The cast of "The Facts of Life" is back for a special TV movie reunion! ET sat down with Blair Warner herself, LISA WHELCHEL, to get the skinny on what the girls are up to almost 15 years later.
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: What was it like walking back on the set the first day?
LISA WHELCHEL: It was just surprising how those long friendships, those deep friendships, how we just immediately were there again. It was not even like it was 13 years. We were laughing and cracking up and having a great time and catching up. My daughter HAVEN said on the first day, "I hope momma, I hope I have friends like you do when I grow up." It was just that obvious that these were really good friends.
ET: What are your fondest memories?
LISA: The fondest memories for me are the same things that we are experiencing right now, and that's just all the fun. When you know someone so well, that you can just finish each other's sentences and you laugh at everything the other person says. That was the fun part about being on that set, for nine years and that's the fun part about being on the set now.
ET: What's Blair doing now? Where is she?
LISA: Blair is married to Tad Warner, so she's Blair Warner Warner. They own hotels all over the world and this little inn at Peekskill (New York) -- she bought this just out of special feeling towards Peekskill.
ET: How are the girls coming together? Can you set up the story a bit?
LISA: It's Thanksgiving and we've decided to all be together. It's one of those things that when you have those long lasting friendships, most of the time you have to make it happen. And the girls have said that we are all going to get together for Thanksgiving this year.
ET: What can we expect in the reunion?
LISA: Well, we've all grown up quite a bit. I would say that KIMMIE (FIELDS) has grown up the most. She just looks, wow. You're thinking ... this is Tootie? I don't think so. Then she has the 10-year-old daughter on the show, and Natalie (MINDY COHN), who two men are fighting over. Blair is just happy as a clam, because she's got all the money in the world and a wonderful husband who looks just like her.
ET: What brought you back?
LISA: Well, they have been talking about it for years. It's one of those things that you get excited about, but then after awhile you think, "When it really happens, I'll get excited." Believe it or not, they only called about a month ahead of time saying it looks like it's really going to happen and it's going to happen in September. At that point I'm going, "Oh man, we're on our (family) trip. Can't I do this when I get home?" As it turns out, it could not be more perfect, because my next book, which is called, The Facts of Life and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me, is released September 15. Actually, this timing is perfect.
