Quote: Joe! My name starts with the letter J!
The gang are putting together an alphabet train with items in a box that start with that letter.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
Thoughts on this album/video?
Top 10 Songs
Honorable Mentions: Clean Your Teeth, That’s What You Call Digestion
My thoughts:
I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I’m in the camp that does like this video/album. Though not as much as YMMFLD or Pop Go the Wiggles. Like YMMFLD, there is a wide array of variety/creativity in the visuals and songs. I especially love the visuals of Go Far, Big Red Car. It’s reminiscent of TV Series 2 IMO.
Even if the green screen can be a bit distracting (then again, the original Wiggles had this problem too with their green/blue screens). And physical sets of Wigglehouse and Dorothy's house would have been more appropriate.
This seems to be the Sam equivalent of Yummy Yummy with an emphasis on food & eating. The weekly food songs were taken from their Wiggly Waffle Sprout block from 2009, others were taken from 2008 (Clean Your Teeth and Wash Your Hands), and then there’s the usual covers (Yellow Bird, Sound Your Funky Horn, etc) or songs from other countries (Tom Love Eatin is based on Barnyards of Delgaty from Scotland).
I picked the songs that had the most catchy rhythms/choruses or ones I liked the most. (You’ll see the words catchy chorus several times in this top ten list) The songs about weekly foods and having a laugh are all identical.
Mic Conway (Australian children’s entertainer and occasional voice of Wags the Dog) adds flavor (no pun intended) with his sound effects and co-wrote a few of these songs. And the other guest stars, Mental As Anything and Tom McGlynn keep this video engaging as well (even though I’m not a fan of the latter’s song).
Some Fun Facts:
Previous Discussions: Wiggle Time, Yummy Yummy, Big Red Car, Wake Up Jeff, Wiggledance, The Wiggles Movie, Wiggly Wiggly Christmas, Wiggle Time & Yummy Yummy 1998, TV Series 1, Toot Toot, TV Series 2, The Wiggly Big Show, It's a Wiggly Wiggly World, Yule Be Wiggling, Hoop Dee Doo! It's a Wiggly Party, Wiggly Safari, Wiggle Bay, TV Series 3, Whoo-Hoo! Wiggly Gremlins, Top of the Tots, Cold Spaghetti Western, Live Hot Potatoes, Santa's Rockin'!, TV Series 4, Sailing Around the World, Here Comes the Big Red Car, It's Time to Wake Up Jeff!, TV Series 5, Splish Splash Big Red Boat, Wiggledancing Live in the USA, Racing to the Rainbow, Top 10 Original Wiggles Videos, Top 10 Original Wiggles Albums, Wiggledancing Live in Concert, Getting Strong, Dorothy the Dinosaur TV Series 1 and 2, Dorothy the Dinosaur's Party, Pop Go the Wiggles, Dorothy the Dinosaur's Memory Book, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, TV Series 6, Sing a Song of Wiggles, The Kingdom of Paramithi, The Wiggles Big Big Show, Go Bananas, Hot Poppin' Popcorn, Dorothy the Dinosaur Meets Santa Claus, Hot Potatoes The Best Of the Wiggles, Dorothy the Dinosaur TV Series 3
Since I did a similar post for Chisholm McTavish, I decided to do the same for the band’s early years. Say, 1991-1996.
What do you feel as some trends/recurring aspects in this era in terms of their albums, videos, and concerts?
For context, the albums and videos between these years are
I've attached photos to better explain your comments.
Quote: How old are you anyway? (Said by a kid in the Mail Time segment)
Blue and her friends are planning a surprise party for Joe.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
This is one of my favorite episodes for how it subverts the formula by having the characters play Blue's Clues instead of the host. I'm surprised it took them 5 seasons for this concept to come into play.
We don't get to see how the characters draw the clues, but that's a nitpick.
Quote: Blue's on the roof!? (said by Periwinkle)
Joe, Blue, and Periwinkle wait for an egg to hatch.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
This was a memorable outing for me as a kid. It really simulates the feeling of having to wait for what seems to be a long time. Patience is something even I struggle with sometimes.
It's another example of borrowing a concept from a previous episode and exploring another side of that concept. Instead of telling time (Blue's Surprise at 2 o'clock), the focus is specifically on waiting or anticipating a big event.
Since the new season is coming in 2 days, I'd like to know your thoughts on Camp Snoopy.
Favorite or least episodes?
My thoughts:
One of the few instances in Peanuts media to have an overarching story. Snoopy heads to camp in fear of his scoutmaster license being revoked.
Like the Snoopy Show, the focus is on Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts, while the kids get supporting roles.
There are a few questionable character moments like everyone messing up the clearing in Leave it the Way You Found It. But otherwise, the characters act like how I expect them to act.
I appreciate how this series has a wholesome feel while not being too saccharine, especially with you see the kids having genuine fun.
Quote: I'm running! I'm feeling the rhythm (said by Joe)
Joe, Blue, and their friends have a band where they play musical instruments.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
The show has done several episodes about music, dancing, or sound. And this one is no exception. This seems to take cues from Blue's Favorite Song and the Rainy Day episode. That's not a complaint, just an observation.
Quote: Orange you glad I'm changed my shirt? (said by Joe)
Joe and Blue paint a portrait of their friends.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
One of the most iconic episodes of the Joe era (and the show in general). While the show has done games involving colors, they take center stage of this particular episode. The song, "Colors Everywhere" is also one of my favorites for celebrating the color wheel (e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary colors). I might even like this a little more than the Planets Song.
Joe and Blue help Mr. Salt organize a snack chart so they can serve everyone's favorite meal.
Thoughts, critiques, observations, and/or stand-out scenes?
Side note, what's your favorite snack? Mine is pretzels.
My thoughts:
This episode is a good example of how the Joe era discusses a topic than the Steve era never covered. In this case, it's use charts to read and organize data. A skill that children may need if they want to be scientists or such.
Joe, Blue, and their friends need some help doing certain tasks
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
Apparently, this was the last episode of Season 4 produced, but it aired the 5th season premiere. I'd say it's more fitting that way. I thought it was a cute episode and a good way for Joe's role as the new host.
I also liked the song featured in the Mail Time segment, which would more of a trend during this era. The ending where Blue as a wolf while Joe is dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood gets a chuckle out of me.
Everyone expresses what make them happy or filled with joy.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
Quote: I am a wiggle master (said by Joe)
Joe and Blue put together a scrapbook of sorts featuring their friends and their favorite things.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
Apparently, this was the first episode star Donovan Patton as Joe in production order. Going into this era, I'm aware some people might feel a few episodes are rehashes of previous storylines. This one, feels like a repeat of Blue's Collection.
However, I'd argue that the Joe era revisit concepts and expand upon them. Or there's a different storyline tied to that concept. Plus, the Steve era rehashed topics here and there. Examples include Rhyme Time & Tickety' Favorite Nursery Rhyme or The Grow Show & Let's Plant.
Plus, the show now has a proper opening theme instead of an instrumental and frankly, "Another Blue's Clues Day" is catchy. Hot take: I kinda like this opening a little better than the original, but that's just me.
Quote: Steve is going to college! Steve is going to college! (recurring chant)
Steve announces he's leaving for college and that Joe will be living at the house.
Thoughts, critiques, observations, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
And so, we've reached it. The episode aired as the final part of the Joe arc and Season 4.
I can already see heartbroken comments down below. It's both a heartwarming and heartbreaking moment for preschoolers (and even parents). The fact that this character is leaving for college shows a sign of maturity.
My only issue is that it's asking the 2-5 year old audience to accept this new person they just met as the new host. For the record, I just kept on watching the show. I never had anything against Joe. Plus, reading the book, "Blue's Clues for Success" made me appreciate Donovan Patton more after he realized what big shoes he had to fill.
For a season that rather average and forgettable, no one will ever forget this moment.
In this 10th anniversary special, the girls try to find the key to the world before Mojo (and the other villains) can rule the world.
Thoughts on this special? Do you feel it would've been a suitable end to the original show or not? How would you have done it differently?
Steve and Blue spend the day making rhymes. Imagine if they found quarters and dimes.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
This episode feels like a rehash of Tickety's Favorite Nursery Rhyme which the curriculum focused on rhyming words. I bring up this up, because when we go into the Joe era, there will be some episodes that repeat concepts from the Steve eras, but not quite copy and paste.
The Steve era did this too from time to time. Let's Plant slightly repeats the plants theme from The Grow Show (the difference is in Let's Plant is how various plants grow or behave).
Steve and Blue spend the day with Sock Puppet and learn how to express emotion through puppetry.
Thoughts, observations, critiques and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
As far I as know, this may have been the last episode Steven Burns filmed before he left. This was implied in an article from August 2001 (a storyboard is dated August 2001 as well).
Steve, with the help of the viewers, teaches Joe how to play Blue's Clues to figure out what Blue is going to give him.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
Quote: What's Joe gonna show? What's Joe gonna show?
Steve's brother, Joe, comes for a visit for show and tell.
Thoughts, critiques, observations, and/or stand-out scenes.
My thoughts:
And so folks, we finally meet Joe.
This was a fine way to introduce another relative of Steve (who would become a permanent one, no less) and I'd say Joe (played by Donovan Patton) makes a strong first impression. We get a taste of what his character is like and we see that he shares many interests as well as differences with Steve.
This way you can tell they're related, but they're not the exact same person.
What were your first impressions when meeting Joe?
Quote: One day I want to go to college (said by Steve).
Blue puts on a pretend school with her as the teacher.
Thoughts, observations, critiques, and/or stand-out scenes?
My thoughts:
This episode feels like a culmination of the early preschool skills/activities the show originated from. Plus, Blue being a teacher is carried over from Blue's Big Musical as that was her dream job.
And that Ridin' on the Bus song is kind of a bop, for how short it is.
By the way, I'm aware someone already made a similar post on the episode.
Steve and Blue learn many things from reading books.
Thoughts, critiques, observations, and/or stand-out scenes?