In an era where America's unemployment rate is stubbornly hovering around 10%, Mike Rowe's Discovery show 'Dirty Jobs' has evolved from gross-out TV into an exploration of the harsh conditions faced by the country's working poor.

As he discussed on 'Rachael Ray' (weekdays, syndicated on ABC), when the show started it was "really dirty and kind of gross," and while it still certainly is still those things, it's grown to mean something more.

"Today, the show is about people, and the conversation that's really grown out of the show isn't about poop-jokes and misadventures in animal husbandry ... it's really more about what is a good job today, and what are we encouraging people to pursue," Rowe said.

'Dirty Jobs With Mike Rowe' premieres Tues., Oct. 19 at 9PM ET on Discovery.