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Steve Leaves Blue's Clues!

© Hilary Evans

Sadly, the rumors are true. Steve Burns, the host of popular children's series Blue's Clues, will be leaving the show. Final episodes starring Steve will air in early 2002 but the show will go on. Another male actor portraying Steve's brother will take over the main role as Blue's caretaker.

For those who aren't familiar with Blue's Clues, the show debuted on Nickelodeon in 1996. Quickly it became the second most popular program on the network. Blue's Clues was developed as a game show for kids, run by a real person who lives in an animated world, and is accompanied by an animated sidekick, Blue the dog.

The aim of the game, Blue's Clues, is to answer a question Steve has asked of Blue by finding three clues around their animated world. There are regular songs throughout the show, and lessons in phonics, reading, counting, logic, colors, and more. Background voices of children helping to answer Steve's questions, and pointing out clues, make Blue's Clues a fun program for young children.

Steve makes it fun, and now, he's leaving. While the network is of the official opinion the show wont suffer, parents have to wonder. When the show comes on my son yells "Steve!" not "Blue" not "Guy I've never seen before." Children don't do well with sudden changes, so hopefully they will be easing viewers into the transition.

From what I've been able to find out, Steve is leaving to explore other acting opportunities. He's played two roles on crime shows - one was a very creepy serial killer but I didn't see the other one. He's done two voice overs for McDonald's and one for 1-800-CALL-ATT. That or 1-800-COLLECT, I can never get those two straight. :/ His chances of finding a non-kids role at this point are not too keen in my opinion.

I understand every artist has a right to explore other venues, I just hope he chooses his roles well. Once a star in children's TV, would playing a drug addict be ethical? Should his influence over children be taken into consideration by casting directors, etc? I think the answer is yes, but then again I'm not sure how I would feel if someone told me I could only write on certain topics.

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