CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- "The Pussycat Dolls," the first of NBC's one-minute movies (or "1MMs" for short), is scheduled to premiere on Thursday, September 25 during the season premiere of "Will & Grace" (8:48-9:27 p.m. eastern).

"Dolls" is one of a half-dozen or so planned minature movies designed to grab the audience's attention during the network's commercial breaks. Each movie will air as two 30-second parts, the first of which has a cliffhanger leading into the next. "1MMs" are the brainchild of John Wells Productions and Emmy Award-winning director Paris Barclay ("N.Y.P.D. Blue"). The idea is to assemble some of Hollywood's brightest creative talent both on screen and off for a quick and fresh concept.

Written by Joe Voci & Steven Antin and directed by the latter, "Dolls" features Carmen Electra ("Baywatch") as she "dons her rhinestone-studded costume as one of the famed "Pussycat Dolls" performers who seeks to exchange her shiny suit's stones for a bag of diamonds that could prove to be any girl's best friend."

Other planned "1MMs" include (taken from NBC's press release):

-- "Death Do Us Part" (written and directed by Ivan Sergei) - In the first 30 seconds of the 'movie," a frantic man (Eddie Cibrian, NBC�s "Third Watch") runs down the street with blood on his shirt and a gun tucked in his waistband, but when he reaches his house, he draws the gun on his surprised wife (Amber Valletta).

-- "A Special Word Game" (written and directed by Paris Barclay) - During the game the celebrity host offers a word to the three contestants - but when one competitive player gets it right, it leads to a battle of the networked stars. Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon ("NYPD Blue"), Bill Bellamy ("How to Be a Player"), Danny Masterson ("That �70s Show") and Paula Marshall ("Hidden Hills") star.

"Severance Pay" (written by Shawn Ryan, "The Shield," and directed by Philip Atwell) - In a black comedy, an arrogant tycoon (James Remar) berates his assistant (Cathy Ryan) until he is robbed of a briefcase full of money - and a betrayal puts teeth in the concept of "comeuppance."

"Henry Tammer - Prodigy Bully" (written and directed by Hank Perlman) - A mockumentary boasts of finding the first child prodigy-cum-bully - 8-year-old Henry "The Hammer" Tammer, who oddly is a kick-ass and a smarty-pants. But the reaction yields a radical plan to tame Tammer for the common good of the schoolyard.

"Free Snacks" (written and directed by Corky Quakenbush) - Filmed in Claymation, an unsuspecting male patron (voice of Michael Richards, "Seinfeld") eats unshelled snacks in a bar but is nearly driven nuts by the suggestive compliments of an unseen woman (Jackee Harry, "227") who cannot be found. Tom Arnold voice is heard as the bartender.

Premiere dates for the other "1MMs" have not been announced.