Honestly, this clip is like a big, warm hug
Even if you aged out of Nick Jr. shows by the late '90s, chances are you caught an early episode or two of Blues Clues. The animated kids' series became an instant cult classic after it premiered in 1996, thanks to its lovable central character (a dog named Blue) and the "riveting" mysteries viewers helped solve in each episode. But Blues Clues also wouldn't have been the same without its original host, Steve Burns, who famously left the popular show in 2002. Yesterday, Burns took Twitter by storm after sharing a brief, but incredibly moving, clip about why he left and where he went … and honestly, we weren't expecting to get so emotional about it.
The clip was shared on Twitter by Nick Jr., in honor of the show's 25th anniversary
In it, Burns pops into the frame wearing a T-shirt similar to one he might have worn on Blue's Clues. He's also standing against the show's iconic backdrop, which for a moment makes you feel like no time has passed at all.
"Hi, you got a second" Burns asks, as he looks directly into the camera, just as he used to. Then, he goes on to discuss his reasons for leaving the show nearly 20 years ago, in a way that surprised and saddened many of his young fans. At the time, Burns' character (who was also named Steve), said he was leaving to go to college, but on Tuesday, he addressed his sudden departure for the first time in a heartfelt and honest way. He spoke directly to his former viewers — many of whom now have kids of their own.
“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?” Burns asks. “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? Because I realize that was kind of abrupt."
LOL — it certainly was. (In fact, there was even a rumor circulating at the time that Burns had died in a car accident, though he later appeared on various talk shows to dispel that myth.)
Turns out, Burns really did go to college
And he has zero regrets about it.
He describes that time in his life as "really challenging," but ultimately 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." (According to Variety, Burns has released an album and had several minor acting roles in the years since.)
In other words, he grew up — just like the rest of us did — and life kept chugging along.
It's at this point that the clip becomes surprisingly emotional
"Look at you, and look at all you have done, and all you have accomplished in all that time," says Burns. "And it’s just, 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."
He then gives a heartfelt thank you to the loyal fans who grew up watching him
Without them, he notes, his life wouldn't have been able to follow the same path.
"I wanted to tell you that I really couldn’t have done all of that without your help," Burns shares. "And 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."
(Getting emotional yet? Just wait …)
"I guess I just wanted to say that after all these years, I never forgot you," Burns continues. "Ever. And I'm super glad we’re still friends."
"You look great by the way," he says, before signing off. "Whatever it is you’re doing, is working."
The video is pretty amazing
So it's really no surprise that it's gone viral in the past 24 hours. And in that time, it's been giving people all of the feels.
"I was having a normal day and then the Steve from Blue’s Clues video got me all f----- up," tweeted one person.
"I didn’t even know I needed Blues Clues closure until now," added someone else in reply.
"Steve leaving Blue’s Clues was a very emotional time," said another. "The closure was necessary."
In some cases, Burns' message also inspired people to impart their own wisdom …
"Please, take risks," tweeted one person. "Please, take up space. Please, be as beautiful as you know you can be. Please, ignore the haters in your mind. Please, keep testing the boundaries of the art you both make and enjoy. Please, fall in love again. Please, live."
And after the year and a half we've all just had, it was kinda needed. So thank you, Steve Burns — not just for clarifying why you suddenly left millennials in the lurch all those years ago … but also for telling us something we didn't know we even needed to hear: That you're proud of who we became.
Even if you aged out of Nick Jr. shows by the late '90s, chances are you caught an early episode or two of Blues Clues. The animated kids' series became an instant cult classic after it premiered in 1996, thanks to its lovable central character (a dog named Blue) and the "riveting" mysteries viewers helped solve in each episode. But Blues Clues also wouldn't have been the same without its original host, Steve Burns, who famously left the popular show in 2002. Yesterday, Burns took Twitter by storm after sharing a brief, but incredibly moving, clip about why he left and where he went … and honestly, we weren't expecting to get so emotional about it.
The clip was shared on Twitter by Nick Jr., in honor of the show's 25th anniversary
"Hi, you got a second" Burns asks, as he looks directly into the camera, just as he used to. Then, he goes on to discuss his reasons for leaving the show nearly 20 years ago, in a way that surprised and saddened many of his young fans. At the time, Burns' character (who was also named Steve), said he was leaving to go to college, but on Tuesday, he addressed his sudden departure for the first time in a heartfelt and honest way. He spoke directly to his former viewers — many of whom now have kids of their own.
“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?” Burns asks. “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? Because I realize that was kind of abrupt."
LOL — it certainly was. (In fact, there was even a rumor circulating at the time that Burns had died in a car accident, though he later appeared on various talk shows to dispel that myth.)
Turns out, Burns really did go to college
And he has zero regrets about it.
He describes that time in his life as "really challenging," but ultimately 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." (According to Variety, Burns has released an album and had several minor acting roles in the years since.)
In other words, he grew up — just like the rest of us did — and life kept chugging along.
It's at this point that the clip becomes surprisingly emotional
"Look at you, and look at all you have done, and all you have accomplished in all that time," says Burns. "And it’s just, 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."
He then gives a heartfelt thank you to the loyal fans who grew up watching him
Without them, he notes, his life wouldn't have been able to follow the same path.
"I wanted to tell you that I really couldn’t have done all of that without your help," Burns shares. "And 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."
(Getting emotional yet? Just wait …)
"I guess I just wanted to say that after all these years, I never forgot you," Burns continues. "Ever. And I'm super glad we’re still friends."
"You look great by the way," he says, before signing off. "Whatever it is you’re doing, is working."
The video is pretty amazing
So it's really no surprise that it's gone viral in the past 24 hours. And in that time, it's been giving people all of the feels.
"I was having a normal day and then the Steve from Blue’s Clues video got me all f----- up," tweeted one person.
"I didn’t even know I needed Blues Clues closure until now," added someone else in reply.
"Steve leaving Blue’s Clues was a very emotional time," said another. "The closure was necessary."
In some cases, Burns' message also inspired people to impart their own wisdom …
"Please, take risks," tweeted one person. "Please, take up space. Please, be as beautiful as you know you can be. Please, ignore the haters in your mind. Please, keep testing the boundaries of the art you both make and enjoy. Please, fall in love again. Please, live."
And after the year and a half we've all just had, it was kinda needed. So thank you, Steve Burns — not just for clarifying why you suddenly left millennials in the lurch all those years ago … but also for telling us something we didn't know we even needed to hear: That you're proud of who we became.
