Daily Caller: TV host Mike Rowe is known for his measured, devastating take-downs of people who attack him or his work. He has perfected the art of subtly twisting the knife in the side of critics with calm, cool language.
This skill was on display Thursday when Rowe responded to a woman criticized his politics on Facebook.
Rowe narrates the show “How The Universe Works” on the Science Channel. The woman, Rebecca Bright, called Rowe an “anti-education, science doubting, ultra-right wing conservative” who should be fired.
“I love the show How the Universe Works, but I’m lost on how the producers and the Science Channel can allow anti-education, science doubting, ultra-right wing conservative Mike Rowe to narrate the show,” Bright wrote, according to Rowe. “There are countless scientists that should be hired for that, or actors, if you must, that believe in education and science that would sound great narrating the show, example: Morgan Freeman. Cancel this fools contract and get any of your scientists so often on the show to narrate it.”
In his response, Rowe started off by exhibiting his knowledge of the subject of the show and killing Rebecca with kindness:
Well hi there, Rebecca. How’s it going?
First of all, I’m glad you like the show. “How the Universe Works” is a terrific documentary series that I’ve had the pleasure of narrating for the last six seasons. I thought this week’s premiere was especially good. It was called, “Are Black Holes Real?” If you didn’t see it, spoiler alert….no one knows!!!
It’s true. The existence of Black Holes has never been proven. Some cosmologists are now convinced they don’t exist at all, and the race to prove their actuality has become pretty intense. Why? Because so much of what we think we know about the cosmos depends upon them. In other words, the most popular explanations as to how the universe actually works, are based upon the existence of a thing that no one has been able to prove.
As I’m sure you know, it’s OK to make assumptions based on theories. In fact, it’s critical to progress. But it’s easy these days to confuse theory with fact. Thanks to countless movies and television shows that feature Black Holes as a plot device, and many documentaries that bring them to life with gorgeous CGI effects and dramatic music, a lot of people are under the assumption that Black Holes are every bit as real as the Sun and the Moon. Well, maybe they are, and maybe they aren’t. We just don’t know. That’s why I enjoyed this week’s show so much. It acknowledged the reasons we should question the existence of something that many assume to be “settled science.” It invited us to doubt.
Oftentimes, on programs like these, I’m asked to re-record a passage that’s suddenly rendered inaccurate by the advent of new information. Sometimes, over the course of just a few days. That’s how fast the information changes. Last year for instance, on an episode called “Galaxies,” the original script – carefully vetted by the best minds in physics – claimed there were approximately one hundred billion galaxies in the known universe. A hundred billion! (Not a typo.) I couldn’t believe it when I read it. I mean, the Milky Way alone has something like 400 billion stars! Andromeda has a trillion! How many stars must there be in a universe, with a hundred billion galaxies? Mind-boggling, right?
Well, a few weeks later, the best minds in physics came together again, and determined that the total number of galaxies in the universe was NOT in fact, a hundred billion. They were off. Not by a few thousand, or a few million, or few billion, or even a few hundred billion. The were off by two trillion. That’s right…TWO TRILLION!! But here’s the point, Rebecca – when I narrate this program, it doesn’t matter if I’m correct or incorrect – I always sound the same. And guess what? So do the experts.
Rowe then slowly turned his keyboard to Rebecca’s idea that he should be fired because doesn’t “believe in education and science,” and it gets brutal: read more
“head up a black hole” 🙂
Rowe should be in a political leadership position, but I doubt he’d lower himself.
Oh man, I love good snark.
I like the way he can hand you you ass and make it a pleasurable experience.
To Mike,
Used to enjoy your shows, just don’t watch much cable any more. Since Rebecca fears no one or nothing, do you think we could ask the little spitfire to go stand in downtown Tehran and ask ” do muzzies really believe in 72 virgins, do they like raping little boys and goats and was mo-ham-head really a pedophile. Let’s see how long she stands her ground.
Wonderful chatting with you,
JB
PS: Before she leaves asks her if she realizes wormholes were invented by Star Trek writers and Gene Roddenberry
That stooge will likely have to have it read to her, then explained.
I would love to see Mike try for a California congressional seat. Even in lala land it might be possible. As always he’s articulate and non insulting with his response to this idiot. Ya gotta love this guy.
Logical, concise and eloquent! What’s not to like?
“Speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act.” Geo. Orwell
Mr Rowe is the very definition of a blue collar class act.
Is there anyone besides me who remembers watching Cosmos with Carl Pagan back in the late 70’s and early 80’s or Connections with James Burke on PBS about the same era? I used to believe those bozos but wised up to their leftist agenda after I realized they were full of crap. And don’t even get me started on A Walk Through The 20th Century with Bill Moyers. What a bunch of revisionist horse hockey. If we had cable or Direct TV I’d watch the Science Channel just because of Mike Rowe narrating How The Universe Works.
It’s a dirty job responding to narrow minded liberal imbeciles but somebody’s got to do it.
That’s certainly more lavishly expressed than my: “Yo, Becky, Eat Shit and Die! You ignorant fucking bitch!”
Same idea, just that Mr. Rowe said it much more better (gooder?).
izlamo delenda est …
We’ll probably never know if she reads his response. Left-Wing Communists are often (but not always) stuck on some muddy road in downtown Utopia.
I liked that letter a lot, thanks Mike and MJA
To address the question of the existence of black holes: Would the previous POTUS qualify?
“ultra-right wing”?
Did I miss a YouTube video of him telling his followers to celebrate the weekend by decorating every lamppost they see with an apparatchik? Until they run out of lampposts?
“ultra-right wing conservative”?
Did I miss a YouTube video of him telling his followers “From each according to his ability. To each according to his need. Next Wednesday.”?
“anti-education”?
I haven’t seen a YouTube video of him in a Ginger wig, under a pussyhat, with an artisanal dildo in every orifice. That does prove, to scientific standards, that he is anti-education. So, I’ll give her that.
Mike Rowe is a national treasure.
Just checked Netflix. They don’t stream the show but you can get the DVDs for $7.99 more/month.
Don’t suppose I’ll ever see true “a la carte cable” in my lifetime. Sigh.
Rebecca Bright? Not so much.
The woman should feel honored he took that much time and effort to annihilate her.
I’ve noticed a subtle shift in church vs. science attitudes in the past several years. When I was young, science was all about questioning things, while religion was frequently “accept this or go to hell.” However, the church has shifted – it’s o.k. to ask questions, and it’s normal to have some doubts. Even with that, religion has stood up very well.
Science, on the other hand, has devolved in many disciplines to “accept this or go to hell” in the minds of many of the general public. The high priests of the modern science religion are actually politicians, and they direct the masses to believe only those scientists whose beliefs serve their agenda. AGW will destroy us in 10 years, there are more than 2 genders, etc. are principles which should be debated and discussed, but which the science priests declare must be accepted unquestioned.
The great thinkers through out history were skeptics, and frequently they were full of shit, but sometimes they were right. If something is true, it will stand up to questioning and if not, then we will continue the search for truth elsewhere. It is almost unthinkable that in our modern era a significant portion of the population will decree that scientific hypotheses must be accepted as unalterable dogma.
The fascists always have an attuned eye and ear to uncover heretics don’t they?
Just like in Orwell’s 1984, if you are not full-throated during the 2-minutes-hate, they will pull you out for questioning.
Beware university professors and techno-geeks at Google, you even shift your eyes funny, and they will rally for your dismissal.
Unfortunately, someone like Rebecca will not fully appreciate the nuance of Rowe’s beautiful take down. They can’t think that well.
“anti-education” in our era clearly means “anti-indoctrination”.
Education REQUIRES critical thinking. The Left embraces doctrine, spoon-fed to them by their favorite fascist. Their brainwashed hypnosis must never be challenged; not even by themselves.
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. “—ARISTOTLE
@ Wyatt: SUPERB, sir! Thank you!
It’s called Irish diplomacy: Being told to go to hell and actually enjoy the journey. Great guy that Mike.
She came back for more after reading his response. Didn’t have a clue that she’d been smacked down hard. Mike was truly having a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.
The Burn is strong with this one.