PIERS MORGAN’S FIRST GUEST: OPRAH

Piers Morgan has landed Oprah Winfrey as his first guest when Piers Morgan Tonight launches on Jan. 17, replacing Larry King Live on CNN. Morgan told the winter television critics press tour in Pasadena Thursday that he had already taped the interview earlier in the week in Los Angeles. When reporters scoffed at Morgan’s lead-off guest, noting that Winfrey has already given several interviews in connection with the launch of her new cable-TV network OWN, Morgan replied, “The idea that you could say that Oprah is not a great get for a first guest on a show like this is ridiculous.” Asked about the fact that King, once CNN’s biggest star, was being roundly beaten in the ratings by not only Fox News but also by MSNBC when he decided to step down, Morgan replied, “I’d like to get to the position … where the butt-kicking is reversed a bit. I am absolutely confident we can.”