Blue's Clues & You

Blue's Clues premiered in September 1996 as an award-winning preschool series on the Nickelodeon network. Producers Angela Santomero, Todd Kessler, and Traci Paige Johnson created the program to support early-childhood learning through the adventures of Blue, an animated dog guiding both the audience and the host through interactive treasure hunts. The series achieved instant popularity by encouraging viewer participation in its games and puzzles while employing a narrative storyline, colorful cut-out animation, and a domestic environment. Steve Burns served as host for the first six years, gaining such widespread recognition among young fans that he became a children's celebrity in his own right. He departed in 2002, at which point Donovan Patton took over the role and continued hosting through 2006. Multiple honors followed, among them a Peabody Award in 2001 and nine Emmy nominations, while the show also generated a live touring production and the 2004 spin-off Blue's Room. Its tenth anniversary in 2006 was marked by a commemorative DVD and the song compilation Blue's Biggest Hits.