical mishaps. I say whatever Mike wants, he should have. He earned it. Do I want to see an end to Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe? NO. Would I accept it as a matter of evolution? YES. What show could possibly fill me with glee to the extent that Dirty Jobs does? Don't know, What. you were expecting the next big idea. Just cause I can think doesn't mean I'm not crazy.
Well Dust all things good or bad must come to an end. Dirty Jobs cannot go on forever. Basically because nothing does, at least not on television. Except in re-runs and syndication. Which I think is either 5 years or 5 seasons if I'm correct. If not I'm sure someone will come along a correct me.
Mike is like that cat. He always seems to land on his feet. And he will. He may say those things you noted for effect and maybe it was just him acting out to the immediate situation. Who hasn't said I quit or I hate this place to themselves at a job. Sometimes several times in one day I bet.
What will fill the spot you say DJ has in your heart? Nothing, nothing will take it's place but something else will come and make a place in your heart for itself. And will take center stage in your interest. Of this I'm sure. That is the way life goes. And although DJ is special to you what is going on right where you are is always much more important. I'm sure it is the same for Mike as well.
Kathy, I posted a similar thread awhile back called "Impersonator, Persuader..". It basically asked the same thing and he did not respond to it. I asked him if he found that in the business he did things he would not normally do, to get ahead or if he remained true to himself. It would be interesting to see what he had to say!!! Melissa
This makes me think of Jeff Probst. How could he have possibly guessed that Survivor would be on for 17 seasons! He must have had plans for when it ended, but here he is still hosting. I suppose his next gig would be another game show, so why not stay where he is and make big money. As for waiting for Mike's book, I wonder now. In the past few weeks, we have seen Barbara Walters all over tv promoting her book. She has had a wonderful career, paved the way for other women in news, interviewed every important person in the world. What do they take from the book to promote? Her affair with a married black senator 30 years ago. Of course she chose to include that in the book, which I find rather disappointing. I hope if Mike does write a book, it will be funny and informative and that he doesn't have to stoop to sensationalism to sell it.
I was thinking along much more fundamental lines. And the question can be asked of each of us.
Situations are presented every day that allow for modifications in personality. We all try to fit comfortably into a situation when faced with certain options. How much modification do I allow before I am no longer making good decisions?
Kathy
Interesting question. The question that came to my mind after reading the last sentence qouted above was how many modification do you allow before you are no longer your true self.
And like you said, this is applicable to us all. I recently made a change that not everyone in my life agrees with. Their reasons vary from principle to their own life experience to plain ignorance. What is troubling to me is the lack of support or understanding received from family. Family-the ones who are supposed to know you best and longest. I know that I have been in the position to not agree with someone's choice, but have always been there for them. It always suprises me that others don't share this belief. I guess you could say that it surprises me that people I feel so close to, share so much with, don't hold the same basic beliefs as I do. How did that happen?
Now the odd thing, my friends (the family you choose) have been wonderfully supportive.
You can't please everyone. The truth of this statement doesn't change the fact that we often try to. No matter how above it all we claim to be. Daily, I must remind myself that I do what I believe is the right thing. What in my heart feels like the right thing. Really at the end of the day thats all we can do. There isn't really anything else we have control over.
In return, I have a renewed outlook on those around me. Not everyone is going to live up to my expectations. And thats okay, because at the end of the day, they may be lying in bed, just like me repeating a mantra similiar to my own.
Examining one's navel, hey, how'ld that get in there. I am so glad that everything I see on TV is not true. I am all out of psych 101 but I do know psycho pretty well. Anyway 
