LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- With the Major League Baseball playoffs less than three weeks away, FOX has firmed up its air schedule for the period. As is typical for the month of October, several of FOX's series will disappear for as many as four weeks.

Getting the shortest end of the stick - Tuesday dramas "Bones" and "House," both of which will get the boot for the entire month, save for only October 18 should the ALCS finish under six games. Nevertheless, in previous years FOX has opted to show repeats, movies or other specials on unused game dates in order to avoid viewer confusion.

Faring the best - Friday's mix of "The Bernie Mac Show," "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Killer Instinct," all three of which will only be pre-empted once (October 14 for Game 3 of the ALCS).

Here's a breakdown of each of FOX's series and their affected air dates. As always, all are subject to change.

AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (Saturdays at 9:00/8:00c) - October 8 (Division Series), October 15 (NLCS, Game 3/ALCS, Game 4), October 22 (World Series, Game 1) and October 29 (World Series, Game 6)*

AMERICAN DAD (Sundays at 7:30/6:30c) - October 9 (Division Series)*, October 16 (NLCS Game 4), October 23 (World Series, Game 2) and October 30 (World Series, Game 7)*

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Mondays at 8:00/7:00c) - October 10 (Division Series)* and October 17 (NLCS, Game 5)*

THE BERNIE MAC SHOW (Fridays at 8:00/7:00c) - October 14 (ALCS, Game 3)

BONES (Tuesdays at 8:00/7:00c) - October 4 (Division Series), October 11 (ALCS, Game 1), October 18 (ALCS, Game 6)* and October 25 (World Series, Game 3)

COPS (Saturdays at 8:00/7:00c) - October 8 (Division Series), October 15 (NLCS, Game 3/ALCS, Game 4), October 22 (World Series, Game 1) and October 29 (World Series, Game 6)*

FAMILY GUY (Sundays at 7:30/6:30c) - October 9 (Division Series)*, October 16 (NLCS Game 4), October 23 (World Series, Game 2) and October 30 (World Series, Game 7)*

HEAD CASES (Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c) - October 12 (ALCS, Game 2/NLCS, Game 1), October 19 (NLCS, Game 6/ALCS, Game 7)* and October 26 (World Series, Game 4)

HOUSE (Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c) - October 4 (Division Series), October 11 (ALCS, Game 1), October 18 (ALCS, Game 6)* and October 25 (World Series, Game 3)

KILLER INSTINCT (Fridays at 9:00/8:00c) - October 14 (ALCS, Game 3)

KING OF THE HILL (Sundays at 7:30/6:30c) - October 9 (Division Series)*, October 16 (NLCS Game 4), October 23 (World Series, Game 2) and October 30 (World Series, Game 7)*

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (Mondays at 8:30/7:30c) - October 10 (Division Series)* and October 17 (NLCS, Game 5)*

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (Fridays at 8:30/7:30c) - October 14 (ALCS, Game 3)

THE O.C. (Thursdays at 8:00/7:00c) - October 6 (Division Series), October 13 (NLCS, Game 2), October 20 (NLCS, Game 7)* and October 27 (World Series, Game 5)*

PRISON BREAK (Mondays at 9:00/8:00c) - October 10 (Division Series)* and October 17 (NLCS, Game 5)*

REUNION (Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c) - October 6 (Division Series), October 13 (NLCS, Game 2), October 20 (NLCS, Game 7)* and October 27 (World Series, Game 5)*

THE SIMPSONS (Sundays at 7:30/6:30c) - October 9 (Division Series)*, October 16 (NLCS Game 4), October 23 (World Series, Game 2) and October 30 (World Series, Game 7)*

THE WAR AT HOME (Sundays at 7:30/6:30c) - October 9 (Division Series)*, October 16 (NLCS Game 4), October 23 (World Series, Game 2) and October 30 (World Series, Game 7)*

* denotes if necessary

For a look at FOX's recent history in regards to its baseball pre-emptions, check out our story from July which detailed its strategy for the past five seasons.