{{Short description|American film and television writer, producer and director}} {{About|the director of the 2008 indie drama ''Keith'' and co-creator of the TV series ''Blue's Clues''|other people|Todd Kessler (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Todd Kessler | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | birth_place = New York City, New York | death_date = | death_place = | known_for = Co-creator of ''Blue's Clues'' | occupation = Television producer }}
'''Todd Kessler''' is an 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'' (2008).
==Career== According to Canadian 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.<ref>{{cite book | last = Gladwell | first = Malcolm | title = The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference | url = https://archive.org/details/tippingpointhowl00glad | url-access = registration | publisher = Little, Brown and Company | year = 2000 | location = Boston, Massachusetts | page = [https://archive.org/details/tippingpointhowl00glad/page/110 110] | isbn = 0-316-34662-4}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hayes | first = Dade | title = Anytime Playdate: Inside the Preschool Entertainment Boom, or, How Television Became My Baby's Best Friend | publisher = Kaplan Publishing | year = 2008 | location = New York | page = [https://archive.org/details/anytimeplaydatei00haye/page/67 67] | isbn = 9781416546832 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/anytimeplaydatei00haye/page/67 }}</ref> Kessler was the first creator involved with the show.<ref name="TV NOTES; 'Blue's' Creator Wouldn't Stay">{{cite news | last = Carter | first = Bill | title = TV NOTES; 'Blue's' Creator Wouldn't Stay | work = The New York Times | date = June 21, 2000 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/21/arts/tv-notes-blue-s-creator-wouldn-t-stay.html?scp=1&sq=the%20David%20E.%20Kelley%20of%20children's%20television%20Todd%20Kessler&st=cse | access-date = July 9, 2011}}</ref> Angela Santomero and Traci Paige Johnson were brought later on to complete the Blue's Clues team.<ref name="TV NOTES; 'Blue's' Creator Wouldn't Stay"/><ref>{{cite video | people = Jim Forbes (narrator) | title = Behind the Clues: 10 Years of Blue (Part 1) | medium = Short documentary |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcMary-nCRY | publisher = Nickelodeon | date = July 27, 2006}}</ref> ''Blue's Clues'', according to ''Variety'', was "at the forefront of a revolution in kids TV"<ref name="schmelzer">{{cite news | last = Schmelzer | first = Randi | title = Tales of the pup | work = Variety | date = August 2, 2006 | url = https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117947887?refCatId=2271 | access-date = July 9, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name="schmelzer"/>
Kessler left Nickelodeon and ''Blue's Clues'' in June 2000 after three seasons, but would continue to be credited as an executive producer for the rest of the show's run, as well as for all the show's spin-offs.<ref name="TV NOTES; 'Blue's' Creator Wouldn't Stay"/>
In 2008, Kessler acquired the teen romantic drama ''Keith'', a film adapted from a short story written by Ron Carlson. The film, which starred Jesse McCartney and Elisabeth Harnois, was Kessler's directorial debut.<ref>{{cite news | last = Gardner | first = Chris | title = Kessler to escort Miramax's 'Keith' | work = Hollywood Reporter | date = February 24, 2004 | volume = 382 | number = 36}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Carroll | first = Larry | title = 'Keith' set visit | publisher = MTV.com | year = 2007 | url =http://www.mtv.com/shared/movies/features/k/keith_set_visit_120805/ | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20051210165019/http://www.mtv.com/shared/movies/features/k/keith_set_visit_120805/ | url-status =dead | archive-date =December 10, 2005 | access-date = June 30, 2012}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite news | last = Fleming | first = Michael | title = Miramax hands off romance to Kessler | work = Daily Variety | date = November 30, 2004 | volume = 285 | number = 42 | page = 7}}</ref>
Kessler is an outspoken critic of the popular belief that young children have short attention spans. In a column he penned for ''USA Today'' in its Oct. 26, 2015 edition, he referred to his own experience launching ''Blue's Clues'' and the television industry resistance to the series due to the prevailing belief that its unique long-form narrative structure would not succeed with children. He also argued that children would also be engaged with picture books that featured more prose than current publishing industry standards.<ref name="Parents, don't buy myth of short attention span: Column">{{cite news |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/10/28/parents-dont-buy-myth-short-attention-span-column/74213712/| date= 28 October 2015|newspaper= USA Today|title= Parents, don't buy myth of short attention span: Column |access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> He wrote similar sentiments in an op-ed he wrote for ''Forward Reviews'', a literary review magazine.<ref name="Forward Reviews">{{Cite web |url= https://www.forewordreviews.com/foresights/posts/what-short-attention-spans-children-are-inspired-by-immersive-reading/| date= 8 August 2016|publisher= Foreword Reviews|title= What Short Attention Spans? Children are Inspired by Immersive Reading |access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> Kessler authored the children's picture book ''The Good Dog'' in 2015 and ''The Good Dog and the Bad Cat'' in 2016. The books feature long-form narrative storytelling with complex characters and villains, following the adventures of Tako, a dog, and his owner, Ricky Lee; the second volume introduces Allie, a stray cat. Both books are published by Coralstone Press and illustrated by Jennifer Gray Olson. Howard Lavoy, executive editor at ''Forward Reviews'', wrote ''The Good Dog'' series is "long form and engaging for kids and their grownups."<ref name="Forward Reviews Q&A">{{Cite web |url= https://www.forewordreviews.com/foresights/posts/blues-clues-creator-just-figured-out-the-secret-to-long-form-picture-books/| date= 10 March 2016|publisher= Foreword Reviews|title= Blue's Clues Creator Just Figured Out the Secret to Long-Form Picture Books |access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>
In addition, Kessler directed the romantic/musical film ''Bazodee'', released on August 5, 2016 and starring Machel Montano, Natalie Perera, Staz Nair and Kabir Bedi. The story revolves around the complications created when Anita Panchouri (Perera) tries to sacrifice her own needs for the needs of her family.<ref name="NYT Bozodee">{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/movies/bazodee-review.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |last= Verongos |first= Helen|date= 4 August 2016|newspaper=New York Times|title= Review: Soul of Calypso Elevates the Bollywood-Flavored 'Bazodee'|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> The movie, filmed on location in Trinidad and Tobago, features soca music and is praised for its authentic cast of Indians and Trinidadians and cultural accuracy, with ''Film Journal International'''s David Noh comparing it to ''Black Orpheus''.<ref name="FJI Bozodee">{{cite magazine |url= http://www.filmjournal.com/reviews/film-review-bazodee |last= Noh |first= David|date= 3 August 2016|magazine= Film Journal International|title= Film Review: Bazodee|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> ''Billboard'' has also compared the movie to ''The Harder They Come'' and Prince's ''Purple Rain'' because of Montano's musical performances, bringing soca to a wider audience.<ref name= "Find Out How Three Generations">{{cite magazine | url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7480283/machel-montano-bazodee-movie-soca-star |last= Meschino |first= Patricia |date= 21 September 2016|magazine= Billboard |title= Ten Years in the Making: Could Machel Montano's 'Bazodee' Be Soca's 'Purple Rain'? | access-date= 30 October 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161031030831/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7480283/machel-montano-bazodee-movie-soca-star|archive-date= 31 October 2016}}</ref>
==Awards and nominations== As producer for ''Blue's Clues'', Kessler received a Peabody Award,<ref>{{cite news | last = Heffley | first = Lynne | title = Blue gets a new leash on life | work = Los Angeles Times |date = February 6, 2004 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-06-et-heffley6-story.html | access-date = June 30, 2012}}</ref> two Television Critics Association Awards in 1997–1998 and 1998–1999,<ref>{{Cite web | title = TCA Award Winners: Complete List | publisher = Television Critics Association | url = http://tvcritics.org/tca-award-winners-complete-list/ | access-date = July 10, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101105140039/http://tvcritics.org/tca-award-winners-complete-list/ | archive-date = November 5, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> several Parents' Choice Awards,<ref>{{Cite web | title = Nickelodeon | publisher = Parents Choice | url = http://www.parents-choice.org/company.cfm?the_co=1542&from=Blue%27s%20Clues%3A%20Shapes%20and%20Colors | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160311200240/http://www.parents-choice.org/company.cfm?the_co=1542&from=Blue%27s%20Clues:%20Shapes%20and%20Colors | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 11, 2016 | access-date = July 10, 2011 }}</ref> and a New York Film Festival CINE Golden Eagle in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web | title = CINE Golden Eagle Film & Video Competition: 1996 Winner Directory | publisher = cine.org | url = http://www.cine.org/archives/winner-archives/pdfs/1996-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2011 | archive-date = April 27, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120427042744/http://www.cine.org/archives/winner-archives/pdfs/1996-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> He has also been nominated for six Emmys.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Daytime Emmy Nominees List 1 | work = Variety |date = March 11, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Littleton | first = Cynthia | work = Variety | title = ABC tops Emmy noms | date = March 11, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Schneider | first = Michael | title = A Daytime drama | work = Variety | date = March 14, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Bernstein | first = Paula | title = Regis tracks two Emmys | work = Variety | date = March 13, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Offman | first = Craig | title = Daytime Emmy noms announced | work = Variety | date = March 13, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Learmonth | first = Michael | work = Variety | title = All my Emmy noms | date = March 2, 2005}}</ref>
"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);<ref>{{cite news | last = Jennings| first = Sheri | title = Giffoni winners include Mid Road Gang and Keith | work = Screen Daily | date = July 23, 2007 | url = http://www.screendaily.com/giffoni-winners-include-mid-road-gang-and-keith/4033671.article | access-date = June 30, 2012}}</ref> the Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth (their Students Choice Award, decided on by high school students);<ref>{{Cite web | title = Sprockets Concludes Successful 11th Year With Awards | publisher = Tiff | url = http://tiff.net/press/pressreleases/2008/sprockets-concludes-successful-11th-year-with-awards | access-date = July 10, 2011 | archive-date = December 14, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131214213324/http://tiff.net/press/pressreleases/2008/sprockets-concludes-successful-11th-year-with-awards | url-status = dead }}</ref> Sweden's BUFF International Film Festival for Youth and Children;<ref>{{cite news | last = Pham | first = Annika | title = Titanic the Cat top dog at BUFF | work = Cineuropa | date = March 18, 2008 | url = http://cineuropa.org/2011/nw.aspx?t=newsdetail&l=en&did=83079 | access-date = July 9, 2011}}</ref> Germany's SCHLINGEL International Film Festival;<ref>{{Cite web | title = Keith | publisher = Schlingel | url = http://archiv.ff-schlingel.de/filmarchiv-details/2007/0-ALL-1/2007/keith.html | access-date = July 10, 2011 | archive-date = March 27, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120327014455/http://archiv.ff-schlingel.de/filmarchiv-details/2007/0-ALL-1/2007/keith.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> and Quebec's Carrousel international du film de Rimouski.<ref>{{cite news | title = The winners of the Carrousel | work = Le Devoir | date = October 7, 2008 | url =https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/actualites-culturelles/209478/les-laureats-du-carrousel | access-date = July 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = Winners of the Youth International Film Festival of Rimouski | publisher = Le Bas-Saint-Laurent | url = http://www.bas-saint-laurent.org/texte.asp?id=7614 | access-date = July 10, 2011 | archive-date = October 4, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111004064210/http://www.bas-saint-laurent.org/texte.asp?id=7614 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|id=1383079|name=Todd Kessler}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessler, Todd}} Category:Living people Category:American male screenwriters Category:American columnists Category:Film producers from New York (state) Category:Screenwriters from New York (state) Category:Television producers from New York City Category:American television show creators Category:Writers from New York City Category:Year of birth missing (living people)