US kids channel Nickelodeon has announced that Noggin its commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers goes ‘Blue’ this month.
The network invites American kids and their families to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of Blue’s Clues a show that the broadcaster says changed the way preschoolers watch television.
Throughout this month Noggin will pay tribute to the blue puppy with Blue’s Clues-themed activities at Club Noggin in General Growth (GGP) malls across the US. In addition to appearances by series host ‘Joe’ (Donovan Patton) in select malls. Noggin will also kick off a month-long on-air celebration of Blue’s Clues with a ‘Red, White and Blue’ marathon on independence Day 4 July 2006.
The Club Noggin celebration will lead up to the August anniversary of Blue’s Clues, when Nick Jr. and Noggins will introduce viewers to a new character — Blue’s new brother — on the hour-long movie Meet Blue’s Baby Brother on 6 August on Nickelodeon.
For the first time, the special melds the two worlds of Joe and the classic animated world of Blue’s Clues with the puppets on Blue’s Room. Meet Blue’s Baby Brother will feature a game of Gold Clues as preschoolers help search for Blue’s baby brother and share another milestone with their favourite blue puppy.
Blue’s Clues will take over Club Noggin, the network’s interactive educational in-mall experience for preschoolers and their parents. Participating malls will present special Blue’s Clues-themed activities throughout the month of July. Club Noggin reaches consumers in 78 GGP malls across the US. Blue’s Clues host Donovan Patton is scheduled to appear for �meet and greets� and book readings in New York, Chicago, San Jose, Houston and Dallas. Throughout July, GGP and NOGGIN will also launch �Club NOGGIN On the Go!� a take-away extension of Club NOGGIN’s in-mall experience for parents to help entertain and educate their kids wherever they are.
Club Noggin’s Blue’s Clues educational curriculum will focus on themes from the hit series including:
Letters: Activity to feature the Blue’s Clues book �Alphabet Power�
Numbers: Activity to feature a Blue’s Clues video clip with a corresponding lesson
Shapes: Activity to feature an arts and crafts project — build a sailboat — which mirrors a lesson on Meet Blue’s Baby Brother
Colors: Coloring activity based on Meet Blue’s Baby Brother
The earlier mentioned Red, White and Blue on-air marathon will feature the following Blue’s Clues milestones: the three-part special Meet Joe where Steve goes to college and viewers are introduced to new host Joe, the half-hour special Legend of the Blue Puppy where Blue talks for the very first time; Blue’s 100th Episode Celebration a retrospective look at the first five seasons with Steve, Joe and Blue; and the 90-minute movie Blue’s Big Musical.