Blue's Clues (U.S. Syndicated Children's Show)

Blue's Clues is an American children's television series that airs in syndication since 2012. The original version premiered on Nickelodeon in 1996. Producers Angela Santomero,Todd Kessler and Traci Paige Johnson combined concepts from child development and early-childhood education with innovative animation and production techniques that helped their viewers learn. It was hosted originally by Steve Burns, who left in 2002 to pursue a music career, and was replaced by Donovan Patton. In 2012, Blues Clues returned to syndication. The host of this version is Ben, played by web host and former musician Ben Minnotte, replacing Joe due to him having to work at the grocery store. The animation for this version is made by Fresh TV (of Total Drama and Grojband fame) using the same technique as the original series (the animation is created from simple materials like fabric, paper, or pipe-cleaners, and then scanned into a computer so that they can be animated using inexpensive computer software such as Media 100, Ultimatte, Photoshop and After Effects, instead of being repeatedly redrawn as in traditional animation). The show follows an animated blue-spotted dog named Blue as she plays a game with the host and the viewers. Blue's Clues became the highest-rated show for preschoolers on American commercial television and was critical to Nickelodeon's growth. It has been called "one of the most successful, critically acclaimed, and ground-breaking preschool television series of all time." A spin-off called Blue's Room premiered in 2004.

Format
The host, presents the audience with a puzzle involving Blue, the animated dog ... To help the audience unlock the puzzle, Blue leaves behind a series of clues, which are objects marked with one of her paw prints. In between the discovery of the clues, The host plays a series of games — mini-puzzles — with the audience that are thematically related to the overall puzzle ... As the show unfolds, Steve and Blue move from one animated set to another, jumping through magical doorways, leading viewers on a journey of discovery, until, at the end of the story, the host returns to the living room. There, at the climax of the show, he sits down in a comfortable chair to think — a chair known, of course, in the literal world of Blue's Clues, as the Thinking Chair. He puzzles over Blue's three clues and attempts to come up with the answer.

Blue
Blue the dog (portrayed by Traci Paige Johnson) is the main protagonist of the Blue's Clues television series. She is a playful, energetic, and friendly little puppy who enjoys doing fun things with her friends. She is owned by Steve. She expresses this by leaving clues around the house so everyone can guess what she wants to do. Her basic mark for leaving clues is her blue pawprint. Blue likes to eat sandwiches and drink milk. She also possesses many other human characteristics. Every episode she initiates a game of Blue's Clues in which she leaves three blue paw print clues for Steve and the viewer to find in order to answer a question. Though Blue cannot speak like most of the characters, she seems to be able to communicate with others through barking. In Blue's First Holiday, it is revealed that Blue played her first game of Blue's Clues trying to find Joe's duck blanket. Blue is high-spirited and believes in making people find things out by themselves instead of being told an answer automatically. Blue was born on a farm with many other puppies. Blue is affectionate, friendly, compassionate, and playful. She can be shy and sometimes mischievous. When she can't explain something by her usual "bow-bow", she makes people find out for themselves, by playing Blue's Clues. Blue's Clues is her favorite game and is always ready to play it. Blue is very sensitive and intelligent, and she can get mad or sad whenever someone does not do what she intended them to do. Fortunately, she doesn't bite when upset, as she is very friendly.

Steve
Steve (played by Steve Burns) is the host of Blue's Clues for the first four seasons. He is replaced by Joe (played by Donovan Patton) in the fifth and sixth seasons, who, rather than wearing a green-striped shirt every day like Steve, wears a variety of different shirts. Steve is Blue's owner. Steve is always ready to play Blue's Clues and always needs the viewer to help to figure out problems and find clues. Steve likes anything that is green-striped, just like his shirt. Steve went to college on a hopscotch scholarship. He then became the captain of his Junior Varsity Hopscotch Team. He takes an astronomy class, a music class, and an art class. Steve enjoys finding clues when playing Blue's Clues, drawing clues also while playing Blue's Clues, imagining, helping others and discovering new things. He is hilarious, but will most likely forget things. He often needs assistance finding clues from the viewer and is very compassionate. He began getting depressed about not being able to find clues in Blue's Big Musical Movie, but, with the encouragement of the rest of the main characters, finally found the last clue all by himself (a drawer).

Joe
Joe (played by Donovan Patton) is Steve's younger brother. When Steve left for college, Joe stayed with Blue and became the new host of the show and Blue's caregiver. Joe loves squares, just like the ones on his shirt, and can't wait to play a game of Blue's Clues. Joe likes the colors orange and green and has a stuffed duck named Boris. Joe has a handy-dandy notebook like Steve. His square shirt comes in red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple.

Mailbox
Mailbox is a purple cheerful talking mailbox who lives at the foot of the pathway in front of Blue's house. He sits on a post, receives the mail, and delivers it when it comes. When he delivers the mail, he comes in through the living room window to the right of the Thinking Chair, on an "extendo" arm. Mailbox is a boy with a thick Brooklyn accent. He wants to be a comedian when he grows up. Although his stake is in the ground, he can still extend through windows, to the backyard, and pretty much anywhere else he wants. He loves delivering letters and telling jokes. He also likes to participate in treasure hunts that happen around the house while he holds the treasure. Steve, Joe, or Ben sing a special song before the mail arrives to their house. Mailbox likes to make others laugh. Mailbox is hard-working and usually delivers mail on time. The character is voiced by Seth O'Hickory.

Mr. Salt
Mr. Salt is a French salt shaker who provides Blue and her friends with some interesting activities and puzzles to figure out. He is almost always busy in the kitchen preparing snacks for snack time. The character has two children, a daughter named Paprika and a son named Cinnamon. Mr. Salt lives with them and Mrs. Pepper in the kitchen. The character often needs assistance from the host and the viewer when preparing meals. One of his greatest talents is cooking. He is also revealed to enjoy gardening and singing. Mr. Salt is very considerate and enjoys helping out. He often needs help from Steve, Blue, and the viewer in the kitchen when preparing dishes and taking care of his children, Paprika and Cinnamon. Though he occasionally makes mistakes, he is a helpful member of the house and a great friend to have around. He is one of the main protagonists in the Blue's Clues television series and has appeared in about every episode of the show. The character is voiced by Nick Balaban.

Mrs. Pepper
Mrs. Pepper is a French pepper shaker. She has two children: a daughter named Paprika and a son named Cinnamon. Mrs. Pepper lives in the kitchen and almost always needs help with shopping, finding things, and counting. Mrs. Pepper is Mr. Salt's wife. Mrs. Pepper has a mother, Grandma Cayenne, who is also Cinnamon and Paprika's grandmother. Mrs. Pepper is one of the oldest characters in the Blue's Clues house. She was an adult when all of the other characters (discluding Mr. Salt) were babies. Mrs. Pepper often points out things after they have already been seen. Mrs. Pepper is the only pepper shaker in her family. Her hobbies include swimming and making music, as well as cooking. Mrs. Pepper is usually taking care of her two young children, but when she has some time on her hands, Mrs. Pepper likes to swim and sing. The character is voiced by Penelope Jewkes during the first season and then by Spencer Kayden for the rest of the show's run.

Paprika
Paprika is a young saucy container. She is Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper's first baby and talks in a small squeaky voice. She has a little brother claimed Cinnamon. Paprika named him herself. Her two favorite drinks are milk and orange juice. When she was a baby, she had a pacifier, a rattle made from an orange, a bottle with a pink top, a yellow gummy bear for a teddy bear, and a peanut cradle. As a baby, whenever she wanted something to eat or drink, she would say "Paprika hungry". She acted and sounded like a baby in the first 3 seasons but in season 4, she acted older. Whenever Paprika walks, she makes a rattling sound. Paprika holds paprika inside of her. Her room is located inside the kitchcabinet. Paprika was born in the last episode of season one, Blue's News. Paprika becomes a big sister in the fourth season. She was voiced by Jenna Marie Castle (1996-2001) & Corrine Hoffman (2001-2004).

Tickety Tock
Tickety Tock, or just Tickety, is a young alarm clock. In most episodes her 12 mark is a different symbol. She is a pink girl clock who lives in Blue's bedroom on the nightstand. Tickety is learning to count, and loves to ring her bells. She is a caring, forgiving clock. Unlike most of the others, Tickety will accept losing a game or forgetting her lines in a play. Tickety loves to sing, but she loves ringing her bells best, as mentioned before. Tickety is a playful alarm clock. She often has problems with her clock hands but she helps remind everybody of important times. She loves tall things, counting polka dots and dancing to all kinds of music. Tickety is forgiving and very thoughtful. The character is voiced by Kathryn Avery and Kelly Nigh.