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Blue's Clues: Blue's First Holiday
Paramount // Unrated // September 30, 2003
List Price: $19.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
(For a more in-depth overview of "Blue's Clues", please visit here or here .)
The Show
Holiday episodes are certainly nothing new in the world of television, and this tradition has spread to children's educational programming. "Blue's Clues", a popular show which is broadcast on Nickelodeon, has followed suit with the release of the DVD, Blue's First Holiday, which features several episodes that have holiday themes.
The main feature on the Blue's First Holiday is the titular episode, a fairly new special which is making its home video debut on this release. In this episode, Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper present Joe (Donovan Patton) with two home videos, which feature the first holiday with young Steve (William Ulrich) and baby Joe (Ethan Twomey Perello). The first video shows how Steve wished for a puppy and Blue magically appeared from a story book. In the second video, Blue and Steve play Blue's Clues for the first time, as Blue helps Steve find baby Joe's favorite blanket. The show also features a brief segment which showcases various holidays, such as Kwanza, Hanukah, and Ramadan.
The second episode is entitled, "Joe's Surprise Party". Here, the inhabitants of Joe's house, along with Blue, are planning a surprise party for Joe's birthday, and they must keep the party a secret. This is a unique episode of "Blue's Clues", as it's not Joe who drives the game of Blue's Clues, but Mr. Salt, Tickety-Tock, and Periwinkle. They must figure out what Blue thinks should be the last step before revealing Joe's surprise.
The DVD also contains two bonus episodes. In "Blue's Big Holiday", we learn that Steve (Steve Burns) and Blue have a holiday quilt, where a new patch is added each year. Steve must play Blue's Clues to learn what Blue wants on the patch for this year. In doing so, Steve and Blue visit their neighbors, who include Wynona Judd and Tyrese, to learn about Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa. In the second bonus segment, "A Snowy Day", Steve, Blue, and their friends want to go out and play in the new-fallen snow. But first, Steve must play Blue's Clue to learn exactly what Blue wants to do in the snow. I've said it before and I'll say it again, snow does not equal holidays.
Video
Blue's First Holiday frolics onto DVD courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. The episodes included on this DVD are presented full-frame, just as they are when broadcast on TV. These shows look nearly flawless on this disc, as the images are incredibly clear, and there are no obvious defects. The colors are bright and crisp and the image shows amazing detail. This transfer definitely rivals, or betters digital broadcast quality.
Audio
The DVD contains a Dolby Digital stereo audio track. This track provides clear dialogue, with no distortion, and very impressive stereo effects. There are several moments in the show where a character will speak from off-screen and the audio will emit from the appropriate speaker. The show's songs also sounds fine here.
Extras
The bonus episodes listed above are technically special features, but I felt that they belonged with other episodes. As for the other extras, Blue's First Holiday features an interesting game entitled "Baby Blue's First Snowy Holiday". This features a still image of Blue and her friends. This is accompanied by a list of questions for parents to ask children, such as "How many snowflakes do you see?" or "How many characters are wearing scarves?" The other extra is an episode of "Oobi", a short feature which airs on Nickelodeon's sister network, Noggin. Oobi is a talking hand with eyes that seriously freaks me out. In this edition, Oobi plays shadow-puppets with two hand friends. Man, I'm not sleeping tonight.
"Blue's Clues" has been on the air for over seven years, and it still remains one of the best children's shows on TV. With its blend of fun characters and deductive learning, the show is both fun and educational. Blue's First Holiday is a fine compilation which features several holiday themed shows, and a delightful look at the origin of Blue.
The Show
Holiday episodes are certainly nothing new in the world of television, and this tradition has spread to children's educational programming. "Blue's Clues", a popular show which is broadcast on Nickelodeon, has followed suit with the release of the DVD, Blue's First Holiday, which features several episodes that have holiday themes.
The main feature on the Blue's First Holiday is the titular episode, a fairly new special which is making its home video debut on this release. In this episode, Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper present Joe (Donovan Patton) with two home videos, which feature the first holiday with young Steve (William Ulrich) and baby Joe (Ethan Twomey Perello). The first video shows how Steve wished for a puppy and Blue magically appeared from a story book. In the second video, Blue and Steve play Blue's Clues for the first time, as Blue helps Steve find baby Joe's favorite blanket. The show also features a brief segment which showcases various holidays, such as Kwanza, Hanukah, and Ramadan.
The second episode is entitled, "Joe's Surprise Party". Here, the inhabitants of Joe's house, along with Blue, are planning a surprise party for Joe's birthday, and they must keep the party a secret. This is a unique episode of "Blue's Clues", as it's not Joe who drives the game of Blue's Clues, but Mr. Salt, Tickety-Tock, and Periwinkle. They must figure out what Blue thinks should be the last step before revealing Joe's surprise.
The DVD also contains two bonus episodes. In "Blue's Big Holiday", we learn that Steve (Steve Burns) and Blue have a holiday quilt, where a new patch is added each year. Steve must play Blue's Clues to learn what Blue wants on the patch for this year. In doing so, Steve and Blue visit their neighbors, who include Wynona Judd and Tyrese, to learn about Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa. In the second bonus segment, "A Snowy Day", Steve, Blue, and their friends want to go out and play in the new-fallen snow. But first, Steve must play Blue's Clue to learn exactly what Blue wants to do in the snow. I've said it before and I'll say it again, snow does not equal holidays.
Video
Blue's First Holiday frolics onto DVD courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. The episodes included on this DVD are presented full-frame, just as they are when broadcast on TV. These shows look nearly flawless on this disc, as the images are incredibly clear, and there are no obvious defects. The colors are bright and crisp and the image shows amazing detail. This transfer definitely rivals, or betters digital broadcast quality.
Audio
The DVD contains a Dolby Digital stereo audio track. This track provides clear dialogue, with no distortion, and very impressive stereo effects. There are several moments in the show where a character will speak from off-screen and the audio will emit from the appropriate speaker. The show's songs also sounds fine here.
Extras
The bonus episodes listed above are technically special features, but I felt that they belonged with other episodes. As for the other extras, Blue's First Holiday features an interesting game entitled "Baby Blue's First Snowy Holiday". This features a still image of Blue and her friends. This is accompanied by a list of questions for parents to ask children, such as "How many snowflakes do you see?" or "How many characters are wearing scarves?" The other extra is an episode of "Oobi", a short feature which airs on Nickelodeon's sister network, Noggin. Oobi is a talking hand with eyes that seriously freaks me out. In this edition, Oobi plays shadow-puppets with two hand friends. Man, I'm not sleeping tonight.
"Blue's Clues" has been on the air for over seven years, and it still remains one of the best children's shows on TV. With its blend of fun characters and deductive learning, the show is both fun and educational. Blue's First Holiday is a fine compilation which features several holiday themed shows, and a delightful look at the origin of Blue.
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