Blue’s Clues Lead to TLU

In 1996, creativity and children’s programming collided, bringing a show to television that would define a generation – that show was Blue’s Clues. 

Each morning, kids would gather around the TV in their pajamas and hang out with their friend Steve as he went about his life in an animated house with his cartoon dog, Blue. Steve Burns left Blue’s Clues in 2002, and other friends have filled his place since then, but for those that watched him growing up, he is the ‘real’ host of Blue’s Clues and nothing short of an icon.

Recently, Texas Lutheran University added the actor and musician to its lineup of celebrities it has brought to campus as part of the Jessie S. and Jack Harold Upton Brown Cultural Enrichment Fund. During Steve Burns’ visit, a small group of students participated in a round table discussion with the actor. Senior Devin Castillo was one of the lucky participants.

“Blue’s Clues was very much a show that brought me joy and brought my family joy,” she said. “It was routine that I would get up, and I’d be in my pj’s; I had messy curls in the morning, and I remember deliberately getting up and putting on Blue’s Clues and watching Steve. It was always a lot of fun for me as a kid because it’s a kid’s show, so it was meant for me, but my family even got into it. The mail song would come on, and my grandfather, who is very much like ‘I do the yard work and I cook   and clean,’ would take a moment to sing the song with me and do the little dance –– like he would pretend to wag his tail.” 

Castillo went all in with her outfit inspiration for the big event with a Blue’s Clues mini-backpack paired perfectly with khakis and a striped shirt –– just like Steve used to wear when visiting her house each day. But as excited as his daily visits made Castillo as a child, it paled compared to the excitement she experienced when learning he was coming to her university campus.

“When we found out that Steve was coming, I was here for another speaker, and they announced it, and my friend was right next to me, and we instantly gripped each other’s knees and were like, ‘did we just hear that?’” Castillo said. “So the anticipation was building, the excitement hit as soon as that announcement came, and to know that our school provided something like this –– I mean like financially, one that’s just amazing and two, the meaning behind it is also a lot. I talked with some of the people that helped coordinate bringing Steve, and to know that they think about what students resonate with and what is meaningful to them, is something I really appreciate.” 

Burn’s visit to the campus was orchestrated in part by TLU Director of Marketing & Communications Ashlie Ford, who explained how it all came together. 

“The Brown Cultural Enrichment Fund is an endowment that was established in 2005 by Jessie S. and Jack Harold Upton Brown to enrich the arts, sciences, and culture at TLU,” Ford said. “The Browns wanted the university to be able to bring guest speakers and performances of notoriety to campus to not only enhance the experience for our students and the Seguin area, but to also elevate the university’s reputation. Making sure these events are free and open to the public are key to the purpose of the endowment. The university is a wonderful resource for the greater Guadalupe County area and TLU’s role as an institution of higher learning is to offer a variety of events about timely topics for Seguin residents. TLU is a community partner and we value our home and the people who live here greatly.”

These unique programs TLU provides to the community are free and open to the public providing access to speakers Seguin might otherwise not have the chance to experience. Past speakers have included other notable celebrities such as Olympic athletes Abby Wambach and Laurie Hernandez as well as RJ Mitte from ‘Breaking Bad.’

“The university wants to make sure people and their families have access to all of the wonderful events we host and that they feel welcome to not only attend, but spend some time getting to know the campus,” Ford said. “It’s a point of pride for us that we can host a speaker or a musician that many people would not have the chance to see if they didn’t make a stop at TLU. Some of our most recent and most popular guests include: Animal expert Jack Hanna, Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion Abby Wambach, EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony) winner Rita Moreno, actress Diane Guerrero, Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, Selena Tribute group Bidi Bidi Banda, and of course former Blue’s Clues host Steve Burns.”

Students, faculty, and the community have all happily engaged with TLU’s celebrity offerings. Each time an event occurs, Facebook feeds fill up with posts about whatever big name is in town that day. During Steve Burns’ visit, posts such as ‘my university is > than yours’  flooded news feeds along with selfies and excited posts about the experience. 

During his visit, Steve addressed issues directly related to his now-adult audience. He didn’t hold back when discussing finding your path in life and the realities of depression. But, as always, he did this with an air of authenticity and realness that his fans appreciate.

“I loved seeing him as a person because I think we all have our darker sides,” Castillo said. “I mean, he left the show when he was twenty-five, I believe, and I’m twenty-two now –– he was going off to college, I’m in college, so this advice that he’s giving about finding what you’re passionate about and find what drives you to pursue that passion is really something meaningful because a lot of younger generations have been hit, so to see a childhood icon look at you and be real for a minute, that meant a lot.”

Steve’s career has managed to mirror the lives of those who watched him growing up, and now meeting him in college made the entire experience come full circle for Castillo, who will graduate with a degree in Communication at the end of the semester. 

“My favorite part of this whole experience was how full circle this came for my inner child,” she said. “He was just on the screen, I was convinced he was in my house, but now he was actually in front of me, and we were having adult conversations about his career and things we struggle with as young adults and how we’re going into the world. To see this come full circle has been my favorite part, and to know I get to do this with my friends, with who I study with, and with my school and my community. It just means a lot, especially since I’m graduating after this semester. So this is like the shebang of it all.” 

At the end of the round table, Castillo excitedly approached Steve, grinning as he autographed a few things, including her Blue’s Clues mini backpack. She happily clutched the bright blue bag afterward –– now a prized possession and favorite memory made possible by the school she’s proud to attend –– Texas Lutheran University.  •