It’s a sad week, PopWatchers. And that’s not just because I Love Money ended its inaugural run (yes, I’m maintaining hope that there will be two seasons). Yesterday, American Girl announced that it would discontinue all its products related to Samantha Parkington, the company’s poor little rich orphaned girl who was introduced as one of the original characters way back in 1986 (her books will still be sold in book stores, though). And to that, I say, hell to the no! As an early American Girl enthusiast who also happened to own a Samantha doll, this announcement made me feel like a birthday girl who just realized Eddie Ryland salted her ice cream. (In other words, super-pissed). But seeing as I don’t have the power to change major corporate decisions (yet!), it’s time to say my official farewell:
Goodbye, Samantha. Though I can no longer vicariously live through the children who meander the American Girl store demanding their long-suffering parents buy them your overpriced accessories, we’ll always have our memories: tasty petit fours, beautiful Nutcracker dolls and tenacious canoe trips, to name a few. And I’ll never forget how your early 20th-century winter cloak and furry hat provided a great costume for my childhood cat, Mooshie, for our family Christmas card. As sad as I am to see you go, however, I am happy that my first generation doll in your visage will now only appreciate in value. So thank you, Samantha Parkington. Not only did you entertain me during my childhood with your stories of bravery and kindness, but you will also be paying my rent.
PopWatchers, leave your Samantha Parkington tributesâand conspiracy theoriesâbelow (I bet Molly McIntire is laughing maniacally in her tap shoes right about now…)!
More on American Girl, dolls, etc.
Movie review: ‘Kit Kittredge: An American Girl’
‘America’s Next Top Doll’: Watch all five episodes (before a new one arrives later this month)
I want to see ‘Kit Kittredge’ — is that weird?
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What?!?!?! That’s insane! I’m devastated, especially since I gave my Samantha doll (along with Kirsten and Felicity) to my niece a few years ago- I want Samantha back!
The only AG doll I had was Molly…but I dressed her in Samantha’s much cooler clothes. Not really understanding why they have to discontinue her entire line (“including her best friend Nellie” lol)? Can anyone make sense of it?
What?? No! Not Samantha! She was the only one I ever actually liked! This is terrible news. Discontinue stupid Felicity or Kirsten, American Girl company! Everybody likes Samantha! She was our little-girl version of wish-fulfillment fantasy! We need her and her petit fours!
Yes, let’s get one step further from the original intent of AG, which was to teach girls about American history, and edge it further into full-blown blatant commercialism. Ugh.
I too was saddened to hear of Samantha’s untimely retirement, but not as sad as I was when I learned that Julie, the newest historical character, lived waaaaay back in the … 1970s. The years of my childhood! I mean, I know I’m old, but… historic?
I thought Samantha was their most popular doll. I read the books, but I never had her doll. I did always like her storylines best though. Maybe enough people will complain and they’ll bring the doll back.
This is devestating. I own her and now I can’t buy anymore of her stuff.
Aw, I had a Samantha, and my sister had Molly. I stole Molly’s penny, but I definitely liked Samantha (and her checked dress) better.
I love that you dressed your cat up as Samantha…when I was 9 years old (waaay back in the 80’s), I wanted an American Girl Doll so badly. I used to drool over the mail order catalogue (remember those?) and knew each item by heart. That summer, my family got our first and only pet, a cat that I desperately wanted to name “Frisky”. In order to soothe my American Girl wanting heart (and spare our poor cat a horrible moniker!), my mom intervened, and our kitty was christened “Samantha Parkington Rochon”, known as Sammie for short. That winter, I did end up with an AG doll, but Samantha Parkington the cat will always be my favorite!
Heh heh heh. World domination starts now.
I had a Molly because my best friend in 3rd grade had a Samantha and she said I couldn’t copy her. We are no longer friends:) Samantha had the coolest stuff! I’m also a Felicity fan so maybe I’ll talk my daughter into her when the time is right.
I can’t believe that…I always thought Samantha was one of their most popular dolls! I remember AG back when there were only three dolls – my sister had Samantha, I had Molly and my cousin had Kirsten. We would obsess over the catalog and I read the magazine from when it started until I was 13. And I agree with Winona – it seems like the historical dolls are given less and less emphasis now. It’s a shame.
They’re discontinuing Samantha? That’s so sad. I didn’t have Samantha (mine was actually one of those customizable “girl of today” ones) but I had several friends who did. Man, every little girl had at least one American Girl Doll then. Hasn’t the company technically been bought out by Mattel now? Grrr.
I used to dress my cat up in doll closthes and push her around the neighborhood in my cabbage patch stroller.
I just checked the AG website – is anyone else in utter disbelief that the dolls are actually cheaper now than they were 15-20 years ago? That’s crazy! I know that the $100+ for my doll was a huge amount for my family then, but why hasn’t that price kept up with inflation?
I’m going to go find my Samantha doll right now and give her a big hug. This is so sad. Samantha was always my favorite (with Felicity coming in a close second).
I have a Samantha! I remember I was kind of mad because I got her when it was only her, Kirsten, and Molly, and then the next year they came out with Felicity and I wanted her too because I have red hair. No dice though. I also wanted a “girl of today” doll to look like me, but by then I had grown out of it. I think it’s crazy they’re completely discontinuing her, but I bet her tiny watercolor set will make me some money on eBay someday!
Aw, that’s so sad! I had a Samantha doll too and loved her to bits. Next time I’m home I’m going to have to find her and dress her up in one of her pretty dresses.
That makes me so sad! I, too, have a Samantha doll! I can’t believe they are going to discontinue her.
Samantha was my first and favorite AG doll! I remember getting the catalogue in the mail in the 3rd grade, back when there were only 3 dolls, and BEGGING my mother for Samantha. I thought she was the prettiest one, and she had brown hair like me! I got her for Christmas that year, and another doll for the next few Christmases. They are displayed proudly in my den, much to my husband’s chagrin!
Not sure if it’s my second cup of coffee talking, but I’m struck by how much Samantha reminds me of Blair Waldorf.
RIP Samantha. You had much better stuff than Felicity, Kirsten, or that brat Molly.
I had a Samantha when I was little, and she by FAR had the prettiest clothes. Bad call, American Girl! Molly was the least favorite in our family!
I was an AG girl back in the day when you had to pick Samantha, Kirsten, or Molly – back before you could pick a doll that looked JUST like you. And I adored her and all her books. AND pouring over the catalog every time it came.
Thanks Samantha, for teaching me about petit fours (yes, I DID get them at my birthday party right after I got the doll), how NOT to make homemade ice cream, suffrage, and life for a poor little rich girl in the early 20th century.
Samantha was my first American Girl doll and she still holds a special place. I love everything about her and I think it is a horrible decision by American Girl to discontinue her. Last I heard she was still the top doll in the company.
WHAT?!! Samantha was not only the best AG doll with the best accessories, I too got her when I was 8 and you could only choose between her and molly or kirstein! For YEARS all my b’day and x-mas money went to buy her accessories! This is horrible! they should discontinue felicity:P
Aw, no. I loved my Samantha doll, and clearly I was not alone in obsessing over the catalogue; to the point where I actually knew what the raised cherries on the glasses in her tea party set would have felt like under my fingers.
Okay, maybe I am alone in that part.
Awww come on!! Not Samantha! I just dug mine out of my childhood room not three months ago! Why discontinue it completely? That was the era women got the right to vote for cripes sake!
Holy crap, no! I’m so glad that I decided to give my Josephina doll to the girl I babysat instead of my Samantha doll. Samantha is the bomb. I really wanted to be her. Even though I couldn’t stand the way she dressed(Molly and Kit fit my style much more), I wanted to be rich with a heart of gold like Samantha.
Totally lame, American Girl. Lame, lame, lame.
I was a HUGE American Girl fan. I got Molly for my 9th birthday, and Addy when I was 10. My mom’s side of the family bought Molly and her accessories, and my dad’s side bought Addy and her gear. (The good side to having divorced parents.)
I always figured I’d get Samantha or Felicity next, but it never happened. I think they were somewhat more expensive than Molly & Addy, and in any case I outgrew dolls before long. I still have Molly & Addy packed up at my mom’s, saving them for my little girls if I have any. It sucks that i’ll never be able to get tehm Samantha, though