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What's Up with That?
Dear Margo: I really don't know what to do about my mother. It's as though she's made a career out of not listening to what I say ... or she's dedicated herself to doing the opposite. Right after I told her I was going on a diet and staying away …Read more.
Guess What: Not Everyone Is Kind
Dear Margo: My husband, our children and I recently moved to a new town. Through the children, really, I've met a group of women. They apparently are longtime friends, and one of them invited me to their Wednesday mothers group for lunch. I have to …Read more.
Good To Go
Dear Margo: My father recently got a diagnosis of stage-four liver cancer. He is adamant that he wishes to die at home. In addition to needing information about how this can be arranged, I have now started thinking about my own health and wishes. I …Read more.
To Be Drawn In or Not To Be
Dear Margo: I'm a ninth grader at a small private school. I recently found out that someone who used to go to my school and is now at another school is smoking and dealing pot. When I found this out, I wondered if anyone at my school was doing this, …Read more.
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An Open Letter to Amy Dickinson
Dear Amy: I have a problem. My distress has actually been going on since 2002, the year my mother died. As many people know, my mother was Ann Landers, and she was Ann Landers for 47 years. That's a long time to build a brand … and build a brand she did.
Because the name "Ann Landers" was iconic in the second half of the 20th century, people often tell me whenever they hear or see the name now -- seven years after her death. Alas, mostly they are hearing it from you. And therein lies my problem.
Most recently you did some television promotion on "Good Morning, America," "The View" and God knows where else. You allowed people, if not encouraged them, to consider you "the new Ann Landers." Well, you are not the "new" Ann Landers because there is no "new" Ann Landers. It is a copyrighted name and trademark, and what that means is that no one else can use it -- not to write under, and not to promote themselves.
Before they had fired most everyone at the Tribune (your home paper), a few top editors were informed that introducing you as "the new Ann Landers" was skating close to copyright infringement. They backed off -- for a while. But then (because the newspaper business is in trouble and you are flogging a book?) there began yet another round of publicity touting you as the new, well … you know.
In short, when the Tribune hired and syndicated you, that made you their new advice columnist, period. You are no more "the new Ann Landers" than Carolyn Hax, Dan Savage or any of the dozens of advice columnists who were bought by newspapers to fill the space previously occupied by my mother.
By law, the only person who would have been able to become "the new Ann Landers" was me. And that was nothing I chose to do. You see, dear, even I knew that there could only be one Ann Landers. -- Margo Howard
Dear Margo is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers' daughter. All letters must be sent via e-mail to dearmargo@creators.com. Due to a high volume of e-mail, not all letters will be answered.
COPYRIGHT 2009 MARGO HOWARD
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
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Comments
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17 Comments | Post Comment
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I was very confused by the episode with Amy the other day on the TV, I had wondered if someone was resurrecting the Ann Landers column (by obtaining the rights or copywrite) and had wondered if she had been chosen as the new columnist. Now your letter makes it clear that they were using the term Ann Landers as people use the term Kleenex any time they want a tissue, regardless of name brand. It's a shame Amy didn't set them correct during the interview as I found it very confusing and wondered if Dear Margo, had been bumped so someone else could run Ann Landers again. I'm glad your column sets everything straight. I hope Amy sets it straight publicly.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Laurie
Wed Feb 4, 2009 4:29 PM
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Dear Margo,
Long-time fan - I read everyone but you and Carolyn are the best. You asked nothing from us readers, but I have taken Amy off of my bookmarks and will no longer read her. One less visitor for her web stats.
Sorry to hear that some nit-wit has been causing drama. There is only one Ann Landers and there is only one Margo Howard.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Amanda Hart
Thu Feb 5, 2009 8:15 AM
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Margo Howard, you are one classy lady. I have always enjoyed your column and now have even more respect for you, as if that was possible. I echo the comment above, there is only one Ann Landers and only one Margo Howard.
Comment: #3
Posted by: Lorri
Thu Feb 5, 2009 10:46 AM
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Dear Margo,
You need to do a bit of research before you write "open letters" to anyone. Amy Dickinson has no need to associate herself with your late mother, or with you, because, frankly, her writing, which is wry and elegant and honest, speaks for itself.
Contrary to what you're telling your readers, Dickinson is adamant about NOT being linked in any way to Ann Landers. This has always been the case. How the Disney/ABC/Hyperion conglomerate chooses to promote her is completely beyond her control.
Thought you might like to understand these facts before you grace us with any more of your rather questionable opinions.
Comment: #4
Posted by: Oh, please
Thu Feb 5, 2009 11:17 AM
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I read both Dear Margo and Classic Ann Landers columns at creators.com, and I love both of them. Ann Landers' columns have stood the test of time. Margo has her own style but writes with the same respect for her audience as did her mother. Even when she calls someone to task as she did in today's column, she does so with propriety and respect.
Comment: #5
Posted by: PuaHone
Thu Feb 5, 2009 1:51 PM
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Good for you, Margo. No one has the right to profit from the good reputation and hard work of your mother. As someone else said, Amy has her own voice. Let her use it to build up her own brand.
Comment: #6
Posted by: Theresa
Thu Feb 5, 2009 4:48 PM
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Margo, I have often wondered how you managed the apparent struggle over your mother's legacy, but I was more concerned about the "Annie's mailbox" writers, who are very smart but who seem to have come close to appropriating her name. That said, I think it is classier to take the high road than to write public letters--you (and we) know who you are and what you do, and everyone knows your mother is irreplaceable. As a model for the rest of us, you would do well to leave it alone now--you risk having the media turn it into a "catfight" if you keep the discussion going.
Margaret
Comment: #7
Posted by: MargaretL
Fri Feb 6, 2009 6:38 AM
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Ruth Crowley. Margo, you know who i mean. only one Ann Landers, indeed.
Comment: #8
Posted by: Sarah
Fri Feb 6, 2009 8:38 AM
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Amy Dickinson is an arrogant witch....and I learned this long before this public dispute erupted.
Go Margo! Even though it might not be historically accurate that there is only one "Ann Landers," you are absolutely right that no other advice columnist can ever fill your mom's shoes!!!
Comment: #9
Posted by: Jeanne
Sun Feb 8, 2009 1:12 AM
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Nobody could replace ann landers. she is a great writer. i alwaysed enjoyed reading her columns. I didn't know she passes away. Soory for your loss margo.
Comment: #10
Posted by: Amanda
Sun Feb 8, 2009 1:00 PM
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Only "one" Ann Landers? Ruth Crowley might have something to say about that.
Comment: #11
Posted by: VAdame
Sun Feb 8, 2009 3:39 PM
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Oops, I see Sarah beat me to it.
Comment: #12
Posted by: VAdame
Sun Feb 8, 2009 3:40 PM
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Re: MargaretL Well I am glad Margo did, because I was confused. I saw another follow up with Amy and they implied that the Column space from Ann Landers was given to Amy, that made sense. It is a shame Amy didn't set the first couple of TV episodes straight, but I guess if she had stopped to argue the case, they would have likely run out of time for the interview/soundbite as they really cram those little interviews in there with few seconds to spare.
Comment: #13
Posted by: Laurie
Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:57 PM
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It is great that you spoke up, you are correct there is no replacing Ann Lander's with Ask Amy. Amy hates men and her responses are not well thought out and I think in many cases harmful, your Mother took her advice to a higher level.
My boyfriend and I love to read the letter's and make our responses before reading what the newspaper publishes. It was an inciteful way to get to know each other and learn how each of us handles lifes problems. In most cases Amy just assumes the male is WRONG, it's shameful her attitude really. There are two sides to every story and sometimes you have to read between the lines. Ask Amy is a poor excuse for a syndicated columnist.
Comment: #14
Posted by: Ginger
Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:27 PM
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Okay, I understand being loyal to one's mother, but using your "sword" on someone who is trying to make an honest living seems at the least a little catty, and at most just downright mean. Amy Dickinson pays tribute to "strong" women in her book, The Queens of Freeville, and after reading her enjoyable memoir, I decided to google her name. I was surprised to find your column touting her as a pretender. After all, she clearly states that her column "Ask Amy" is a replacement "advice column," not a "let's pretend I'm Ann Landers" column. When you write for a large audience, you have a responsibility to be accurate and fair. Your column, at least on the day your wrote this piece about Amy, is not accurate. Your mother was not the first Ann Landers, Ruth Crowley was, and it was not fair, since no one pretends that Amy is actually Ann, or Ruth or Eppie, or for that matter, Margo. Not only are you overly sensitive, but your response is meant to draw lines between people--you mean to be divisive. That really is not becoming to anyone, least of all someone who is using the "I'm defending my mother" excuse to attack another human being. I really can't imagine your mother writing such a response. She seemed more about raising people up. Just asking...are you behaving in the same way you'd recommend someone else behave?
Comment: #15
Posted by: Kimberly
Sat May 22, 2010 5:22 AM
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Dear Margo,
I stumbled on this blog by accident and glad I did. I wondered where Ask Amy came from as I was out of the newspaper subscription for some time (busy fulltime mom and homemaker).
I read the above with bittersweet emotions. At first I found it enlightening to see your family history but as I read on through, bitterness profoundly took over what started out to be an interesting piece.
I read Ann Landers and Dear Abby all the years I was growing up and into my 20's, but stopped when their common sense advice turned liberal and politically correct.
I'm not sure if your writing is truly defending your mom or you are angry about the success that Amy has had in taking over the column. I am sad for you. I think the lack of responses to this column and the dates reflect that people are thinking the same thing I am. I hope you reconsider how to handle this issue with your mom and franchise rights. Your mom was well respected and admired and you should leave it at that. There is no need to defend her as you have been trying, you are only tarnishing her good memories. Bitterness does not well wear on such a pretty lady as yourself. Best wishes.
Comment: #16
Posted by: Robin Johnson
Wed Nov 3, 2010 7:15 AM
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I find much of what Amy Dickinson writes to be simple, mediocre, and trite. She's too emotional in her responses (I'd wager she's a bit of a drama queen), and she she's very arrogant. Further, she tries WAY too hard to be "hip" (she's not). Ann Landers was an original columnist; her responses were thoughtful and classy. Amy Dickinson can't even hold a candle to the greatness of Ann Landers.
While I don't always agree with Carolyn Hax's responses, she at least is logical and intelligent... and not some embittered drama queen that Amy Dickinson presents herself to be.
Comment: #17
Posted by: RH
Wed Nov 3, 2010 1:17 PM
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