FIRST OFF . . .

Talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey is in negotiation with ABC for a type-cast situation comedy that would be taped in Chicago, a network official said Monday. Stuart Bloomberg, ABC vice president for comedy and variety series development, said Winfrey would play a single young woman who is the hostess of a daily talk show. Winfrey, who will continue her real-life talk show, will make a pilot program next month if an agreement is reached, Bloomberg said. Winfrey was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actress last year for her role in the movie “The Color Purple.”