Al Roker, Shaun Robinson to Host NBC's 123rd TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE, 1/2

Al Roker, the weatherman and feature reporter for NBC's "Today," and Shaun Robinson, the weekend co-anchor and correspondent for "Access Hollywood," will co-host NBC's live, high-definition coverage of the "123rd Tournament of Roses Parade" from Pasadena, California on Monday, January 2, 2012 (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET).

This will be Roker's fifteenth year hosting the popular annual event, and the third year for Robinson, who previously co-hosted in 2004 and 2011. NBC has been broadcasting the New Year's Day parade for 85 years, beginning on radio in 1927 and then televising the event beginning in 1954.

This year's theme is "Just Imagine…," and the grand marshal will be Iraq War veteran, motivational speaker and "Dancing with the Stars" winner J.R. Martinez. The parade will feature 43 lavish floral floats, 20 high-stepping equestrian teams and 21 incredible marching bands from as far away as Japan and Sweden. This year's Rose Queen and her court will also appear, along with special guests on spectacular floats.

The most popular New Year's Day celebration in the world, the parade will feature colorful floats like Honda's "Sweet Dreams" entry, celebrating a child's dreamlike imagination in which anything is possible, and a Natural Balance float featuring Tillman -- the Guinness World Record holder for fastest skateboarding dog -- surfing with his bulldog friends on real waves. A Paramount Pictures' crowd-pleaser will celebrate "100 Years of Movie Magic," while the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's entry "Just Imagine…a World Without AIDS" will pay tribute to Hollywood legend and longtime AIDS activist, Elizabeth Taylor, who tirelessly raised awareness and funds for people living with AIDS.

The Pasadena police department estimates that at least 1 million spectators will line the five-and-a-half mile parade route. Tens of millions of people worldwide watch the telecast every year.

Arthur Forrest is the executive producer and director, Tom Patino is the line producer, Carol Kahl is the supervising producer and Stephanie Prescott is the coordinating producer for Universal Television.

For more information, please visit http://www.nbc.com.

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