Former children’s television star still an icon
“It is really humbling to see such a warm response after 25 years of ‘Blue’s Clues.”
— Steve Burns, a 1992 Boyertown High School grad
Steve Burns, the Berks County native and former star of the hit kids show “Blue's Clues,” just wanted to say hello and thanks and to explain where he went.
And a whole lot of people wanted to listen.
A two-minute video of Burns was posted to the Nick Jr. Twitter account on Tuesday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Blue's Clues. In it, Burns reprises his role as the show's host Steve, complete with his iconic striped shirt.
By early Wednesday afternoon, more than 22 million people had watched the video.
“It is really humbling to see such a warm response after 25 years of ‘Blue's Clues,'” the 1992 graduate of Boyertown High School said in a statement provided by Nickelodeon.
Burns starred on the hit children's show from its beginning in 1996 until 2000. New episodes starring
Burns ran until 2002 on Nick Jr., an offshoot of Nickelodeon aimed at younger viewers.
“Blue's Clues” went on without Burns, with Donovan Patton taking over hosting duties as Steve's “brother” Joe until the series'
end in 2006.
In 2019 the series was rebooted as “Blue's Clues & You” with host Joshua Dela Cruz.
“To think we created such a strong connection feels truly special, and we've unlocked a whole new level with Josh,” Burns said in his statement. “Blue could not be in better hands and I look forward to seeing all the incredible places he takes us.”
In the video posted Tuesday, Burns, as the character Steve, addressed his seemingly sudden departure from the hit show.
“You remember how when we were younger, we used to run around and hang out with Blue and find clues and talk to Mr. Salt and freak out about the mail and do all the fun stuff?” Steve says in the video. “And then one day, I was like, ‘Oh hey, guess what? Big news, I'm leaving. Here's my brother Joe, he's your new best friend,' and then I got on a bus and I left and we didn't see each other for like a really long time? Can we just talk about that? Great. Because I realize that was kind of abrupt.”
Steve says that he left the show to go to college, which he says was challenging but allowed him to “use his mind” and do things today that he always wanted to do.
He also thanked everyone who watched “Blue's Clues.”
“I wanted to tell you that I really couldn't have done all of that without your help and in fact, all the help that you helped me with when we were younger is still helping me today, right now,” he said. “And that's super cool.
“I guess I just wanted to say that after all these years, I never forgot you. Ever,” he added. “And I'm super glad we're still friends.”
Along with Burns' video, Nickelodeon has released a special music video featuring all three “Blue's Clues” hosts.