Pop Culture Rewind: The Clues from Blue (Sept. 8)

On this day in pop culture history, kids everywhere tuned in to watch the premier of the new children’s show, Blue’s Clues on Nickelodeon. And sure, they fell in love with the pooch, but they found a friend in her owner, Steve.

1996: Did You See a Clue?

Many kids who grew up with Blue’s Clues have compared the show’s original host, Steve Burns, to a Fred Rogers for their generation, something that has made the actor uncomfortable.

“I am nothing like Mister Rogers,” Burns told People in 2025. “That is a weight I do not wish to carry around, and that is a bar…no one could possibly… live up to.” He spoke highly of Fred Rogers’ legacy, even going so far as to say “that dude should be on our money.”

Nevertheless, Blue’s Clues has had an impact. The original Nick Jr. show aired on TV on this day in 1996. The child-appropriate mystery show featured a clue-hiding blue dog, her owner Steve and a household full of talking furniture, appliances and even food. But to find the right host, the show’s creators had to wade through over 1,000 auditions. Originally, the producers wanted a female host and “Blue” would have been a male dog, but test audiences preferred the men.

Besides the blue pup, other characters that appeared on the show included Mailbox, Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper (and their spicy children), Shovel & Pail, Tickety Tock, Slippery Soap, Magenta the dog, Periwinkle the cat.

Blue, Steve, Joe and Josh from Blues Clues — Steve Burns, Donovan Patton and Josh Dela Cruz all pose with Blue. *(Nickelodeon via TVDB)*

Burns decided to leave Blue Clues after four years on the show, so the hunt was on for his replacement. This time it took over 1500 auditions to find Steve’s “brother” Joe.

Steves’ last episode on Blue’s Clues aired in April 2002 with him leaving for “college”. Joe (Donovan Patton) came to take care of Blue and her friends at Joe’s house. The show aired for two more years and then Blue stopped hiding clues. For the time being.

On November 11, 2019, the series was revived with a new name (Blue’s Clues & You!) and new host (Josh – Steve’s “cousin”) played by Josh Dela Cruz. Josh had a good run on the show too lasting five seasons and ending on September 27, 2024.

1966 – The First ‘Star Trek’ Series

The original *Star Trek cast (NBC via TVDB)*

The TV series Star Trek should not be as popular as it is. The original pilot for the Gene Roddenberry series starring Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike was rejected by NBC, but they offered the crew a second chance. The new-and-improved show starred William Shatner (James T. Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), DeForest Kelley (Dr. Leonard McCoy), James Doohan (Montgomery Scott), Nichelle Nichols (Nyota Uhura), George Takei (Hikaru Sulu), Walter Koenin (Pavel Chekov) and Majel Barrett (Nurse Christine Chapel).

The revised science fiction adventure show debuted on this day with high ratings. However, the show’s ratings dropped to 52nd place out of 94 programs by the end of the season.

NBC threatened to cancel Star Trek during the second season, but a huge fan letter-writing campaign persuaded the network to carry on. The show was moved to Friday nights and given a smaller budget to work with. Upset with the situation, Roddenberry resigned as producer. Ratings continued to fall. Star Trek took its final voyage on June 3, 1969, after three seasons.

But the show became extremely popular with syndicated reruns, enough to warrant a new film franchise and a bunch of TV spin-offs many years after the original had ended its airing. Over a dozen TV shows and 14 movies have been made that have been based or inspired by Star Trek.

SATURDAY MORNING TV

Remember watching your favorite cartoons with a bowl of cold cereal? Here are some that began airing on this day. How many do you remember?

1973: The Original ‘Super Friends’

Robin, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman make up the original *Super Friends. (ABC via TVDB)*

It was on this day in 1973 that young DC Comics fans rejoiced when the first episode of Hanna-Barbera’s new Super Friends cartoon aired for the first time on ABC. Based on the Justice League of America comics, the show featured the grouping of Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman and Aquaman working together to fight crime.

During the first season, the show also introduced two average teens (Wendy and Marvin) and on “Wonder Dog” who “helped” the superheroes with their missions.

The show aired its last episode in August of 1974, but due to the rise of popularity of superheroes, reruns of the show were brought back to the air during the fall of 1976. In 1977, the show changed its name to the All-New Super Friends Hour and dropped Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog. The trio were replaced by another trio: Zan and Jayna aka “The Wonder Twins” and their pet monkey, Gleek. Jayna was cool. She could turn herself into any type of animal. Zan’s skills on the other hand were limited to just transforming himself into bodies of water.

The show continued on through 1986 taking on different titles: Challenge of the Super Friends (1978-1979), The World’s Greatest Super Friends (1979-1980), back to Super Friends in 1980 to 1983, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984–1985) and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985–1986).

Fun Fact: Adam West, who played Batman in the 1966 TV show voiced the cartoon character for the 1984 version of Super Friends and Casey Kasem, who voiced Scooby-Doo’s Shaggy Rogers voiced the role of Robin from 1973-1985.

Huckleberry Hound, Bo Bo Bear, Yogi Bear, Snagglepuss and Wally Gator from Yogi's Gang — *(Hanna-Barbera via TVDB)*

1973: Yogi’s Gang!

Captain Yogi Bear flew the flying ark that housed over 30 other famous Hanna-Barbera characters. Together, they would fly all over the world facing a variety of social issues head on while also meeting a variety of villains like Lotta Litter, Commadore Phineas P. Fibber and Peter D. Cheater.

Speedy Buggy — *(Hanna-Barbera via TVDB)*

1973: Speed Buggy

Inspired by both Disney’s Herbie the Love Bug and the cartoon series Speed Racer, Speed Buggy followed three teens and a talking dune buggy. Together, they traveled from race to race while solving mysteries during each episode ala Scooby-Doo.

Sigmund the seamonster — *(NBC via TVDB)*

1973: Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters was unlike many of the Sid & Marty Krofft shows because instead of having a human go to some fantastic world, this show involved fantastical creatures coming to the real world. The series starred Johnny Whitaker, Scott Kolden, Mary Wickes, Margaret Hamilton and Rip Taylor.

1984: Dragon’s Lair

Based on Don Bluth’s popular video game of the same name, this short-lived Ruby-Spears cartoon series carried on the misadventures of Dirk the Daring, his horse Bertram, Singe the dragon, Princess Daphne and Dirk’s rival, Sir Hubert Blunt.

Bobby from Bobby's World — *(FOX via TVDB)*

1990: Bobby’s World

Comedian Howie Mandel voiced little Bobby Generic (pronounced Gena-rick) with the big imagination. The four-year-old often imagined literal interpretations of popular colloquial sayings. The popular series ran for an impressive seven seasons on FOX.

Other TV Shows That Debuted on This Day:

1973: Lassie’s Rescue Rangers; Goober and the Ghost Chasers; Missons: Magic!; Bailey’s Comets; My Favorite Martians; Jeannie; Everything’s Archie; Inch High Private Eye; The Addams Family; Emergency +4; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids; Star Trek: The Animated Series
1979: The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle; 30 Minutes
1984: Mighty Orbots; Turbo Teen; Wolf Rock TV
1990: The Adventures of Super Mario Bros 3; Gravedale High; Kid’n Play; The Chipmunks Go to the Movies; Guys Next Door; Zazoo U; Tom & Jerry Kids Show; Attack of the Killer Tomatoes; Piggsburg Pig; The Wizard of Oz; New Kids on the Block; Little Rosey