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I, like many younger millennials, grew up on “Blue’s Clues.” Within a certain, significant demographic, it’s a practically universal experience \u2014 the kind of ubiquitous cultural unifier that’s increasingly difficult to find in the stratified digital age. And like so many, I watched as Steve Burns, the original star of the mostly animated, direct-address-to-audience-driven Nickelodeon children’s show<\/a>, walked away from it in the early 2000s, being replaced by Donovan Patton as Steve’s younger brother, Joe.<\/p>\n In the wake of that departure, Burns became the favorite conspiracy target of an early Internet, with rumors of his demise and reasons for leaving the series \u2014 all greatly exaggerated \u2014 circulating constantly. Though he would occasionally pop back up in public to dispel these stories, he mostly kept his head down, with a handful of smaller musical and onscreen projects.<\/p>\n In more recent years, with the “Blue’s Clues” revival series “Blue’s Clues & You,” Burns has more publicly embraced his legacy as a kids’ TV<\/a> icon, appearing several times on the show and its associated spin-off projects, while also working behind the scenes in various capacities. He’s also spoken more openly about his original reasons for leaving the show \u2014 a decision he previously attributed more simply to him getting too old for the part, but which he now says had more to do with mental health issues and the built-up burnout they caused. While his work on the show was not the cause of these concerns, Burns says they made it difficult to continue in the joyful role of TV companion.<\/p>\n