The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which hands out the Primetime Emmy Awards for excellence in television, is reportedly considering merging the Outstanding Younger Actress and Actor categories. It will be the second gender-neutral acting award, following the academy's guest performer award.
According toVariety, the merging was discussed during an academy advisory meeting Thursday night. NATAS CEO Adam Sharp said there was no consensus. The final decision will likely not be made until the next Daytime Emmy entries come in during the fall.
The younger actor and younger actress awards go to stars 25 and younger. The categories were introduced in 1985 when there were far more soap operas on television. Today, there are only four major network soaps on air, so the categories now find co-stars competing against each other.