Lisa Whelchel stuns ‘Facts of Life’ fans decades later: ‘looks exactly the same’

It was an evening of nostalgia and so much more on Tuesday’s ABC special, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Different Strokes. Viewers were treated to reenactments of two classic sitcoms, introduced by some of the original stars from both shows.

And one of those original stars was Lisa Whelchel, who played Blair on The Facts of Life from 1979 to 1988. The 58-year-old actress had viewers on Twitter stunned, with many commenting on how she “has not aged at all!”

The big surprise guest stars of the night included Jason Bateman and Will Arnett in a mini Arrested Development reunion, along with Snoop Dogg. But it was the previously announced performers like Jennifer Aniston as Blair, Kathryn Hahn as Jo and Kevin Hart as Arnold who really stole the show. Including Hart delivering one of the most famous lines in sitcom history:

“Whatchu talkin’ about Willis?”

And while looking back on the classics is always a good idea, Different Strokes star Todd Bridges did have one little reminder for fans.

“I want to take this opportunity now to thank you for watching and to ask you to please stop asking me what I'm talking about,” Bridges said to much laughter and applause. “It's been 43 years. I done forgot.”

Video Transcript

LISA WHELCHEL (SINGING): You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have the facts of life, the facts of life. There's a time you got to go and show you're growing, now you know about the facts of life, the facts of life.

KYLIE ERICA MAR: On ABC's "Live in Front of a Studio Audience, The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes," viewers were treated to re-enactments of two classic sitcoms introduced by some of the show's original stars, including Lisa Welchel, the original Blair from "Facts of Life" who had viewers on Twitter stunned with comments like, "Had to pause for a bit. I thought I was watching a flashback of "The Facts of Life," but then I realized Lisa Welchel has not aged at all." And, "Lisa Welchel looks exactly the same. Holy moly, tell us your secret girl."

The live show was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel along with the creator of these and countless other classic sitcoms, 99-year-old Norman Lear, who it seems is still trying to figure out this whole live TV thing.

JAMES CHRISTIAN KIMMEL: What wisdom can you share with us? You're in your 99 years on this planet Earth.

NORMAN MILTON LEAR: Two little words that, uh, we don't think enough about.

JAMES CHRISTIAN KIMMEL: What are they?

NORMAN MILTON LEAR: Over and next. When something is over, it is. You use the word survival. It's [MUTED].

[LAUGHTER]

KYLIE ERICA MAR: The big surprise guest stars of the night included Jason Bateman and Will Arnett in a mini "Arrested Development" reunion along with Snoop Dogg. But it was the previously announced performers like, Jennifer Aniston as Blair and Kevin Hart as Arnold, who really stole the show.

KEVIN DARNELL HART: Willis, I told you this is my room too.

DAMON KYLE WAYANS: See that's the problem. I got no quiet. I got no privacy. I got nowhere to go to think my deep thoughts.

KEVIN DARNELL HART: What you talking about, Willis?

KYLIE ERICA MAR: The nostalgia didn't stop with the sitcoms as viewers loved the vintage commercial parodies for brands like Kraft Singles and Kool-Aid, featuring stars like Alfonso Ribeiro and Bob Vila. And while looking back on the classics is always a good idea, "Different Strokes" star Todd Bridges does have one little reminder for you.

TODD ANTHONY BRIDGES: And I want to take this opportunity, now, to thank you for watching and to ask you to, please, when you see me, stop asking me what am I talking about. It's been 43 years, I didn't forgot.