Interview With Former "Blue's Clues" Host Steve Burns
Aired August 26, 2003 - 15:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here's a clue: his co- star was a small, blue puppy and he's bigger than the Beatles -- well, to kids 5 and under. Of course, I'm talking about former "Blue's Clues" host Steve Burns. Steve has taken the leap from Nickelodeon to rock n' roll, though.

[SINGING]

PHILLIPS: Well, his new album is called "Songs for Dustmites" and we'll explain that in a minute. Steve joins us now live from Seattle, Washington. Steve, looking pretty studly there. All grown up with facial hair.

STEVE BURNS: Thank you. Thank you very much. I figured as I lost some of the other stuff I would grow in the facial hair.

PHILLIPS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) filling it in.

BURNS: Yes. Balance it out a little.

PHILLIPS: Now already -- I mean, just looking at a little "Blue's Clues" video and seeing you now, you got this whole kind of cool, laid-back grown up thing going on.

BURNS: It's disorienting, isn't it?

PHILLIPS: Yes, it's throwing me off a little bit. I'm kind of freaking out.

BURNS: Well, you know, that's kind of the idea, is that, you know, I am the guy who was on "Blue's Clues" and I'm also this guy. I'm both.

PHILLIPS: Well, how did you get the "Blue's Clues" gig? We were talking about this earlier on today, How did the show happen for you?

BURNS: It was just an audition that I had. I was trying to be an actor in New York City. It was one of several auditions I had that day and I just went in and a lot of -- a lot of the things that became conventions of "Blue's Clues" started in that audition. It was a very formative audition in terms of the show.

PHILLIPS: And then -- you've always had a passion for music. So you're doing this show. You're having a great time. What made it click for you? What made you decide, OK, I got to pursue the music thing?

BURNS: Well, it didn't really happen that way. You know, I mean, I -- it was just something I was always doing concurrently. And I sent a CD to my favorite producer, Dave Firgman (ph) , who produces my favorite band, the Flaming Lips. And he liked my CD and called me back and asked me if I wanted to work on it. And I said yes.

PHILLIPS: Is that true that he said to you, Wait a minute, I was just throwing a "Blue's Clues" party for my kid. Now you want to do a CD?

BURNS: It's true, yes. He had just had a "Blue's Clues" party for his kid the night before, so I used that and guilted him into hearing my CD.

PHILLIPS: There you go. Now, see, if you think my show is cool, listen to my CD. All right.

BURNS: Exactly.

PHILLIPS: Speaking of the CD, your favorite song, "Might Little Man," -- let's -- we're going to pop that up, listen to that. I'm going to have you tell me why that's your favorite. Let's give us viewers a little taste here.

PHILLIPS: All right. Talk to me about the lyrics. Talk to me about "Mighty Little Man." Who are you talking about?

BURNS: Well, I guess, you know, every song you write is in some way autobiographical. You can't help that, I guess. But I was thinking about Thomas Edison when I wrote this song. The whole record is basically about science and love and stuff like that.

PHILLIPS: The lights just went on?

BURNS: Yes, I guess.

PHILLIPS: Now, is there -- when I listen to all the various songs, I don't know, is this something, is there a certain audience you wanted to target?

BURNS: You know, I didn't -- I wasn't really looking at a specific demographic, you know, when I was writing these songs. I just tried to make them as good as I can and they do represent my best efforts. I'm pretty proud of it. It's been very well received. So I'm happy.

PHILLIPS: "Songs for Dustmites." Tell me, why is that the title?

BURNS: Well, my friend sent me an image of dustmites. You know what they are. They're little, tiny, microscopic bugs that...

PHILLIPS: Very annoying.

BURNS: Yes, right. In my context, they're the good guys though. And we've actually made machines so small that they kind of fight -- the dustmites fight with the machines and I thought that was pretty interesting and I empathized with the little guys enough to write a record for them.

PHILLIPS: So basically you're saying you're constantly raging against the machine, is that right?

BURNS: Yes. Yes, I am.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, I tell you what, Steve Burns, it's quite a switch. We, of course, loved the show, when you did that. And the album -- it's good. We're liking it. We're digging it. Look at that. Can you see the screen right now? We got the little paw next to you.

BURNS: Oh.

PHILLIPS: No more clues. Actually, you want to leave us with a little clue, as the paw moves across your face? Give us a big salute there, Steve.

BURNS: All right.

PHILLIPS: All right. Take care.