April 29, 2002

5:27 PM

Did any other Metafilter parents (or other grown-up fans of children's television) catch Joe's introduction on Blue's Clues tonight? I've always made an effort to watch whatever my son's watching, so I'm a little sad to see Steve go, but my four-year-old approves of the new host. I am very happy to see that Steve Burns has already moved on to new, exciting things (including an upcoming album that features several members of the Flaming Lips). The whole ordeal reminds me too much of the last time a beloved host was replaced.
posted by Eamon (22 comments total)

Interestingly enough, I found out about Steve's Web Page (steveswebpage.com) through Paul Ford's wonderful ftrain.
posted by Eamon at 5:31 PM on April 29, 2002

I was working and kinda listening to the show when my son was watching. I didn't realize that the torch was being passed to a younger generation. I totally missed it. I guess I don't monitor my children's tv as well as I thought.
posted by Oxydude at 6:03 PM on April 29, 2002

I was going to watch it, but i decided to watch a gay comedy instead. I think Steve is much cuter than Joe, but perhaps he'll grow on me, like Mike grew on me after Joel left, especially once they dropped the invention exchange.
posted by meep at 6:13 PM on April 29, 2002

We watched the passing of the handy-dandy notebook as a family (ages 38, 35, 7 and 2). Man, I can't believe Joe is gonna wear shirts of different colors! This can't be leading anywhere good.

But I felt better after I did some of the suggested activites to prepare for the Steve/Joe transition.
posted by tippiedog at 6:18 PM on April 29, 2002

My son seems to like the new host, and the fact Steve is "going to college" only reinforced his desire to go, and he is only 4.
posted by y0mbo at 6:23 PM on April 29, 2002

One of my best friends is a dead ringer for Steve. We got him a green striped shirt and the resemblance is uncanny.

Sadly, I don't have a picture.
posted by nath at 6:43 PM on April 29, 2002

Interestingly enough, I found out about Steve's Web Page (steveswebpage.com) through this site.
Bout ten days ago.
posted by Catch at 7:10 PM on April 29, 2002

[Insert word that shouldn't be said in front of little people here] Who was the "genius" at Nickolodeon who decided to pre-empt Hey Arnold and Rugrats with this Blues Clues special?? Can there really be that much overlap in audience?
posted by ilsa at 7:25 PM on April 29, 2002

a much better photo
posted by tolkhan at 7:37 PM on April 29, 2002

Ilsa: Probably the same genius who recognizes that everything on Nickelodeon is repeated two thousand times.
posted by rcade at 7:50 PM on April 29, 2002

I watched Blue's Clues tonight with my 2.5 year old niece on my lap. She seems to understand Steve is leaving, in fact she said bye-bye and blew him a kiss.

I think the new host is a cutie, but different colored sweaters? No way, man, pick a color.
posted by SuzySmith at 7:53 PM on April 29, 2002

Joe's hair terrifies me.
posted by darukaru at 9:03 PM on April 29, 2002

I watched all 90 minutes with my daughters, 6 & 3. They were very excited about this. Amazingly, the 3 year had first heard about this by visiting the Nick Jr. web site a few days ago and hearing the story about Joe coming there first.

Both girls were happy to see Joe and even sad when Steve left on the bus for school.
posted by Argyle at 9:04 PM on April 29, 2002

They replaced Joel?
*duck/run*
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:44 PM on April 29, 2002

I remember somebody telling me over a year ago that Steve had actually been shafted out of merchendise money and quit over it. The producers had said they had years worth of him in the can anyway and they'd just transition to a new host.

Shrug.
posted by Leonard at 9:55 PM on April 29, 2002

I remember somebody telling me over a year ago that Steve had actually been shafted out of merchendise money and quit over it.

The way I remember it was I read an interview with him, talking about how he disapproved of the mass merchandise. Something along the lines of he just wanted the show to be about education, and not four-foot stuffed Steve dolls.

In any case, I do not like Joe. His poorly styled hair, untucked shirt, cargo khakis and tennis shoes scream raver to me.

Watching Joe take over Steve's notebook, then his chair, and then the entire damn show...

It hurt.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 10:48 PM on April 29, 2002

As long as Joe has Steve's ability to hypnotize the Jr. set it's okee dokee with me.
posted by Mack Twain at 11:55 PM on April 29, 2002

Damn its all too confusing....over here...in the UK....its not Steve or Joe....its Kevin...with a gentle liverpudlian (maybe cheshire) accent....and a nice non-excitable style.

My 2 year old son loves Blues Clues...and its a Super Duper Note book here....not a Handy Dandy...transatlantic changes are completely missed by my boy!

Thanks for the insights though!
posted by mattr at 4:57 AM on April 30, 2002

I'm surprised no one has commented on Steve's new endeavor as a rock star. His upcoming album Songs for Dust Mites isn't half bad, and his website is rather entertaining. Easily perused in a few minutes and worth a look-see.
posted by johnnyace at 4:58 AM on April 30, 2002

Did anyone else notice that Joe is huge compared to Steve? He's got to be about six inches taller, and obviously not as reed-skinny as Steve. I think he needs to grow on me, though. Joe looks like he's "acting," whereas with Steve, you just believe that that's the way he is (I'm sure that comes with 7 years of playing the part).

As long as they don't replace mailbox, we'll be a happy family.
posted by pardonyou? at 6:01 AM on April 30, 2002

The kids took it well, and don't have any problem with it. I didn't watch it with them, but I'm going to see when it's being re-broadcast so I can TiVo it and burn a VideoCD for the minivan.

Man, there are just so many thing wrong with that last sentence.

In other worlds - the Steve website is pretty interesting.. all his new projects, and the whole dispelling rumors FAQs and that fact that he's friends with Paul at ftrain just sort of shocked me.

Maybe he visits Metafilter like Wil Wheaton.

We're all rock stars, baby.
posted by rich at 7:59 AM on April 30, 2002

I really, totally believe that I would have been a great replacement for Steve. It makes me a little sad to see they picked someone else.
posted by Sean Meade at 9:44 AM on April 30, 2002