Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesThe ladies of Eastland Academy are all grown up!
The cast of classic sitcom The Facts of Life reunited at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills to celebrate the show's milestone 35th anniversary. Mindy Cohn, Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel and Charlotte Rae gathered onstage at the PaleyFest's Fall TV Previews to dish about working on the series for nine seasons.
"We were such a guilty pleasure for many people for so long," Cohn, who played Natalie Green, told Today. "It's kind of nice that we have aged into being cool now."
Kim Fields, who played Tootie Ramsey, was notably missing from the event but sent a video message in her absence to thank her former costars.
The castmates spilled the beans on behind-the-scenes pranks, storylines and their favorite guest stars.
In fact, one of George Clooney's first major roles involved playing a handyman and making out with Whelchel, who played rich girl Blair Warner! Unfortunately (and surprisingly), he failed to make a lasting impression on the actress at the time.
"I am all for repressed memories, but why I repressed that one I don't know!" she joked.
"He was just another actor to us," Cohn added. "We already knew him when he came to our show, because he had worked on a nearby set, so it wasn't a big deal for him to be on the show.
Whelchel and Rae, who played the wise housemother Mrs. Garrett, also reunited earlier this year and snapped an adorable Instagram pic. "Selfie with Charlotte Rae today at lunch. She gave me some good advice. (Just like old times)," she wrote.