In a video posted to the Nick Jr. social media account, longtime Blue's Clues! host Steve Burns explained his departure from the series and complimented his former viewers on their personal growth over the years since. The message quickly went viral, earning more than 1.9 million likes to date.
Blue's Clues originally ran from 1996-2006, though Burns left in 2002. According to an interview with HuffPost, there wasn't any ulterior motive behind his departure. He was just getting older and felt it was time to step down. This was explained in-universe as his character going to college, and "Joe" (played by Donovan Patton) replaced him as the Nickelodeon show's host.
Burns explains this in the video, empathizing with viewers who, when they were younger, might not have been able to understand why he had to go. He admits that it may have seemed abrupt, but leaving the show enabled him "to do many of the things that [he] wanted to do." He then praises his fans for their own accomplishments as adults, noting how they've moved on from simple problem-solving to "student loans, and jobs, and families."
He acknowledges that things have been challenging for both the viewers and himself, but expresses gratitude for "all [their] help" and adds that "it's still helping [him] today." This ties back to the premise of Blue's Clues itself, where the audience would interact with "Steve" and help him figure out the answer to the titular clues. But it also ties back to statements he's made about how hosting Blue's Clues has had a huge impact on his life. He's genuinely grateful for the support he's gotten from people who looked up to him during their preschool years.
Fans responded to the video with heartfelt messages of their own, thanking Steve for being a part of their childhoods. Burns' tear-jerking statement that "after all these years, I never forgot you... ever" led viewers to state that they, too, had not forgotten what a positive influence he was. The video confirms Burns' "real" persona, and, even when playing a part, his refusal to talk down to viewers. The relationship he's cultivated with fans is a rare example of healthy parasocial interaction.
But Blue's Clues isn't entirely a product of the nostalgic past. In fact, it's one of several Nickelodeon shows to be rebooted for the next generation of viewers. Blue's Clues and You! continues the series with a new host named Josh (though Burns has cameo appearances in two episodes). A lot has changed in 25 years, but some things remain exactly the same.
Blue's Clues and You! is currently airing on Nickelodeon.
Source: Nick Jr.|Twitter