HOLLYWOOD —This year’s Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series nominee Drew Tyler Bell, who portrays Thomas Forrester on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series nominee Christel Khalil, who portrays Lily Winters Ashby on “The Young and the Restless,” are my choices to win this year’s honors. Both of these young actors gave a full range of emotional performances last year with complexity and Bell managed to turn his character in a 180 degree personality change at the speed of light. Khalil is nothing short of a solid performer who works with greats like Kristoff St. John and Jess Walton, which gives her an edge on her competition.

Bell’s competition includes, Drew Garrett, “GH,” Dylan Patton, “DAYS,” Scott Clifton, “OLTL” and Zack Conroy, “GL.” Christel’s competitors for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series are Marnie Schuleburg, “ATWT,” Molly Burnett, “DAYS,” Shelley Henning, “DAYS,” and Julie Berman, “General Hospital.” Both of these young people have a lot of competition, but what makes them stand out is the amount of work they had last year. Bell was not on a lot, but when he was on, it was pulse pounding drama every moment. His executive producer and head writer, Bradley P. Bell, no relation to the actor, was writing award-worthy scripts. Thomas Forrester went from scion to psycho in no time flat. His attempts on the life of Rick Forrester left chills down the spines of millions of viewers, and the young man performed amazingly well. None of us, with the exception of Brad Bell knew Drew had it in him.

As for Christel Khalil, another Bell soap star, this young lady on “Y&R” has had amazing storylines for years. Last year however, the beautiful daughter of Neil Winters battled cancer, a number of heartbreaks, broke up with the love of her life Cane Ashby, only to go back to him when she realized she needed him and could forgive him for lying to her about his true identity. Maria Bell came up with so many twists and turns for Lily, that her portrayer was able to hone her superb acting skills and mastered the role of Lily.Christel’s “Y&R” costar Thom Bierdz, who portrays Phillip Chancellor III on the soap, tells Canyon News, “Both Christel and Elizabeth (Chloe) on the show are so young and yet so real in their acting, it’s amazing to me to watch them, Tommy.”

Lily’s cancer storyline is one of the best ever written  in the daytime genre and Khalil and Drew Tyler Bell will come home from Vegas with the gold. Of that I’m sure.