REGIS Show At Sea Will Float On-Air

(Frm The New York Daily News -- By Richard Huff)

REGIS PHILBIN is hoping for calm seas next week -- and with good reason.

That's because Philbin, KELLY RIPA and the rest of the LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY cast and crew will be aboard the cruise ship PRIDE OF AMERICA for the first-ever nationally syndicated show from sea.

"I just hope there is smooth sailing," Philbin told reporters Tuesday. "Kelly hasn't been on a cruise since she was 6. (Executive producer MICHAEL) GELMAN has never been on a cruise. During the course of a week, there's got to be one or two bad days. When it's bad, it's going to be fascinating."

Ripa, also on the call, shot back -- "He's hoping I'll throw up, preferably on-air."

The LIVE cruise will leave New York Saturday, head to Boston, then to Philadelphia, Norfolk, Virginia, do a show from sea, and then hit Miami.

Some 1,000 fans who won LIVE contests will be aboard the ship, and along the way fans will be able to join the local telecasts.

WABC's SAM CHAMPION will join up with the cruise to do his weather reports Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from the ship.

"My biggest worry is the satellite," Gelman said. "I worry about the weather."

Philbin, of course, reminded Gelman that it's hurricane season and that tropical storm ARLENE just hit THE GULF COAST.

"We do the show if it rains, we just keep doing it, if it's very windy," Gelman said. "And I worry about all the other things that could go wrong, which is everything."

Once the ship hits Miami, Ripa, Philbin and Gelman will go their separate ways for the trip home.

Ripa even joked she might hit the beach in Miami.

"I may take my red bikini," she said of the suit featured in paparazzi pictures the last time she was there, "and take another stroll down the beach -- it worked so well the last time."