Rita Moreno Reveals How George Lopez Has Changed Since 2007 (Exclusive)

Rita Moreno sees a difference in George Lopez.

Ahead of her guest appearance on Lopez’s show with his daughter Mayan Lopez, Lopez vs. Lopezthe 92-year-old actress tells PEOPLE that the comedian, 63, has “changed quite a bit” since they worked together on his series The George Lopez Show in 2007.

“He’s really reassured,” Moreno says, adding that George is “funnier” than ever.

The Oscar winner continues: ‘He has become a bit sweet and cuddly. I know it’s hard to think of George as a cuddly person, but I kept leaning against him and he put his arm around me.”

Moreno adds that the pair are “very affectionate together,” and that George has become “quite a nice guy” since they first worked together. She reveals that after taping the episode of the NBC sitcom, George took the entire cast out to dinner at an “amazing” Mexican restaurant.

“He was never a sweet person, but he is now, and I’m very fond of him,” Moreno says.

Rejoining Lopez’s on-screen family also gave Moreno the chance to see 28-year-old Mayan, whom she met on the set of The George Lopez Show. When the two were reunited Lopez vs. LopezMayan confided in Moreno about her past estrangement with George, and The Electricity Company star recalls giving her “motherly advice.”

“She became very close to me, and I to her,” the Westside story says actress. “She is a very neat girl. So beautiful, those big, beautiful eyes of hers.’

Noting that Mayan is now “more confident” about her acting ability, Moreno says, “She’s funny too. You know, I think it’s in the genes.”

In Lopez vs. LopezMoreno portrays the ghost of George’s fictional deceased grandmother, Dolores. She describes the character as a “bad, horrible, bitchy grandmother” who was “nasty” to George when she was alive. Dolores returns to scold her grandson for harming her during the episode Día de los Muertos, airing Friday, October 25 on NBC.

She previously played a similar character The George Lopez Showguest starring as George’s grandmother Luisa in the series’ final season. But instead of tormenting George’s character, Luisa had a strained relationship with his on-screen mother, Benny (played by Belita Moreno).

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Lopez vs. Lopez airs on NBC on Fridays at 8:30 PM ET.