NOTE : My interview with Mike Rowe appears below a bunch of discussion of the documentaryHuman Planet . Jump to the " consultation " bearing if that ’s what you ’re here for .
Human Planetpremieres Sunday , April 10 in the US onDiscovery . Two episodes air each night , running from 8 - 10pm EST on April 10 , 17 , and 24 . Check your cable listings for more contingent , and localise your DVRs – again , this is a huge justification for why you buy a big glistening high-definition television .
This time around , Mike Rowe will narrate the series . Most people know Rowe best as the legion ofDirty JobsonDiscovery . But my favorite work of his was astint host QVCin the early 90 ’s . Rowe has a special kind of charm – he ’s at the same time an everyman , a pitchman , and a funnyman . His voice is a huge part of his appeal – Rowe has the ability to intone opinions about passably much anything , and his rich spokesperson gives it insta - dignity . He also makes a lot of jokes , making the whole lordliness position complex and uncertain – which is where the funny comes from .
So it was a pleasant surprisal when I teach last hebdomad that Mike Rowe will narrateDiscovery’sversion ofHuman Planet , their latest BBC co - produce mega - documentary . But why would Mike Rowe , a known wise to - ass ( albeit abelovedwise - ass with a bang-up talent for voiceover ) , be narrate a serious docudrama ? I ca n’t tell you why exactly this call was made , and I also ca n’t secern you what it sounds like – because the versions of the infotainment I ’ve see are narrated by somebody else ( somebody else who ’s American ) . To make things more complex , the BBC edition was narrated byJohn Hurt . So there are at least three narrators involved in this matter , and the Rowe yarn is a grown question mark right now . He has done serious voiceover work before ( lots of it ) , so he ’s adequate to of turning off the jokes . But part of what I have intercourse about his work is that jokey quality . There ’s not much way in this documentary for jest . ( mark : this is a very standardized issue toThe Donaghy Probletunitythat arise when Alec Baldwin narratedGreat Migrations : when you take a guy wire whose primary fizgig involves jokey dignity , how can you learn his tale as sincere ? )
In past mega - documentaries , much has been made about the differences between the BBC and American versions ' narrators . On bothPlanet EarthandLife , Sir David Attenborough provided the BBC narration . For the US version , Sigourney Weaver voicedPlanet Earth(capably , but not as well as Attenborough ) and Oprah Winfrey didLife(to thereal consternationof many fans ) . When the Blu - ray edition came out , I buy both of them – with the Attenborough recital . So there ’s a mint riding on this narration ; viewers really care about this stuff . I care Mike Rowe enough that I think his recital could equal Hurt ’s BBC narration ofHuman Planet . But we ’ll have to wait and see .
The final reason that Rowe ’s narration is such a big mass is that , frankly , Human Planetneeds some narrative assist . It ’s generally in the same vein as the old mega - documentariesPlanet EarthandLife , but this prison term the direction is on people , not nature . It ’s about how people live their everyday lives under extreme conditions . And that ’s something Rowe has experience with , at least from hisDirty Jobdays .
The Problem of a Human Narrative
Here ’s the thing aboutHuman Planet : the manufacturer appears to have baffle their subjects to tell the interview that everything is gon na be okay . They wrap up each section with the independent documentary subject pronounce something about how he or she is grateful to have caught a whale , or survived a trek across a innocent wilderness , or steal nub from a Leo , or catch a squash racket so his family could corrode a number of meat , and so on . Every segmenthas this weird wrap - up instant at the end , where it feel very much like the manufacturer asked the field of study to assure us that they ’re happy with their lot in life , despite live in severe , destitute , or ( at good ) exotic situations . Sometimes these statement ring true , and you get a nice moment of resolving power ( there ’s nothing inherently wrong with many of these masses ’s situation , and I ’m not saying they should be unhappy because they ’re not living western lives ) – but frequently these wrap - up segment fall flat , and I found myself guess : " Why do we need to wrap up these section with such a tidy conclusion ? " I ca n’t comment on the producers ' intent , but as a looker , it felt up formulaic to have all these people telling us that everything ’s cool in their life . It would have been salutary just to cut to a wide shot and move on .
There ’s one especially terrific segment in the documentary in which disfigured sulfur mineworker ( who are extracting S from an active volcano , badly injure themselves in the process ) bestow their haulage back to a weigh post to get paid . The miner talk about how they ’re beaming to be able to feast their families , since – and this is true – the pay for the mining business is better than for other jobs . They ask the work , they require the money to feed their families . The storyteller tells us that the miner wo n’t be capable to do their mining jobs for long , because the sulphur takes such a price on their wellness . We see the miners laboring without protective gear , burning their lungs with fumes that will make them sick , disfigured , or dead . ( you could show a good writeuphereof what this job is really like . ) The problem with this segment in the documentary is that it then wraps up and moves on . The substantial human floor here is the tragedy of these miners – what happens to the old - timer ? We do n’t get to see . What tarradiddle are we show instead ? An incredibly attractively photographed sequence showing adult male gathering sulphur from a volcano . So I ’m sure this made sense to the producer , because it is sure enough an extreme condition that ’s visually stunning ( and it is – let me be light , the photography is insanely beautiful ) . However , thestoryof thehumanshere is much , much bigger than hauling sulphur up out of the endocarp . They merit more exhaustive discussion , if this is supposed to be a documentary film about them as mass in uttermost situation . Their extreme situation is not just mining , it’spoverty . As it is , their quandary is briefly mentioned , we get some sense that they have chosen to do the job because it pays well despite the danger , and , boom ! , we ’re on to the next sensational section . This just feel wrong .
UPDATE ( 8 March 2025):after watch the first few broadcast episode , they seem to have been re - cut and differ from other screeners , remove some of my objections . There are still wrapper - up moments at the end of section , but we no longer see the field themselves say corny thing about how well-chosen they are . give thanks you , editors ! Also , the Rowe narration is fantabulous .
WhatHuman PlanetGets Right
This is the team that bring usPlanet EarthandLife , both of which are fundamentally stunning exercises in documentary photography , and make on a musical scale that ’s almost inconceivable – old age of production cross scores of locations . The HD picture taking here is just as beautiful as you ’d expect . Also , the focus on people ( despite the wrapping - up section ) makes this documentary different from its predecessor in the serial publication – it ’s not a nature documentary , it ’s a docudrama about mass and their relationship with the natural world . This is chic , because it give us opportunities to see what is fundamentally nature picture taking – for example , a remarkable chronological succession in which an eagle is outfitted with a television camera on its back and we get to see the eagle’s - oculus - view as she hunt ( see cartridge holder above ) – but it also take into account us to pose with the people who are educate the eagle to hunting , and to see their story .
The other noteworthy aspect ofHuman Planetis its behind - the - scenes footage . I only project a snippet of this , but found it engrossing – the tale of the filmmakers interact with their subjects is just as interesting as meet the subjects themselves doing their thing . So when the home television releases fare out , you will want to check out the special features show how this docudrama was made – it carry years , and it take a scandalous amount of study . And it ’s interesting to see the filmmakers explain how they do their matter .
Interview: Mike Rowe
From Flickr : The star and gang of " Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe " picture up soon after dawn to start the day ’s filming at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge . Rowe was brief on what to await by USFWS life scientist Jeremy Conrad and Lisa Jameson . quotation : Phil Kloer / USFWS
I could n’t resist send Rowe some query . I was n’t sure he ’d have a fortune to serve them in prison term for this inspection , but I ’m beaming he did – I amaze them late last dark , and appreciate Rowe accept time out of his schedule to state me some jokes . I ’ve loved his body of work , both the jokey stuff and his genuine concern for blue - collar proletarian ( learn outhis podcastfor some of this , or see pretty much any installment ofDirty Jobs ) . rightful to form , he was game , and replied with humor , despite what I assume is an harebrained product docket at his day job . think his deep , plentiful articulation as he answers my mute questions .
Higgins : John Hurt recite the BBC broadcast ofHuman Planet .
Rowe : That ’s correct . The BBC version is also much longer than the American rendering . They did 8 hours , we ’re only doing 6 . Studies have proven that British viewers are batch more patient than American viewers .
Higgins : So who ’s in effect , you or John Hurt ?
Rowe : John Hurt is annoyingly good . Shockingly ripe , actually . When I watch him dissemble , I am humbled . When I heed to him speak , I weep . And yet , I am thrilled and eager to usurp him whenever possible . Professional recital is a roughshod and nasty business , and as this series clearly illustrate the most deserving character reference do n’t always prevail .
Higgins : I remind you , Hurt bring the mad space bazillionaire inContactAND Kane ( the first guy to get an Alien on his face / abound from his chest ) inAlien .
Rowe : Right . But both of those performances blanch next to his work inThe Proposition . good Australian western ever . lease it . Watch it . Be astounded .
Higgins : Various internet site claim you pitched a product called " Al Edwards Oatmeal . "
Rowe : Yes , I ’ve seen those sites as well . I ’ve also see websites that arrogate I ’m replace Regis Philbin and Charlie Sheen .
Higgins : Is this a real Cartesian product or an net prank ?
Rowe : Al Edwards Oatmeal is very substantial and quite delicious when add on with an equal measure of brown lucre and whiskey . However , I have no professional or gastronomical history with this special intersection . ( Interestingly , John Hurt has been the voice of Al Edwards Oatmeal for many , many years . I plan to replace him shortly . )
Higgins : Please key out why it ’s superior to other celebrity - endorsed burgoo .
Rowe : All I can tell you for sure is that any oatmeal not endorse by Wilfred Brimley is something I ’d be willing to try . I ’ve got nothing against Quaker Oats . And I have a great deal of respect for Wilfred ’s gift and his remarkable resume . Lately though , the furious grandfather thing has become a little frightening . I enjoy a serious curmudgeon , but this newfangled level of contrariness does little to stimulate my appetence .
Higgins : I assume you ’re cognisant of the popularity of YouTube videos showing your QVC hosting daytime .
Rowe : Yes . My hunky-dory hours . give thanks you .
Higgins : My question is – how were you able to be so loose with that gig ?
Rowe : You mean apart from the oatmeal and whiskey ? I infer the short answer is " exhaustion . " QVC had no grooming program back in 1990 . In those days they were heroic for people who could do the job , or at least rive off a clean impersonation of a home shopping legion . So anyone capable of talking about a pencil for 5 second square was immediately hired for a three calendar month provisional menstruation and post to the burial site shift where they either figured it out on their own or went up in flames . ( Seriously , that was my audition . Look into a photographic camera and talk about a pencil for 5 minute of arc . ) To this day , the most honest and entertaining television I ’ve ever seen featured new QVC legion trying to work out out how to do their job in front of a live consultation . I knew a guy that got so nervous he swoon three prison term on the air . And a woman who actually throw away up on the fake diamond as she was describing them . Too damn funny to make up .
Higgins : It seemed like you were totally aware you ’d be fired as soon as anyone in management saw your segments .
Rowe : One of my first goals in nursing home shopping was to be fired from home shopping , and I ’m proud to say that was accomplished shortly after my debut . The the true is I never should have been hired in the first place . I try out to locate a bet , and accept the offer out of a weird admixture of professional curiosity and fiscal desperation . I was rehired however under some moderately extraordinary circumstances , and spent the next three year on the nightlong shift , languish under a kind of double secret probation . Most of that prison term was spent presume direction to kindle me again , which they eventually did . I ca n’t blame them . I had a habit of falling asleep on the melody , get fun of the products , and denigrate company . It was a miracle I made it as long as I did .
Higgins : So did you have some other job lined up or what ?
Rowe : I’ve never had anything lined up in my lifespan .
Higgins : Any plan to release more instalment of your podcast ?
Rowe : Yeah . I ’m gon na save down all the QVC story and see if I can get John Hurt to translate them . It ’s the least I can do .
And that ’s that . We ’ll have to see what Rowe does forHuman Planet . I have organized religion that Rowe ’s recital will basically deepen the experience of this documentary – Mike Rowe is n’t John Hurt ; he’sAmerica’sJohn Hurt .
Human Planetpremieres on Sunday , April 10 in the US onDiscovery . Two episodes air each night , run from 8 - 10pm EST on April 10 , 17 , and 24 . agree your cable listings ( and determine your DVRs ) for more detail .
( Photo of Mike Rowe good manners of Flickr userUSFWS / Southeast , used under Creative Commons license . )
