Ahead of their TV reunion, Rita Moreno reveals that George Lopez has become “more relaxed” and “funnier” than ever

One day at a time, Rita Moreno saw a change in George Lopez.

Ahead of her guest appearance on the 63-year-old’s sitcom “Lopez vs. Lopez,” the 92-year-old star revealed that the comedian has “changed quite a bit” since working together on his series “The George Lopez Show” in 2010 and 2007.

“He’s really more relaxed,” Moreno told People on Friday, adding that Lopez is “funnier” than ever.

The Oscar winner first played the comedian’s mother in “The George Lopez Show.” Now, in Lopez vs. Lopez, she portrays the ghost of George’s fictional late grandmother, Dolores.

Moreno continued, “He’s become kind of sweet and cuddly. I know it’s hard to imagine George as a cuddly person, but I constantly leaned on him and he put his arm around me.”

The actress added that the pair are “very loving together” and Lopez has become “a pretty nice guy” since they first worked together. After taping the NBC sitcom with Lopez’s daughter and co-star Mayan, the actor took the entire cast to dinner at a “wonderful” Mexican restaurant.

“He was never a nice person, but he is now, and I like him a lot,” Moreno shared.

The “80 for Brady” star first met Mayan, 28, on the set of the early morning sitcom, and when the two reunited on “Lopez vs. Lopez,” the author confided in Moreno about her previous estrangement with her father.

She remembers giving the young star “motherly advice.”

Moreno noted that Mayan is now “more confident” in her acting skills, adding, “She’s funny, too. You know, I think it’s in the genes.”

Moreno also took a moment to talk about re-entering the film family, this time as Dolores.

She describes her character as a “nasty, horrible, bitchy grandmother” who was “evil” during George’s lifetime.

“I loved why she came back from the dead,” Moreno told NBC News in 2023. “She came back roaring, evil as ever in this family, demanding respect.”

“I was really excited about the idea,” she added, sharing that the dynamic between Dolores and George was comical but had a serious undertone.

“Of course I love the ending, we don’t want to give that away,” Moreno confessed. “That’s what really convinced me. I thought that was so funny.”

Dolores returns during the series’ Día de los Muertos episode, airing Friday, October 25, on NBC.