‘Regis and Kelly’ take show to New Orleans, build play space

Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, who brought their daytime talk show to New Orleans this weekend, helped assemble playground equipment Monday at an elementary school damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Their syndicated show, “Live With Regis and Kelly,” will be in New Orleans through Wednesday.

Over the weekend, they taped segments spotlighting the city’s food, music and culture.

“We’ve been bringing the show down to New Orleans for years, and the city has given us so much each time we’ve visited,” said Executive Producer Michael Gelman. “It feels great to be able to return the favor.”

On Monday, Philbin and Ripa helped volunteers build a playground at Charles Drew Elementary School, which was damaged when Katrina flooded 80% of New Orleans in August 2005.

They taped a show segment to air Wednesday.

Volunteers who helped with the effort are affiliated with KaBOOM! a national nonprofit group dedicated to creating play spaces for children. The only play space previously at the school was an area of buckling asphalt with the remnants of two basketball backboards.

Guests for the New Orleans-based shows include Luke Wilson, John Stamos, Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme.

Musical guests include Martina McBride, Cowboy Mouth, Pete Fountain, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters.