Todd Kessler

This article is about the director of the 2008 indie drama "Keith" and co-creator of the TV series Blue's Clues. For other people, see Todd Kessler (disambiguation).
Todd Kessler
Born New York City, New York
Occupation Television producer
Known for Co-creator of Blue's Clues

Todd Kessler is an award winning American film and television writer, producer and director. Among his credits are showrunner and co-creator of Nickelodeon's preschool series Blue's Clues and director and producer of the feature film "Keith."

Career

According to author Malcolm Gladwell, who wrote about Blue's Clues in his book The Tipping Point, Kessler worked for Sesame Workshop's "Sesame Street", but found traditional children's television too static and not visual enough.[1] In 1993–94, Kessler, who was then a freelance producer for Nickelodeon, was assigned to work with Peter Schreck on his seminal interactive television experiments in the network's Orlando studio, developing concepts which were later incorporated into Blue's Clues.[2] Kessler was the first creator involved with the show.[3] Angela Santomero and Traci Paige Johnson were brought later on to complete the Blue's Clues team.[3][4] Blue's Clues, according to Variety Magazine, was "at the forefront of a revolution in kids TV"[5] and was crucial to the growth of Nickelodeon. The innovative and interactive format it created changed children's programming, including its most important influence Sesame Street, which changed its format in 2002 to be more interactive.[5]

Kessler left Nickelodeon and Blue's Clues in 2000 after 75 episodes with Blue's Clue's original star, Steve Burns, but was credited as an executive producer throughout the show's run, as well as for all the show's spin-offs.[3]

In 2008, Kessler acquired the teen romantic drama Keith, a movie adapted from a short story written by Ron Carlson. The film, which starred Jesse McCartney and Elisabeth Harnois, was Kessler's directorial debut.[6][7] Kessler also produced and co-wrote (with David Zabel) the film, which "concerns a 17-year-old who thinks she's got it all figured out until she falls for a guy who has nothing to lose".[8]

Awards and nominations

As producer for Blue's Clues, Kessler received a Peabody Award,[9] two Television Critics Association Awards in 1997–1998 and 1998–1999,[10] several Parents' Choice Awards,[11] and a New York Film Festival CINE Golden Eagle in 1996.[12] He has also been nominated for six Emmys.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

"Keith" won first place in the teenage sections of five international film festivals: Italy's Giffoni Film Festival (in the 15–19-year-old division);[19] the Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth (their Students Choice Award, decided on by high school students);[20] Sweden's BUFF International Film Festival for Youth and Children;[21] Germany's SCHLINGEL International Film Festival;[22] and Quebec's Carrousel international du film de Rimouski.[23][24]

Footnotes

    References

    1. ↑ Gladwell, Malcolm (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Boston, Massachusetts: Little, Brown and Company. p. 110. ISBN 0-316-34662-4.
    2. ↑ Hayes, Dade (2008). Anytime Playdate: Inside the Preschool Entertainment Boom, or, How Television Became My Baby's Best Friend. New York: Kaplan Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 9781416546832.
    3. 1 2 3 Carter, Bill (June 21, 2000). "TV NOTES; 'Blue's' Creator Wouldn't Stay". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
    4. ↑ Jim Forbes (narrator) (July 27, 2006). Behind the Clues: 10 Years of Blue (Part 1) (Short documentary). Nickelodeon.
    5. 1 2 Schmelzer, Randi (August 2, 2006). "Tales of the pup". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
    6. ↑ Gardner, Chris (February 24, 2004). "Kessler to escort Miramax's 'Keith'". Hollywood Reporter 382 (36).
    7. ↑ Carroll, Larry (2007). "'Keith' set visit". MTV.com. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
    8. ↑ Fleming, Michael (November 30, 2004). "Miramax hands off romance to Kessler". Daily Variety 285 (42). p. 7.
    9. ↑ Heffley, Lynne (February 6, 2004). "Blue gets a new leash on life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
    10. ↑ "TCA Award Winners: Complete List". Television Critics Association. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
    11. ↑ "Nickelodeon". Parents Choice. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
    12. ↑ "CINE Golden Eagle Film & Video Competition: 1996 Winner Directory" (PDF). cine.org. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
    13. ↑ "Daytime Emmy Nominees List 1". Variety. March 11, 1999.
    14. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (March 11, 1998). "ABC tops Emmy noms". Variety.
    15. ↑ Schneider, Michael (March 14, 2000). "A Daytime drama". Variety.
    16. ↑ Bernstein, Paula (March 13, 2001). "Regis tracks two Emmys". Variety.
    17. ↑ Offman, Craig (March 13, 2002). "Daytime Emmy noms announced". Variety.
    18. ↑ Learmonth, Michael (March 2, 2005). "All my Emmy noms". Variety.
    19. ↑ Jennings, Sheri (July 23, 2007). "Giffoni winners include Mid Road Gang and Keith". Screen Daily. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
    20. ↑ "Sprockets Concludes Successful 11th Year With Awards". Tiff. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
    21. ↑ Pham, Annika (March 18, 2008). "Titanic the Cat top dog at BUFF". Cineuropa. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
    22. ↑ "Keith". Schlingel. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
    23. ↑ "The winners of the Carrousel". Le Devoir. October 7, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
    24. ↑ "Winners of the Youth International Film Festival of Rimouski". Le Bas-Saint-Laurent. Retrieved July 10, 2011.

    External links

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