Terry Morrow: 'Good Wife' guy Matt Czuchry to sip bubbly before SAG Awards

Matt Czuchry — the East Tennessee talent who co-stars on CBS's "The Good Wife" — will be drinking during the Screen Actor Guild Awards Sunday night.

And for good reason.

Czuchry, who grew up near the Science Hill community, will join Vitalie Taittinger, artistic director of Champagne Taittinger, to open the red carpet at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center for the 18th Annual SAG Awards.

The Champagne Taittinger toast marks the opening of the ceremony each year.

Czuchry joins a growing roster of actors who will honor their colleagues at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The who's who lists of honorees include Kevin Bacon, Kenneth Branagh, Kyle Chandler, Jean Dujardin, Patrick Duffy, Tina Fey, Linda Gray, Judy Greer, Larry Hagman, Armie Hammer, Ed Helms, SAG President Ken Howard, Regina King, John Krasinski, Julianna Margulies, Natalie Portman, Maya Rudolph, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke and Michelle Williams.

The SAG Awards ceremony will be simulcast live nationally 8 p.m. Sunday on TNT and TBS. An encore presentation will air immediately following on TNT at 10 p.m.

Czuchry plays deputy state's attorney Cary Agos on "The Good Wife" and has been honored with three consecutive SAG nominations as a member of the series' ensemble. He was previously best known for his portrayal of Logan Huntzberger on "Gilmore Girls" and had a recurring role as Chris Kennedy on "Friday Night Lights."

nNods. Like so many other industry ceremonies this season, the Academy of Country Music Awards shined the light on East Tennessee stars when nominees were announced Thursday. Knoxville-area native Kenny Chesney earned the most nominations for the 2012 ACM Awards with nine of them.

He's vying for Entertainer of the Year — the night's biggest honor — plus Male Vocalist of the Year and Single and Song of the Year among other categories.

Sugarland, which features Knoxville native Kristian Bush, is up for Vocal Duo of the Year against Love and Theft, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia and Thompson Square. The Band Perry, which is based in Greeneville, Tenn., is up for Vocal Group of the Year.

The ACMAs will broadcast live at 8 p.m. April 1 on CBS.

nSpinning? "The Office" may have an opening soon.

Reports indicate a spin-off is being mulled starring Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute. If NBC goes ahead with it, the spin-off would premiere in 2013.

The premise has Dwight at home with his family and their Schrute farm, bed & breakfast. However, when the news was announced, Wilson took to Twitter to say "don't believe everything you read in the press, ok?"

Terry Morrow may be reached at 865-342-6445 or morrowt@knoxville.com.

© 2012, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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