Attention, kids of the 90s! This is not a drill!
Steve will return to the Thinking Chair for an episode of “Blue’s Clues.” (First, he has to help find the lost chair.)
Steve is returning to “Blue’s Clues” for a new episode!
Steve BurnsThe popular Nickelodeon host from its inception in 1996 to 2002, will return in 21 years for an episode alongside current series star Joshua Dela Cruz, who plays Josh and Donovan Patton, who play as Joe, Steve’s brother, who replaced Burns on the show when he left.
“The Lost Mind Chair Case” reunites all three stars of the series on an exciting quest to solve a mystery when the iconic red chair goes missing. Burns not only starred in the episode but also wrote and directed.
In his much-anticipated return, Blue and Josh “slide” into Steve’s Blueprints Detective Agency, asking Steve to help find their beloved chair.
This is not the first time the three presenters have come together on screen. Burns and Patton reunite and join Dela Cruz in the franchise’s long-running series, “Blue’s Big City Adventure,” which will be released exclusively on Paramount+ in November. The series will premiere on Nickelodeon on Monday. , May 29, at 7 p.m. ET.
“Blue’s Big City Adventure” follows Josh to New York City so he can audition for the Broadway musical Rainbow Puppy. Many of the series’ beloved characters were featured in this film, including Mr. Salt, Mailbox, Slippery Soap, Tickety Tock and Rainbow Puppy.
Steve Burns talked about leaving the show years after his sudden departure
In an interview with Diversity in 2022, Burn revealed that he was struggling with major depression when he left the show in 2002.
“I don’t know it yet, but I am the happiest depressed person in North America. I struggled with severe clinical depression during my time on that program,” he said Diversity.
“My job is to be filled with joy and wonder all the time, and that has become impossible. I could always dig and find something that felt authentic, good enough to be on the show, but after years of going down the well without restocking, I paid the price.”
After leaving the show, Burns had a long period of healing and recovery. And while he says he wishes he had gotten the help he needed while still on the show, he doesn’t think it would have prevented his exit.
“But I could have folded my arms around the role and relaxed a little bit more with it,” he said. “Because now, when I look back, all I see is an impossible gift.”
In September 2021, Burn recorded a video sharing some information about why he suddenly left the show. He spoke directly to the kids, now grown ups, who watched and loved the show in that viral video. Nick Jr. shared on social networks.
“Remember when we were kids, we used to run around and hang out with Blue, look for clues, talk to Mr. Salt, explore correspondence and do all sorts of interesting things?” Burn said.
“Then one day I was like, ‘Oh hey, guess what? Big news, I’m leaving. This is my brother Joe, your new best friend,’ and then I got on the bus, and I left, and we hadn’t seen each other for a long time. Can we talk about that? Because I realized it all of a sudden.”
Wearing the iconic shirt he’s worn on the show for years, Burns explains why his character left the show to attend college.
“I just woke up and went to college. And it was a challenge, but great because I had to use my mind and take it one step at a time, and now I’m doing a lot of things that I want to do,” he said.
“And then look at you, and look at all that you’ve done and achieved during that time. And it’s great, isn’t it? We started with the clue, and now, what is it? Student loans, work and family? And some of that was tough, you know. I know you know.”
His video says that he can’t do everything without everyone’s help.
“I guess I just wanted to say that after all these years, I have never forgotten you. When. And I’m glad we’re still friends,” he said.
And just like that, 90s kids and parents, in unison, burst into tears. (We’re not sobbing, you are.)
“The Missing Thinking Chair Case” premieres Friday, May 26 at 11:30 a.m. ET on Nickelodeon. “Blue’s Big City Adventure” premieres Monday, May 29 at 7 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.
