'I never forgot you,' OG 'Blue's Clues' host Steve Burns says
Sept. 8, 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Nick Jr.'s "Blue's Clues." First premiered in 1996, the show merges entertainment with early-childhood education by following the story of a blue-spotted dog, aptly named Blue, as she leaves paw prints on things which the host gets to solve before episode ends. Through the years, Blue had a lot of companions in the show, but if you're a millennial who grew up watching the show, the most familiar for you would be Steve Burns, a.k.a the OG host of the show.
After being in over 100 episodes, Steve left the show in 2002 and was replaced by Donovan Patton who played his brother Joe. Although the plot says that Steve was going to college that's why he was leaving, many rumors emerged about his abrupt exit. To mark the show's legacy, Steve comes back and talks to his fans about his departure in a video released by Nick Jr.
"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? And then one day I was like: 'Oh hey, guess what? I'm leaving. This is my brother Joe, he's your new best friend.' Then I got on the bus and left," he says.
"I realize that was kind of abrupt. I just kind of got up and went to college. And that was really challenging, by the way, but great because I got to use my mind and take a step at a time. And now I literally am doing many of the things that I wanted to do. And then look at you, and look at all you have done and all you have accomplished in all that time," he continues.
Just that, many of the millennial fans of the show, who are now parents, professionals, aunts, and more are taken years back to the days, watching Blue and Steve hunt for clues. Steve went on to share his experiences, which many fans today could definitely relate to.
"And it's just so amazing, right? I mean we started out with clues. And now it's what? Student loans, and jobs, and families. And some of it has been kind of hard, you know? I know you know. I wanted to tell you that I really could not have done all of that without your help."
"In fact, all the help that you helped me with when we were younger is still helping me today, right now. And that's super cool. I guess I just wanted to say that after all these years, I never forgot you. Ever. And I'm super great we're still friends."
The video is one of the many releases Nick Jr. prepared to commemorate the show's 25th anniversary. In many of the videos, Steve and Donovan are seen having a fun time with Blue's latest companion, Joshua Dela Cruz, in the 2019 reboot "Blue's Clue and You." From reacting to old episodes to answering fan questions, true "Blue's Clues" viewers will definitely giggle watching them all together.
Watch Steve's full message here.