Discovery cancels 'Dirty Jobs'

Gary Levin, USA TODAY | USATODAY

Discovery Channel has canceled Dirty Jobs, a long-running reality series in which Mike Rowe adopted all kinds of icky occupations from roadkill cleaner to maggot farmer and sheep castrator.

In an essay on The Huffington Post, Rowe said he was told of the decision a few weeks ago, and described Jobs as "a very personal show," adding, "It's difficult for me to imagine a future that does not involve exploding toilets, venomous snakes, misadventures in animal husbandry, and feces from every species."

The series started in November 2003, after producer Craig Piligian noticed Rowe's segment on a local San Francisco station, "Somebody's Gotta Do It," and ran for 171 episodes over 10 years.

Discovery had no comment on the cancellation, but ratings have declined in recent years, even as Rowe's public profile has climbed with endorsement deals.

But fans won't get a chance to say goodbye: Jobs' final episode, the relatively benign "Outback Treasure Hunter," aired on Sept. 12.