FRANZEN, Ben

FRANZEN, Benjamin (Dubuque, IA-- ). In 2022 Ben Franzen, a graduate of WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL and then the University of Iowa in 2000, served as executive producer and showrunner for a new season of the popular "Dirty Jobs" starring Mike Rowe. Originally featured on the Discovery Channel from 2005 to 2013, the show featured "jobs that people do that makes life easier for rest of us." It was not impossible to find Rowe cleaning out a sewer, cleaning the drums at a recycling plant, or applying hot tar to a roof in the summer. During the PANDEMIC the two men discussed bringing the show back to the air. As executive producer, Franzen worked between the television network and the creative team handling logistics. He also helped assemble the team to create each show--storytellers, camera operators, producers and editors. (1)

Franzen's previous work with Rowe included (2) Producer (3 credits)

2021 Six Degrees with Mike Rowe (TV Series documentary) (executive producer - 6 episodes)

- Volcano Redeems Rapper! (2021) ... (executive producer) - Garbage Man Finds Big Bang! (2021) ... (executive producer) - Sheep Does Taxes! (2021) ... (executive producer) - Horseshoe Finds Soulmate! (2021) ... (executive producer) - Mousetrap Cures Hangover! (2021) ... (executive producer) Show all 6 episodes

2020 Dirty Jobs: Rowe'd Trip (TV Series) (supervising producer - 4 episodes)

- Problem Solvers (2020) ... (supervising producer) - Filthy Animals (2020) ... (supervising producer) - Tight Spaces (2020) ... (supervising producer) - Dirty Infrastructure (2020) ... (supervising producer)

2019 Unpacking The S.W.E.A.T. Pledge (TV Mini Series short) (producer)

Previous to working with Rowe, Franzen's work had included: Hide Hide Editor (1 credit)

2005-2006 Squidbillies (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Burned and Reburned Again (2006) - Double Truckin' the Tricky Two (2006) - Office Politics Trouble (2005)

Franzen served as the producer on a documentary film "Copyright Criminals" released in 2009. He served as director, cinematographer, editor, and producer on "Independent Lens" in 2010. (3)

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Source:

1. Garrett, Olivia, "Dubuque Native Helping 'Dirty Jobs' Series Return," Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2022, p. 5A

2. "Ben Franzen," IMDb Online: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3076274/

3. "Benjamin Franzen," IMDb Online: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3594684/