Thursday, July 06, 2006

One of my lifes mysteries answered.

So the space shuttle took off on July 4th. I was supposed to walk outside at 2:38 pm so I could look up into the sky and watch it as it blasted into orbit. I never got around to it. Why? I blame it on Steve and Joe.

You see we had a long morning with a kid’s parade and festivities in the neighborhood and driving my sister-in-law to the airport, that when we got home Maxfield was a little wired and did not want to take his afternoon nap. Lauren and Wyatt were resting peacefully in the bedroom and I was left entertaining Max for the afternoon.

Max and I played for about an hour when I started to feel a little tired myself. I figured I would turn on the tube to Noggin and lay down with Max in the hope that he may fall asleep. I could not believe my eyes when I saw on the on-screen cable guide, that they were showing a Blues Clues Marathon. Not only was it a Blues Clues Marathon but also it was the episodes where they replaced Steve with Joe.

Now I know I am late to the whole Blues Clues thing due to the fact that I only had my first child two years ago and Blue and friends have been on since the late 90’s but I could never figure out why they replaced Steve with Joe. I always thought that Steve was holding out for more money in his contract, and the producers just decided to replace Steve much like the Darren’s on Bewitched. But only this wasn’t another Steve. This was a new character named Joe. And this was three-episode series explaining Joe’s arrival and Steve’s departure. Max and I were engrossed in the show.

Joe is Steve’s brother and he was coming to stay at Blue’s house to take care of Blue and learn about Blue’s Clues in preparation for Steve’s departure. Why was Steve leaving? That was not explained until the last episode of the three. Which the start time on Noggin was at 2:30. I had to watch to see what was going to happen.

I had an uneasy feeling that Steve was going to leave and everybody would say goodbye and it would be okay, but then Radar would come into the operating room and announce that Steve’s plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. I was prepping Max and myself for a very sad ending.

But it did not end like that. Basically, Steve just went off to college.

History was happening outside my window with the shuttle being launched, but I needed to find out the answer to one of those small nagging little questions that I thought about all the time in my little universe. Which I am glad I did.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

well at least you have your priorities in the right place.

I had heard a nasty rumor that Steve had actually left to go to New York to start his rock career...but I didn't tell that to my kids..it would have been a terrible tale to tell...

Teri said...

I wondered the same thing, even though I have no kids but stop to watch it on Saturday mornings for about 5 minutes. I often wonder why an adult male would want to host a kids show.

Sshhhh, don't tell anyone.

Anonymous said...

I miss Steve terribly. I've never bonded with Joe. He annoys me & seems stupid - why can't he see the clue right in front of him???? I BELIEVED Steve really couldn't find the clues, somehow. Even my kids don't like Joe. Enough ranting about Blue's Clues. Who's the cutest Wiggle? Hmmm? What? I need to get out of the house more?

Listen to Steve's music here: http://www.steveswebpage.com/

He's pretty good, they say.

Anonymous said...

thank so much for those of us that have no clue about blue but still included us in the tale with radar and the sea of japan...THAT i understood!

Unknown said...

Ive put this entry up on my refridgerator, it just made me laugh.

Its true though, because I think I knew that Steve went to college, but I also heard that the whole show was broadcast from prison and thats why they have fake backgrounds. I know thats rediculous though. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

Pioneer Woman said...

Go, Steve. I miss that man. Boy.

Nature Girl said...

Geez....you could have asked any of us,or googled it,and we would have told you, and you wouldn't have missed the shuttle!
BTW...I stopped watching when Joe took over...I mean, when my kids outgrew it...Steve was awesome,you can't just go sticking a Joe in an Steve spot..it just doesn't work that way!
Stacie

Andrea said...

Joe sucks. Steve rocks (and in more ways than one. I have his CD. For real.)

Since my daughter loved (still does) Blue's Clues, but we don't have cable, I had my sis tape those three episodes when they first aired, and I'll admit it was as much for me as it was for her. I, too, was dying to know the scoop.

Joe is just...dorky. Steve was dorky too, but in a good geeky dorky way. Joe is just dorky.

The Q said...

Ok, I felt guilty about not getting up out of my chair at (9:42 p.m.) to look for it in the sky....now I don't feel so bad given how close you live and what you were watching on tv instead :-)

Anonymous said...

I liked Steve much better...Joe is a little annoying.

Steve was actually funny :-) I miss Steve.

Anonymous said...

Did any debris fall off of Joe or Steve?

Anonymous said...

I have had the occasion to watch Blue's Clues with my nephew a few times and couldn't stand it. And I saw episodes with both Steve AND Joe! I'm a Dora fan. (and my childless husband likes spongebob. we're dorks, but GREAT aunts and uncles!!)

But thanks for the bookend. Now my mind is at ease.

Anonymous said...

Joe sucks. Steve ruled when he was on the show. Found every damn clue!!! Steve has his own rock band now which also sucks (link above by fannie). New wave, breathy John Mayer kind of stuff, but dark sounding.

I think Joe could be quite the rocker (and should try)...maybe kill him off, or you know..."send him to college" and have Steve return after flunking out of college. Kind of a switcheroo...

You're a good man Charlie Brown...there will be other Space Shuttle launches. You may never have a chance for the excitement of watching the Blues Clues cliffhanger with the little one again. The whole space thing is just a big conspiracy anyway.

Anonymous said...

Joe sucks. Steve ruled when he was on the show. Found every damn clue!!! Steve has his own rock band now which also sucks (link above by fannie). New wave, breathy John Mayer kind of stuff, but dark sounding.

I think Joe could be quite the rocker (and should try)...maybe kill him off, or you know..."send him to college" and have Steve return after flunking out of college. Kind of a switcheroo...

You're a good man Charlie Brown...there will be other Space Shuttle launches. You may never have a chance for the excitement of watching the Blues Clues cliffhanger with the little one again. The whole space thing is just a big conspiracy anyway.

Unknown said...

I wandered over here from Random and Odd. OMG! I thought I was the only goof who loved Steve.

My kids still watch but my heart belongs to Steve. Cannot stand JOE! ICK,

Anonymous said...

i think i'm the only person who prefers joe. he is much cuter and more innocent than steve. i never liked steve. my daughter loves joe and freaks out if they show an episode with steve in it...

and i absolutely LOVE noggin. they show preschool shows for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week! with no commercials! my sanity has been saved many a time because of the almighty noggin!

Kami said...

I don't really prefer one over the other. But I do like Noggin. :) The commercials on Nick Jr. drive me bonkers.

Dmanit! You were supposed to take pics of the shuttle for me!!

The Egel Nest said...

I love your little stories like this...I think you should make this blog into a book of short stories...I'd buy it :)

Bradley
The Egel Nest

Unknown said...

Really? You could have just asked me. I woulda told you.

Anonymous said...

Delurking to say that my 2-year-old and I also watched the Steve and Joe college saga unfold. It was really strange to see them both on the screen at the same time. The first thing I noticed was that Joe is quite a bit taller than Steve. Strange.

I was a children's librarian when those episodes first aired and all the kids were talking about it when they came into the library. It was just like watercooler talk, only with four year olds by the puzzle table.

Effie said...

You know, I always wondered why they replaced Steve--I liked him better!! "In my handy dandy notebook"

Thanks for the info!

Anonymous said...

LOL. You are late to the game. The part they didn't put into show was how Steve joined a fraternity and is now the master of beer bongs and date-rape drugs. ;-)

Julie said...

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only adult who gets sucked into watching kid's shows. I caught myself watching a Disney Channel show - the worst part is that my 4 year old had gone to bed already. I had control of the remote but yet chose to watch it!

Cat said...

You missed the space shuttle launch?! For BLUE'S CLUES?!

Man. Stupid Steve and Joe.

Lois Lane said...

Here I am in my Thinking Chair, and I'm going to use my mind, and take a step at a time to figure out how you could possibly be such a dork. :P
Happy weekend!
Lois Lane
P.S. Thanks for filling us in on the Steve leaving thing. My kids were done with Blue by then.

Jennifer said...

my word. Too funny. I always wanted to knoiw what happened to steve. Mine is just two years now so I only know joe. Then one day I got an old show and it was steve. I thought steve was the knew guy. it's just to much

Lowa said...

We stopped watching when Joe came on the show. I admit to wondering how it has stayed on the air with him. I am sure he is nice enough, but he is no Steve!!!

I never knew what the whole story was. My kids were so traumatized that Joe was coming on, I never took the time to find out the story! Thanks for explaining:)

Anonymous said...

Just happened to see a launch a few years ago while visiting Florida... It was so awesome, still a vivid memory 9 years later. Get tivo for the blues clues!!!! Don't miss the next launch!

Anonymous said...

You live within EYEsight of a launch! How spectacular that must be!And you missed it. You should have had Maxfield on your shoulder, and had him looking up also. Who cares about Steve and Joe? Blues Clues is about a blue dog. You know how I feel about dogs. But then Wyatt's middle name is 'Blue'. Where did you say that came from? Now I Know the Truth!

Judypatooote said...

I don't know Steve and Joe....back in my kids days it was big bird, and the cookie monster, and Capt. Kangaroo.......but I have heard of Blues Clues....and Barney, oh no not Barney......

Stephanie said...

I heard a really nasty rumor that Steve committed suicide right after he left. Obviously not true if he's now in a rock band, but for a while there I was really bummed about it.

Unknown said...

OMG. I was dying to know too. I like Joe so much better than Steve. I wish Nathan liked Blues Clues as much as I do.

Anonymous said...

I mean, seriously, these shuttles launching off into space and all is such old news, especially when compared to the Steve/Joe switch saga.

Unknown said...

William! Those three episodes are on today again. :)

Melanie said...

I saw an ad in a magazine today that Blue is getting a baby brother. You'll just have to tune in for that!