ON A RECENT Saturday, the weather California-perfect, Roseanne Barr, the star and co-creator of the groundbreaking sitcom “Roseanne,” which ran on ABC from October 1988 to May 1997 (and now in heavy rotation on TVLand), and Mindy Kaling, the TV writer and actress (“The Office”), best-selling author (“Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me?”) and now the creator and star of “The Mindy Project” on Fox, met for lunch at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.

Arriving a few minutes before the noon reservation, Ms. Barr excused herself to walk around the recently renovated property. (“The regulars hate it,” a woman sniffed as Ms. Barr passed.) Ms. Kaling arrived shortly afterward, and as the two headed to the dining room, they passed a swarm of giddy young women with large fancy-dress bags slung over their arms, none of whom seemed to recognize the celebrities in their midst. “Someone’s getting married,” Ms. Kaling said.

As they took their seats, the two were informed that their table was one usually reserved for Nancy Reagan when she dined there, an observation that prompted a brief discussion about whether either had ever harbored a desire to be first lady. “I’d rather be president,” Ms. Barr said. (In fact, Ms. Barr ran for president in 2012.) Then, over loup de mer (for Ms. Barr) and steak frites (for Ms. Kaling), they chatted about women in comedy, their romantic relationships and a shared obsession with true-crime television.

PHILIP GALANES: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the “Roseanne” show, with 22 million people watching every week.