Entertainment
 

Blue's Clues

From Nickelodeon

Blue's Clues
Genre Clue
Created by Traci Paige Johnson
Starring Steve Burns (1996–2002)
Donovan Patton (2002–2006)
Country of origin Template:USA
No. of episodes {{{no_episodes}}}
Production
Running time 30 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel Nick Jr. (1996-2008)
Noggin (1999-present)
Original run 8 September 1999 – 6 August 2006
Links
Official Site Nick.com
IMDb profile IMDb
TV.com summary TV.com summary


Blue's Clues is a daytime children's show which airs on Nickelodeon and now appears on Noggin and several "On Demand" channels. It features live action superimposed upon paper-cutout animation similar to that of South Park. The series was a blue dog, named Blue, through her everyday life, providing small children educational entertainment. However, Blue's Clues is soon to be aired in September 2009 on Nickelodeon's 24/7 sister station Nick Jr..

Contents

[edit] The Show

From 1996 to 2002, Blue's owner was Steve, a non-animated character played by Steve Burns. When Burns chose to leave the show, the character Steve moved away to college and his younger brother Joe (played by Donovan Patton) moved in by coming over to their house to take care of Blue and her friends from 2002 to present.

The game of Blue's Clues begins near the beginning of the episode, when the host asks Blue some sort of question. Blue responds by jumping at the screen and marking it with a blue pawprint. The host, with the help of the audience (who are constantly spoken to and asked questions by the host), then searches the house for Blue's three clues. Along the way, the host speaks with many other residents of the house, which are usually characters based on inanimate objects such as a side-table drawer, a salt shaker, and a mailbox. After all three have been found, the host sits in his "thinking chair" and puts the three clues together to form a central image. This image is the answer to the host's original question, which goes along the lines of "What does Blue want to do today?"

The show uses phrase repetition and a minimum of editing in an attempt to avoid confusing its young audience.[1]


Blue, the title character of the show.

In a 2004 Blue's Clues episode, The Legend of the Blue Puppy, Blue talks as a fuzzy English-speaking puppet in a segment called Blue's Room. Several direct-to-video DVDs have since been made based around the Blue's Room concept.

Blue's Clues was extensively analyzed by a guy named Malcolm Gladwell in his bestselling book, The Tipping Point. According to Gladwell, Blue's Clues has been carefully designed, using methods pioneered by Sesame Street, to allow its educational messages to 'stick' in a child's mind.

A UK version of Blue's Clues also exists, with Kevin Duala as the host.

The original show, dubbed in German, appears on German TV under the title "Blau und Schlau", literally "blue and smartly".

Blues Clues was created at Nickelodeon by a creative team led by Angela C. Santomero, who is currently creating similarly advanced children's programming with her partner, Samantha Freeman (also of Nickelodeon), at their new production company Out of the Blue Enterprises LLC.

Humongous Entertainment released several PC/Mac games featuring Blue's Clues characters.

[edit] Controversy

On 11 February 2003 Nickelodeon aired an episode of Blue's Clues that was an obvious St. Valentine's Day special, yet was referring to the holiday as "Love Day". Nickelodeon was widely criticized for attempting to evade the Christian connotations concerning the Catholic St. Valentine.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Hosts

  • Steve:

Up until 2002, was the first host of show. Steve's motive for leaving was to attend college. Steve is also Joe's older brother.

  • Joe:

Joe is Steve's younger brother. Starting in 2002, he is the second host.  

[edit] Animated Characters

  • Blue - a female blue puppy and namesake of the show. on the first episode of blues clues
  • Side Table Drawer - talking furniture that holds the clue notebook; first interacted directly with Steve in "Steve Gets the Sniffles".
  • Slippery Soap - a talking male bar of soap; first appeared in "What Does Blue Need?"
  • Tickety - a talking clock; first interacted directly and talked with Steve in "What Time Is It for Blue?"
  • Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper - The French salt and pepper shakers.
  • Paprika and Cinnamon - Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper's children. Paprika, a girl, first appeared "Blue's News"; Cinnamon, a boy, debuted in "The Baby's Here".
  • Shovel and Pail - talking sandbox toys; first appeared in "Story Time".
  • Mailbox - delivers the mail at mail time, first interacted directly with Steve in "Mailbox's Birthday".
  • Magenta - Blue's best friend, a female pink puppy with round purple glasses; first appeared in "Blue's Story Time".
  • Periwinkle - the next-door neighbor, a talking male blue cat; first appeared in "Blue's Big Mystery".
  • Miss Marigold - Blue's teacher; first appeared in "A Surprise Guest".
  • Green Puppy - Blue's male friend and classmate; first appeared in "Blue's Sad Day".
  • Orange Kitten - Blue's female friend and classmate; first appeared in "Blue's Sad Day".
  • Purple Kangaroo - Blue's male friend and classmate; first appeared in "Blue's Sad Day".
  • Pink Starfish - Blue's enemy. First appeared in "Blue's Sad Day".
  • Hairbrush
  • Turquoise - Blue's pet turtle; first appeared in "Blue's Birthday".
  • Polka Dots -A green puppy with purple polka dots; first appeared in "Meet Polka Dots!"
  • The Felt Friends - characters who live in a world of colored felt shapes; two recurring Felt Friends are Freddy and Fifi, who first appeared in "Blue's Favorite Song".
  • Moona - A moon fairy who tells what time it is. She has a crescent-shaped body and crescent-shaped pigtails.
  • Horace - Steve's stuffed anteater; first appeared in "Blue's Big Pajama Party".
  • Boris - Joe's toy duck; first appeared in "Joe's First Day".
  • Charlotte O'Kelly
  • Bill Vickery
  • Sprinkles - Blue's young brother; first appeared in "Meet Blue's Baby Brother".

[edit] Episode list

Season Episodes Originally aired
1 14 1995-1996
2 26 1997-1998
3 14 1999-2001
4 26 2001-2002
5 14 2002-2003
6 6 2004
7 5 2004
8 2 2006


[edit] Season 1 (1996)

Episode# Title Airdate Code|- Pilot 1.0 "Blue Prints" June 29, 1994 000
1 1.1 "Snack Time" September 8, 1996 101
2 1.2 "What Time Is It for Blue?" September 16, 1996 102
3 1.3 "Mailbox's Birthday" September 23, 1996 103
4 1.4 "Blue's Story Time" September 30, 1996 104
5 1.5 "What Does Blue Need?" October 7, 1996 105
6 1.6 "Blue's Favorite Song" October 14, 1996 106
7 1.7 "Adventures in Art" October 21, 1996 107
8 1.8 "Blue Goes to the Beach" October 28, 1996 108
9 1.9 "Pretend Time" November 4, 1996 109
10 1.10 "A Snowy Day" November 11, 1996 110
11 1.11 "The Trying Game" November 18, 1996 111
12 1.12 "Blue Wants to Play a Game" November 25, 1996 112
13 1.13 "What Does Blue Wants to Do Outside?" December 2, 1996 113
14 1.14 "Blue Wants to Play a Song Game!" December 9, 1996 114


[edit] Season 2 (1997-1998)

Episode# Title Airdate Code
15 2.1 "What Does Blue Want to Make?" September 1, 1997 201
16 2.2 "What Story Does Blue Want to Play?" September 8, 1997 202
17 2.3 "Tickety's Favorite Nursery Rhyme" September 15, 1997 203
18 2.4 "What Is Blue Afraid Of?" September 22, 1997 204
19 2.5 "Magenta Comes Over" September 29, 1997 205
20 2.6 "Blue's News!" November 10, 1997
21 2.7 "Steve Gets the Sniffles" November 17, 1997
22 2.8 "What Does Blue Want to Build?" November 24, 1997
23 2.9 "Blue's Senses!" December 1, 1997
24 2.10 "What Experiment Does Blue Want to Try?" February 9, 1998
25 2.11 "What Does Blue Want to Make out of Recycled Things?" February 16, 1998
26 2.12 "What Was Blue's Dream About?" February 23, 1998
27 2.13 "Blue's ABCs" March 2, 1998
28 2.14 "Math!" March 9, 1998
29 2.15 "Blue's Birthday" March 16, 1998
30 2.16 "What Does Blue Want to Do With Her Picture?" March 23, 1998
31 2.17 "What Does Blue Wanna Do on a Rainy Day?" March 30, 1998
32 2.18 "Blue's Surprise at Two O'Clock!" April 6, 1998
33 2.19 "The Lost Episode!" April 13, 1998
34 2.20 "Blue's Sad Day" April 20, 1998
35 2.21 "What Game Does Blue Want to Learn?" April 27, 1998
36 2.22 "What Did Blue See?" May 4, 1998
37 2.23 "Nurture!" May 11, 1998
38 2.24 "Blue Is Frustrated" May 18, 1998
39 2.25 "What Is Blue Trying to Do?" May 25, 1998
40 2.26 "Mechanics!" June 1, 1998


[edit] Season 3 (1999-2001)

  1. Blue's Big Treasure Hunt 3/8/1999
  2. Art Appreciation 4/26/1999
  3. Weight and Balance 5/10/1999
  4. What's That Sound? 6/7/1999
  5. Hide and Seek 6/14/1999
  6. Animal Behavior! 6/21/1999
  7. Blue's Big Pajama Party 10/10/1999
  8. Draw Along With Blue 10/18/1999
  9. Blue's Big Holiday 11/29/1999
  10. Pool Party 4/3/2000
  11. Anatomy 4/10/2000
  12. Signs 4/25/2000
  13. Nature 7/3/2000
  14. Geography 7/10/2000
  15. Musical Show 2000
  16. Occupations 7/17/2000
  17. Blue's Big Mystery 9/25/2000
  18. Periwinkle Misses His Friend 10/2/2000
  19. What's So Funny? 10/9/2000
  20. Inventions 10/23/2000
  21. Blue's Play 10/30/2000
  22. Prehistoric Blue 11/6/2000
  23. Opposites 11/13/2000 (aka The Wrong Shirt)
  24. Words 12/5/2000
  25. Magenta Gets Glasses 2/19/2001
  26. Blue's Collection 2/26/2001
  27. Cafe Blue 3/5/2001
  28. Shy 3/12/2001
  29. Environments 3/19/2001
  30. Stormy Weather 3/26/2001
  31. Thankful
  32. Blue's Big Costume Party

[edit] Season 4 (2001-2002)

  1. The Anything Box 4/16/2001
  2. Adventure! 4/19/2001
  3. Superfriends! 4/23/2001
  4. What's New, Blue? (1) 10/8/2001
  5. Blue's New Place (2) 10/15/2001
  6. Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper Day! (3) 10/22/2001
  7. The Baby's Here! (4) 10/29/2001
  8. Making Changes (5) 11/5/2001
  9. Bugs! 11/12/2001
  10. ¡Un Día Con Plum! 11/19/2001
  11. What's Inside? 11/26/2001
  12. Blocks 12/3/2001
  13. Blue's Backyard Ballgame Bonanza 2/15/2002
  14. Puppets 2/25/2002
  15. Rhyme Time 3/4/2002
  16. Let's Plant! 3/29/2002
  17. Imagine Nation 2002
  18. Blue's Book Nook 2002
  19. Let's Boogie! 2002

[edit] Season 5 (2002-2003)

  1. Joe's First Day (1) 4/29/2002
  2. Joe Gets a Clue (2) 4/29/2002
  3. Steve Goes To College (3) 4/29/2002
  4. Can You Help? 4/30/2002
  5. Colors Everywhere! 5/6/2002
  6. The Snack Chart 5/13/2002
  7. The Big Book About Us 5/20/2002
  8. Playing Store 5/27/2002
  9. Patience 6/3/2002
  10. Blue's Clues 100th Episode Celebration! 6/10/2002
  11. Joe's Birthday Party 8/5/2002
  12. I'm So Happy! 9/2/2002
  13. The Boat Float 9/9/2002
  14. Bedtime Business 9/16/2002
  15. Shape Searchers 9/23/2002
  16. Blue's Checkup 9/30/2002
  17. Contraptions! 10/7/2002
  18. A Brand New Game 10/21/2002
  19. A Surprise Guest 1/6/2003
  20. The Dress-Up Day 1/13/2003
  21. Blue's Big Band 2/17/2003
  22. Up, Down, All Around! 3/3/2003
  23. The Story Wall 4/28/2003
  24. The Alphabet Train 5/5/2003
  25. Numbers Everywhere! 5/12/2003
  26. Blue's Predictions 5/19/2003
  27. Our Neighborhood Festival 6/23/2003
  28. Blue Takes You to School 8/11/2003
  29. Meet Polka Dots! 9/15/2003
  30. The Scavenger Hunt 9/16/2003
  31. Let's Write! 9/17/2003
  32. Magenta's Messages 9/18/2003
  33. Body Language 9/19/2003
  34. Blue's Big Car Trip 9/22/2003
  35. Look Carefully... 9/23/2003
  36. I Did That! 9/24/2003
  37. Animals in Our House? 9/25/2003
  38. Morning Music 9/29/2003
  39. Blue's First Holiday 12/12/2003

[edit] Season 6 (2004)

  1. The Legend of the Blue Puppy 2/8/2004
  2. Love Day 2/16/2004
  3. Blue's Wishes 2/16/2004
  4. Joe's Clues 2/23/2004
  5. Skidoo Adventure 3/15/2004

[edit] Season 7 (2004)

  1. Playdates 3/22/2004
  2. The Fairy Tale Ball 4/5/2004
  3. Soccer Practice 4/26/2004
  4. Bluestock 5/10/2004

[edit] 10th anniversary (2006)

To celebrate the 10th anniversary (2006) of Blue's Clues, a "Meet Blue's Baby Brother" primetime special premiered on August 6, 2006, where her brother was revealed to be a multi-colored puppy named Sprinkles. Nickelodeon also created a 12-minute documentary going behind the scenes of Blue's Clues.

  1. Meet Blue's Baby Brother 8/6/2006
  2. Behind the Clues: 10 Years of Blue 8/6/2006

[edit] Trivia

  • A pink snail appears in each episode three times as an extra challenge for older kids.
  • The "12" on the face of the clock Tickety changes each episode depending on the particular plot at that time.
  • In the film of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, "Omelet", at the end where Ophelia (Carl) watches Blue's Clues, he said "I don't know, Jimmy. I'm gonna get carsick, I want to throw up on the steering wheel, and the tires" and Jimmy says "Luckily, this is a car".

[edit] Parody

  • In the Fairly Odd Parents movie Channel Chasers Timmy is running through various television shows. One happens to be called "Clint's Hints", possebly Channel 212 a reference to Blue's Clues. The host is probably a reference of Steve. Note Timmy was a pig, Older Timmy was a duck, and Cosmo and Wanda were a fork and spoon.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://nickelodeon.wikia.com/wiki/Blue%27s_Clues"