LIVE RETURNS TO NEW ORLEANS

Regis Philbin must be in good shape. Only weeks after recovering from heart-bypass surgery, he and Kelly Ripa are taking Live With Regis and Kelly to New Orleans. Beginning Tuesday and continuing through Friday, shows will originate outdoors from Fulton Street, next to Harrah's.

"Regis is doing great," assures Michael Gelman, longtime producer of Live. "He's feeling good, his energy is getting back to normal and he's looking forward to the trip as much as we are. Hopefully we can give back to a community that has given us so much."

Guests on tap for the week (9 a.m., Channel 13) include actors Luke Wilson and John Stamos, NASCAR's Kyle Busch, singer Martina McBride and the winner of America's Next Top Model.

Of course, this being New Orleans, celebrity chefs and jazz bands will be on hand, too. Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme, Tenney Flynn and Leah Chase will tempt Philbin to go off his diet, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters will be among those trying to get the host to party.

Are you sure you're not trying to hurt Regis, Michael?

"Regis claims to be eating very healthy food overall, but no one says you can't have a taste or two of some rich food," Gelman said with a laugh.

It's Live's first trip to N.O. since Hurricane Katrina, and the show won't exit without leaving something behind. A playground for Drew Elementary, a 600-student campus in the Bywater neighborhood, has been constructed. It will be revealed on Wednesday's show.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Looking ahead: Caveman vs. Beauty and other matchups

Last week, broadcasters unveiled their fall lineups. Here's a peek at the juiciest matchups:

• 7 p.m. Tuesdays

ABC will get a lot of rubberneckers for Caveman, the series based on the silly Geico commercials. But after a week or so, viewers may opt to go elsewhere. Since American Idol is idle in the fall, the top option appears to be CBS' NCIS. But the CW's warmhearted Beauty and the Geek could rally. Ditto NBC's well-intentioned Biggest Loser. Fox's New Amsterdam, about a cop (Nicolaj Coster Waldau) blessed/cursed with immortality, could sneak in and win the hour. Advantage: CBS. Keep an eye on: Fox.

• 7 p.m. Wednesdays

NBC's Deal or No Deal could walk away with this time slot without breaking a sweat. It's not likely that America's Next Top Model could swoop in for the CW and win. That leaves only new shows: Pushing Daisies on ABC, about a man with powers to resuscitate the dead; CBS' reality show Kid Nation, in which 40 kids try to build a town and otherwise act like adults; and two comedies from Fox, Back to You, starring Emmy winners Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, and the sophomore sitcom 'Til Death, starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher. Advantage: NBC. Keep an eye on: Fox.

• 8 p.m. Wednesdays

CBS' Criminal Minds could win this hour in a cakewalk. Or Fox's Bones could rise to the occasion and finally become a breakout hit. The other options are all new shows: Bionic Woman on NBC, the teen drama Gossip Girl on the CW, and the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice on ABC. CBS looks to have the early advantage, but Shonda Rhimes spun gold with Grey, so don't count her out. Advantage: CBS. Keep an eye on: ABC.

BY THE NUMBERS

2.4 million: audience for FNC's coverage of the second GOP debate last week.
1.7 million: audience for MSNBC's coverage of the first GOP debate on May 3.