A Blue's Clues Mystery

We don't watch much TV here.  We actually don't have cable, satellite, or even an antenna.  So, what we watch is determined by what DVDs we decide to buy or rent.  Renting is pretty easy.  Something in the horror, sci-fi, action adventure, or a similar category works for me.  Autumn is equally easy, comedy, or even better, romantic comedy.  And the boys are simple too.  Animated.



Buying is a bit more difficult.  It's hard to shell out twenty bucks for something you aren't sure you'll love and watch again.  That's why we prefer the five dollar buckets at the local giant (no longer just big) box store.  We can generally find something we know we love, because we've seen it previously, and for a quarter of the price.  Big win.


We do take chances on stuff for the kids though.  Well, Sesame Street was an easy decision.  But I'm not familiar with a lot of the new kids shows and cartoons.


I had heard good things about Blues Clues though.  A cartoon dog and a human host who solve simple mysteries together for fun.  Good wholesome learning.  I even read an article about it.  Apparently they play the same episode all week on TV because the kids learn through repetition.  So, by the end of the week, the kids get some satisfaction, because they have memorized the episode and can solve the mystery.  I'm sure that also helps the shows producers gain a captive audience as well as a market for a plethora of related Blues Clues paraphernalia.  But the article didn't mention that.  Hmmmm.


Anyway, a friend had already given us a stack of Blues Clues books, which was an awesome score.  And we found a few DVD collections in the five dollar bucket.  So, we picked them up.


The boys really seem to like them.  They have even started asking for "Blues"  (pronounced bwwoooz) instead of cars and trains.  That's really something in our house.  But even thought the boys like the show, I have to say, I have some concerns...


1.  Why do all the kids shows have to try and find a host from the Pee Wee mold?  Sesame Street had a huge diversity of hosts.  But Steve?  Well, you decide:

2.  Why does he have to wear the same shirt all the time?  I mean, I know, he loves the color green.  But there are many green shirts available  he could pick from.  What kind of hygiene example are we setting here.  Hey kids, don't worry about washing your clothes.  It's perfectly okay to wear the same shirt over and over and over.


3.  And about that shirt... has it gone beyond a favorite?  Have we crossed the favorite county line and driven into obsessiveville?  Am I putting my kids at risk here by letting them watch this guy?  Is it going to be a fight to get them to let me wash their favorite shirts now?


4.  Before I start on number four, let me just say that I understand cartoon physics.  I get it.  I say that because I know some of you will chalk this up to cartoon physics.  I say, even cartoon physics have to make some kind of sense.  If they don't, our kids will wind up unable to understand real physics, much less be able to differentiate between TV and reality.  So, cartoon physics have to make some kind of sense.


4.  (For real this time)  The side table can talk.  The mailbox can talk.  The Ginger Bread Cookie Boy can talk.  The bucket and shovel can talk.  The Clock can talk.  Even the Pee Wee Herman wannabe host can talk.  Do you know who can't talk?  The Dog.  You know, the Dog named Blue, star of the hit Kid's TV show "Blue Clues", the smartest dog in the world.  Yeah, she can't talk.  What kind of sense does that make?  Cartoon physics gives just about every other object the ability to talk, but somehow falls short with Blue?  Hmmm.  I think something deeper, more subtle, is going on.


5.  Oh, and Ginger Bread Cookie Boy- seriously, even cartoon physics cannot overcome a dogs inclination to scarf up cookies.  Cookie boy would be nothing but crumbs, even when left alone with a cartoon dog.  Again, even cartoon physics have to make some kind of sense.


6.  Getting back to Blue's lack of loquaciousness.  Interesting that Blue, the star of the show, is female.  The host of the show is male.  The male can talk, but the female star cannot.  Is this the producers subtle way of telling us that women should be seen and not heard?  That they have nothing of value to say?  That they need a man to do their talking for them?


I won't stand for it.  It's 2012, and that kind of thinking should be long dead and buried.  I won't teach my boys to think that way, nor will I allow them to watch some stupid show where a Pee Wee Herman look alike subtly tries to convince them it's okay.




Well, at least I won't most of the time.  Next the three of us are sick and I have zero energy and zero help and want to let the TV be a parent for a few hours...  Well, Blue will probably be okay then