REASON TV: Mike Rowe on the Value of a Strong Work Ethic. “Rowe, who once sang for the Baltimore Opera and worked as an on-air pitchman for QVC, worries that traditional K-12 education demonizes blue-collar fields that pay well and are begging for workers while insisting that everyone get a college degree. He stresses that he’s ‘got nothing against college’ but believes it’s a huge mistake to push everyone in the same direction regardless of interest or ability.”