There are many important things going on in the world today – the Iraq war, horrendously high gas prices, a ramping-up presidential campaign and other stuff. But this may be the most earth-shattering event of all : Which was a better human sidekick for Blue of Blue’s Clues, Joe or Steve?
Steven Burns, who played, inexplicably, “Steve”, was on the show from 1996 to 2002. When Burns decided to move on (one reason given – male pattern baldness), “Steve” went off to college and his younger brother Joe (played by Donovan Patton) moved in to take care of Blue. Joe was introduced over several episodes where he learned the ropes of playing the signature game, “Blue’s Clues”. The human sidekick would ask Blue a question and rather than answer, Blue would demand that his token human must find 3 clues that would lead to what Blue would have said.
Just once I wanted the human, upon learning that Blue wanted to play the game, to say, “No. I don’t want to play Blue’s Clues today.” Would have been a short show.
So which was a better human henchman, Steve or Joe? Both are likable enough, and my son is glued to either of them when they’re on the screen, but each has a different style, which, after repeated viewing (as I’ve done) becomes apparent.
Patton’s acting is more sitcom-y, I think. He’s a ham when he’s onscreen, kind of like a silent screen actor. He has terrible hair, but that’s only partially his fault, since he was born that way. The other half of it is his fault, because he should get a cooler haircut.
Hard to believe, but Donovan Patton is a cousin of General George S. Patton. 1It comes from that repository of old people information, Parade magazine, where people frequently bet steak dinners over questions written into the magazine. I think Patton’s acting is goofy and his character of Joe acts more stupid and clueless than Steve did.
Steve just seemed to be played by a better actor. I actually laugh at him, which isn’t saying much, but he had facial quirks, eyebrow movements, comic timing. Joe seems like his mother drank while she was pregnant with him.
So I award Steve the Ultimate Blue’s Clues Human Sidekick award. Congratulations Mr. Burns. You earned it.
This made me laugh:
“where people frequently bet steak dinners over questions written into the magazine”
..both because it’s funny but also because it reminded me that you have a weird love-hate relationship with Parade Magazine, which is also funny.
Yes, Steve is better. The end.
Steve FTW. Joe is just….no.
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idk why people are constantly hating on Joe. It’s 2016, and people still hate him. In my opinion he’s pretty awesome, but I love Steve just the same.
thank you!
finally someone agrees with me
Steve is awesome. Joe sucks. After watching Steve, you can only hate Joe… well said about Joe’s terrible hair, spastic acting, and the fact that his mother probably drank while he was in the womb. lol.
I don’t know why it matters, but i cringe when Joe comes on. I’m trying to buy Steve only discs.
I’ve actually seen Joe not do a bad job… I don’t hate him… I think it’s because Steve was just so awesome. Soothing, entertaining, and all around great at the role. We have a two year old who watches blues clues, and the 7, 10, and 11 year olds all sit and watch sometimes, and none of them like Joe either. LMAO– no idea why grown adults feel passionate enough to search this topic on the internet and comment on it
Because it reminds us of the good old days with the kids….laughing with Steve and blue.
I totally agree with your decision. I think Steve is SO much better. He knew how to make people laugh. Joe relied entirely on acting like he cared. Steve ACTUALLY CARED about the kids watching.
Steve, originally was really good. And it took time to get use to Joe’s differences. Joe grew on our family and when Steve returned from College we realized just how much better Joe is! Post college Steve is awful and didn’t seem to care about what he was doing. So for us Joe is best, then pre-college and then post-college.