Daytime Emmys Consider Combining Younger Actor and Actress Awards

Kyle Pettis accepts the younger actor award at the 2019 Daytime Emmys.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is discussing the possibility that the Daytime Emmy Awards will combine its outstanding younger actor and actress categories into one, according to a report in Variety.

The organization already has a guest performer category that combines both genders. Now, the Daytime Emmys is looking at single young performer category, open to all. As part of the change, the newly merged category would also combine broadcast drama and digital drama performers in the same category.

The categories for younger actor in a drama series and younger actress in a drama series were first presented in 1985 when there were many more daytime soap operas in production. With just four major network soaps remaining, it may make sense to combine the younger performer categories into one (or eliminate it altogether).

The consideration of this change was discussed at an Academy advisory meeting last week. No final consensus was reached in the room, according to NATAS CEO Adam Sharp. Final decisions on categories and criteria will be announced when the call for the next Daytime Emmy entries go out in the fall.

In the past, the Daytime Emmy awards for younger actor and younger actress in a drama series have recognized the work of the performers age 25 and under. This year’s winners in the categories were Hayley Erin (ex-Kiki, General Hospital) for younger actress in a drama series, and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo, Days of our Lives) for younger actor in a drama series.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (May 2-6, 2016)

Rafe has a romantic night planned for Hope. © Howard Wise/jpistudios.com

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of May 2-6, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, May 2
Deimos gets a visit from Justin, who has a proposition for him; Theresa confronts Brady about his "hero" complex; he always seems to need to be rescuing someone; Maggie and Victor suggest Summer move in with them; the arrival of a man from Summer's past stuns her; Deimos asks Nicole to be Basic Black's CEO.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (April 25-29, 2016)

Abe addresses his concerns about Theo and Ciara with Hope.
© jpistudios.com © Howard Wise/jpistudios.com

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of April 25-29, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, April 25
Theo (Kyler Pettis) tells Ciara (Vivian Jovanni) they will have a magical prom; Rafe (Galen Gering) surprises Hope with an '80s-themed evening; Abe (James Reynolds) talks to Hope about Theo and Ciara; Rafe learns Deimos (Vincent Irizarry) invested in a company linked to Dr. Malcolm; Marlena (Deidre Hall) discusses Eric (Greg Vaughan) with Belle (Martha Madison).

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (April 18-22, 2016)

Andre calls Hope from jail, and warns her he'll go after her and Rafe
once he's freed. © jpistudios.com

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of April 18-22, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, April 18
Andre (Thaao Penghlis) calls Hope (Kristian Alfonso) from jail and warns her he'll go after her and Rafe (Galen Gering) once he's freed; Belle (Martha Madison) gives Shawn (Brandon Beemer) the signed divorce papers - it's over; Shawn is uncomfortable with Lani's ((Sal Stowers) possessive behavior; Ciara (Vivian Jovanni) decides she's not going to the prom, but Claire (Olivia Rose Keegan) insists.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (April 11-15, 2016)

Eric, sentenced to five years in prison, says goodbye to Marlena,
Roman, John and Jennifer. © jpistudios.com

Check out the day-to-day spoilers below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of April 11-15, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, April 11
Abigail's (Kate Mansi) mental stability is questioned; a worried Chad (Billy Flynn) reaches out to Marlena (Deidre Hall); Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) learns from Fynn (Alexander Bruszt) that she has a subdural hematoma; Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla remember their past.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (April 4-8, 2016)

Ciara and Theo kiss. © jpistudios.com

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of April 4-8, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, April 4
Caroline (Peggy McCay) has a new vision of Victor (John Aniston); Deimos (Vincent Irizarry) looks at a photo of a woman who resembles Nicole (Arianne Zucker); Nicole and Caroline go to Victor's bedside; Summer (Marie Wilson) fears Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) may be paralyzed.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (February 8-12, 2016)

John resolves to bring down the agency that made him an assassin - much
to Marlena's dismay.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of February 8-12, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, February 8
Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Ava (Tamara Braun) receive stunning news about their son; Andre (Thaao Penghlis) closes in on a new way to reach Hope (Kristian Alfonso); Theo (Kyler Pettis) tells Ciara (Vivian Jovanni) he has feelings for her; Abigail (Kate Mansi) questions Chad (Billy Flynn) about the real reason he wants to elope.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (February 1-5, 2016)

"If you want Kayla free, you know what you have to do," Ava tells Steve.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of February 1-5, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, February 1
Steve (Stephen Nichols) works to make a deal with Ava (Tamara Braun); Ciara (Vivian Jovanni) tears into Chase (Jonathon McClendon); Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) talks to Belle (Martha Madison) about Deimos' (Vincent Irizarry) blackmail; Eve (Kassie DePaiva) becomes Claire's (Olivia Rose Keegan) mentor.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (January 25-29, 2016)

"They will pay for what they did," Andre vows after finding the gun that
was used to murder Stefano.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of January 25-29, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, January 25
Realizing Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) is missing, Steve (Stephen Nichols) confronts Ava (Tamara Braun); Andre (Thaao Penghlis) learns Hope's (Kristian Alfonso) secret; Ciara (Vivian Jovanni) invites Rafe (Galen Gering) on a family getaway; Chad (Billy Flynn) makes a suggestion about where he and Abigail (Kate Mansi) should live.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (January 18-22, 2016)

Victor is reunited with his brother, Deimos.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of January 18-22, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, January 18
Hope (Kristian Alfonso) confesses to murder; Victor (John Aniston) is reunited with his brother, Deimos (Vincent Irizarry); Claire (Olivia Rose Keegan) tries to keep Belle (Martha Madison) and Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) apart; Eve (Kassie DePaiva) asks Justin (Wally Kurth) where their relationship stands.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (January 11-15, 2016)

Rafe finds Stefano's dead body.  "I killed him," Hope tells Rafe. Is
Stefano really dead this time?

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of January 11-15, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, January 11
Chad (Billy Flynn) asks Abigail (Kate Mansi) to marry him; Rafe (Galen Gerin) offers help to Hope (Kristian Alfonso); Nicole (Arianne Zucker) blames Eric (Greg Vaughan) for Daniel's death; Victor (John Aniston) comforts a grieving Maggie (Suzanne Rogers).

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (January 4-8, 2016)

Jennifer, Eric, Brady and Daniel are rushed to the hospital after a
horrific car accident.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of January 4-8, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, January 4
Jennifer (Melissa Reeves), Eric (Greg Vaughan), Brady (Eric Martsolf) and Daniel (Shawn Christian) are taken to the hospital following a car crash; Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) faces a difficult decision regarding who gets Daniel's heart; Roman (Josh Taylor) comes to a realization about Eric; Abigail (Kate Mansi) pushes Chad (Billy Flynn) to believe he is Thomas' father.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (December 28, 2015-January 1, 2016)

A tragic New Year's Eve accident forever changes the lives of several
Salem citizens...

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of December 28, 2015-January 1, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, December 28
Chad (Billy Flynn) surprises Belle (Martha Madison) with a kiss; Abigail (Kate Mansi) questions Marlena (Deidre Hall) to figure out what's going on with Chad; Kate (Lauren Koslow) delivers a devastating blow to Theresa (Jen Lilley); Hope (Kristian Alfonso) zeros in on the person responsible for Bo's kidnapping.

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (December 21-25, 2015)

A disbelieving Steve and Kayla put Ava's story to the test.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of December 21-25, 2015.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, December 21
Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) test Ava's (Tamara Braun) story; Chad (Billy Flynn) tries to charm Belle (Martha Madison); Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) and Brady (Eric Martsolf) class over the running of Titan; Victor (John Aniston) wants Caroline (Peggy McCay)Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) to move in with him and Maggie (Suzanne Rogers).

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (December 14-18, 2015)

When Chad rejects his plan to help the family, Andre takes matters into
his own hands.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of December 14-18, 2015.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, December 14
Hope (Kristian Alfonso) is forced into a tricky situation as she tries to rescue Ciara (Vivian Jovanni); Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) pressures Victor (John Aniston) to make a bold business decision

'Days of our Lives' Spoilers (December 7-11, 2015)

Andre targets Belle to get to Sami.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives during the week of December 7-11, 2015.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, December 7
As the cabin burns around them, Abigail (Kate Mansi) and Chad (Billy Flynn) desperately try to escape; JJ (Casey Moss) and Lani (Sal Stowers) track down Ben (Robert Scott Wilson); Hope (Kristian Alfonso) surprises Roman (Josh Taylor); Theo (Kyler Pettis) receives a cruel, anonymous text.

'Days of our Lives' Waters Its Roots with Next Generation: Kyler Pettis, Olivia Keegan, Jonathon McClendon, Vivian Jovanni and James Lastovic

Kyler Pettis, Olivia Keegan, Jonathon McClendon, Vivian Jovanni
and James Lastovic. Photo Credit: JPI Studios

They grow up fast on soaps, and Salem USA is about to get a whole new crop of teenagers. Days of our Lives is aging five child characters into young adults: Ciara, Theo, Chase, Claire and Joey.

On August 28, Patch and Kayla's son Joey, last seen as a 6-year-old, will pop up as a troubled teen played by newcomer James Lastovic. A new Ciara Brady (Vivian Jovanni) and Chase Jennings (Jonathon McClendon) will both arrive October 30. Then comes Theo Carver (Kyler Pettis) on November 3, followed by Claire Brady (Olivia Keegan) November 25.

“Young people are the life blood of any soap—especially ours as we head toward our 50th anniversary in November,” executive producer Ken Corday tells TV Insider. “By aging these children into young adults, we’re making them more relatable to our audience and more dramatically exciting. These are not ancillary characters, but young leads. None of them will be a goody two-shoes. Each is somewhat flawed.”

The next generation will share similarities with their parents. For example, Ciara will be reminiscent of her mom, Hope, and Joey is very much like Patch.

“My late mom [Days executive producer Betty Corday] used to say, ‘You have to water the roots of the Days of our Lives tree with a new generation every 10 years or so,’ and that’s what we’ve done,” Corday notes. “These are the children of the children of the children of the children, and they are vital to our future.”

Meanwhile, is Days adding an Emmy winner to its cast?

Kyler Pettis Joins 'Days of our Lives'

Kyler Pettis

Kyler Pettis has joined the cast of Days of our Lives, according to fan site Jason47.com, and will debut this fall.

Earlie this year, Days put out a casting call for the contract role of sweet Elijah, a "16-year-old, gorgeous, African American male" who is a high functioning autistic. The show has not confirmed Elijah is an aged Theo Carver (played until recently by Terrell Ransom, Jr.), but that seems likely.

Pettis' film credits include Crowe's Valley, Horizons, Demented, Final Human, The Tutor and Warehouse 1. Theater credits include "Autobahn," "Heaven's North of Here" and "Honk." He has also appeared on Ray Donovan and the web series Old Dogs & New Tricks. Pettis has studied at Margie Haber Studios in Los Angeles, and Saddleback College.