“Dirty Jobs” star Mike Rowe is suing Discovery for allegedly not paying him more than $2 million for his voiceover work on the hit reality series “Deadliest Catch.”
Rowe and his production company, Lab Rat, sued Discovery in a lawsuit filed last Wednesday, according to People.
The lawsuit alleges that Discovery Talent Services violated its contract by failing to pay him for narrating at least 51 episodes of the show, which follows commercial crab fishers in Alaska, and its spinoff series including “Bering Sea Gold,” on mariners searching for gold.
Rowe claims he entered a “pay-to-play” agreement with Discovery in 2020, and that he was to be paid $40,000 per episode, whether he was narrating in the episode or not. He has been narrating ”Deadliest Catch” since 2005.
The TV star was originally locked into the agreement for a specific amount of time, according to the New York Post. However, Rowe’s legal complaint alleges his agreement was adjusted in 2020 so that it was “locked in for life.”
According to the filing, Rowe’s company learned that international episodes of “Deadliest Catch” were “materially different” from versions aired in the United States, and, it argues, constitute original episodes.
Rowe argues that he should be paid for the international “originally produced” episodes under his agreement with Discovery, even though his voiceovers are not used in the episodes.
The TV star claims that he was not cast and not paid for any episodes of “Deadliest Catch” spinoff series “Deadliest Catch” Bloodline,” Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns,” and “Deadliest Catch: Northern Edge.”
The lawsuit argues that Discovery owes Rowe at least $2.04 million in lost wages, including possible payments for 12 extended episodes of “Deadliest Catch,” plus interest.
The filing requests a jury trial. The Independent has asked Discovery for comment on the lawsuit.
Last year, Rowe sued the entertainment company for residual earnings he claims he never received after “Deadliest Catch” was added to streaming platforms.
Rowe became a mainstay figure on the Discovery Channel thanks to his show “Dirty Jobs,” which followed the presenter as he spent time working unconventional, difficult jobs across the country. The show ran from 2005 to 2012 and was briefly revived for two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
He won a Critics Choice Award in 2011 for “Best Reality Show Host” for his work on ”Dirty Jobs,” and a Daytime Emmy in 2020 in the “Outstanding Host for a Daytime Program” category for a special called “Returning the Favor,” in which he rewarded people who were doing good work in their communities.
