In Her Own Words: Traci Paige Johnson
Co-creator of a Preschool Phenomenon

JF: What was the pitch process like for you?

TPJ: 'Blue's Clues' wasn't a traditional pitch process. It was Nickelodeon's impetus to create a show, not the other way around. I'd been freelancing with Big Nickelodeon, working with kids to animate their stories for air, when I heard Nick Jr. was looking for a Producer to be a creator of a new "game show" or "play along series" for preschoolers. It was basically a pitch of myself and why I'd be the best candidate. I met with Nick Jr. Vice Prez] Brown Johnson and my two current co-creators, Angela Santomero and Todd Kessler, who were on board. I was only 25 but had a lot of production and animation experience under my belt and an updated reel of all my cut-out animations. I had created, produced and directed before, but certainly not to the extent of an entire series.

It was a wonderful interview and when I met my co-creators everything clicked. We had so many similar ideas and visions. They were inspired by my simple graphic style and kid aesthetic. When I left the interview, I was pumped!!! I went home and wrote out ten pages of ideas, my brain was bursting with so many inspirations. I sent it in along with my thank-you note (thank- you note being key) and waited at home knowing this would be the prefect job for me.

Needless to say, I got it. I knew Viacom liked young talent because it was cheap, but where else would I, at 25-years-old, get to be on a creative team of a new series? It was pure gold. I had gone to heaven.