THAT FIRST STEP IS A DOOZY
Afellow broadcaster wasn’t surprised by bombshell news that she’s ditching right-wing Fox News for NBC. “CBS This Morning” co-host told us she’d gotten advance word from Kelly that something major was in the works. “She’d emailed me about a week ago and said, I’m about to make a really big decision that may shock some people,” King when we saw her Thursday at an event for the Australian movie “Lion” at the Monkey Bar on East 54th St. “I said, go ahead, shock us!” King said she’s “thrilled” for the 46-year-old Kelly, who’ll be hosting both a daily daytime news talk show and a Sunday newsmagazine show for NBC — for a salary that’s not been disclosed, but that’s thought to be upwards of $15 million. “I think it’s fantastic,” said King. “I think she’s very good at what she does and I think anytime a woman succeeds it’s a good day for everyone. I’m cheering her on always.” The Monkey Bar event was a “Lion” screening followed by a panel discussion hosted by which featured co-stars and 8-year-old as well as the president and CEO of UNICEF, which hosted the event. Film honcho was among those who turned out to watch the movie, which is up for four Golden Globes tomorrow, including acting nods for Patel and Kidman. While we had King’s ear we inquired after her close pal whose new cookbook just dropped. “It’s not just a straight cookbook, it’s very anecdotal,” and deals with “her battle, her friendship with food,” said King. “Anybody who’s struggled with weight, as I have too, goes up and down and up and down and we all know what we have to do. I think she feels that now she’s in a really good place.” No cookbook figurehead, Oprah really knows her way around a kitchen, King says – and she even washes her own dishes. Or some of them. “She also has people who wash dishes too, but yes, I’ve seen her wash a pot and a pan. And she cleans up her own dog poop too.” The PR machine behind the “Groundhog Day” musical sent coffee and cinnamon rolls to our office to promote their upcoming Broadway show to start the week. Then they did it again at the same time the next day, and the next day and the next day. Kudos for the clever promotional gimmick, folks. We get it. Now knock it off. Rehearsals begin on Monday and the show opens April 17 at the August Wilson Theatre.