Blue's Clues is an American live-action/animated children's television series that premiered on Nickelodeon as part of its Nick Jr. block on September 8, 1996, and concluded its run on August 6, 2006. Producers and creators Angela C. 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. The show was originally hosted by Steve Burns, who left in 2002 and was replaced by Donovan Patton as Joe for the rest of the series. The show follows an animated blue-spotted dog named Blue as she leaves a trail of clues/paw prints for the host and the viewers to figure out her plans for the day. Blue's Clues became the highest-rated show for preschoolers on