CAST OF SMASH HIT MUSICAL "AMERICAN IDIOT" AND TEEN STAR GREYSON CHANCE TO PERFORM LIVE IN TIMES SQUARE DURING "NBC'S NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH CARSON DALY" ON DECEMBER 31

NBC'S JIMMY FALLON AND BRIAN WILLIAMS MAKE SPECIAL APPEARANCES; HOLIDAY SPECIAL ALSO FEATURES INTERVIEWS WITH NBC'S 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' NEWCOMER JAY PHAROAH AND INTERNET SENSATION ANTOINE DODSON

The American Idiot Cast and Greyson Chance Will Join Fellow Musicians Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and My Chemical Romance In The Star-Studded Special

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- December 27, 2010 -- The cast of Green Day's smash hit Broadway musical "American Idiot" and teen viral video phenomenon Greyson Chance help ring in 2011 by performing live on "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly." Additionally, NBC's Jimmy Fallon ("Late Night with Jimmy Fallon") and NBC News' Brian Williams treat viewers to a special appearance while "SNL" cast member Jay Pharoah and Internet celebrity Antoine Dodson stop by for interviews.

As previously announced, the special will also feature an interview with U2's Bono and The Edge and musical performances by My Chemical Romance, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.

The two-hour special will air live on Friday, December 31, beginning in primetime from 10-11 p.m. (ET), and continuing from 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (ET) with the countdown to 2011 and the first performances of the New Year. "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" will broadcast in high definition from the middle of the world's most famous New Year's Eve destination -- Times Square in New York City.

Beginning at 11:30 p.m. (ET), CNBC will join in the countdown festivities by simultaneously airing the New Year's Eve special. "Today" correspondents Natalie Morales and Amy Robach will also be returning to help Daly's coverage of the celebration with live reports from the heart of Times Square with nearly one million spectators.

Based on Green Day's groundbreaking rock opera of the same name, "American Idiot" tells the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. Through incredible spectacle, thrilling performances and with the hope embodied by a new generation, "American Idiot" gives audiences the time of their lives night after night at the St. James Theatre.

Chance became an overnight hit on YouTube when he performed Lady Gaga's hit song "Paparazzi" at a sixth grade musical festival receiving 34 million views making it the #3 most watched video of 2010. His two original compositions, "Stars," and "Broken Hearts," both posted on his YouTube channel, have reached four and six million views respectively. His debut single, "Waiting Outside the Lines," was released in October 2010 and his debut album will be released in early 2011.

Pharoah is a standup comedian/impressionist and joined "Saturday Night Live" in September 2010. He is a featured player and is currently the youngest cast member.

Internet superstar Dodson's song "Bed Intruder" has been named "YouTube Video of 2010" and garnered over 61 million views. The song also landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this year selling thousands of copies, which was produced by The Gregory Brothers.

In 2009, 9.3 million viewers tuned in to watch "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly." The annual special, which premiered in 2004, delivered its fifth-straight year of gains and scored its biggest ratings results to date.

"NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" is executive-produced by Daly ("Last Call with Carson Daly") and Alex Coletti through Universal Media Studios. Guy Oseary ("Last Call with Carson Daly") is co-executive producer.