Returning reality shows continue to rule this summer. Last night’s second-season premiere of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” drew the network’s top 18-49 rating this summer.

“Talent” averaged a 4.3 rating for its two-hour premiere starting at 9 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, making it by far the night’s top-rated show.

It was also the best rating thus far for any summer show debut, though Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” also averaged a 4.3 for its third outing last week.

“Talent” peaked with a 4.5 average from 9:30 to 10:30, then falling slightly in its last half hour.

The reality talent show’s debut was up 23 percent from last summer’s season finale, which averaged a 3.5 in mid August. “Talent” also rose in total viewers compared with the season one finale, up 9 percent from 11.8 million to 12.9 million. It was the show's best-ever performance in total viewers and the top premiere of the summer.

The show did fall a bit from last year’s series premiere, which averaged a 4.6. But “Talent’s” ratings declined notably during the second half of its run last year. Last night's 4.3 was its second-best-ever rating in 18-49s.

Certainly it helped that there was limited competition last night, with ABC’s “ALMA Awards” bombing and low-rated reruns dominating the 9 p.m. hour. But “Talent” may have also gotten a boost from two new additions to the show, host Jerry Springer and judge Sharon Osbourne.

It continues an emerging trend this season of returning shows such as Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Dance” doing well while new shows like CBS’s “Pirate Master,” Fox’s “On the Lot” and ABC’s “Ex Wives Club” debuting to modest audiences.

NBC was first for the night with a 3.8 average rating and an 11 share, with Fox second at 2.1/6, CBS third at 2.0/6, Univision fourth at 1.7/5, ABC fifth at 1.4/4 and CW sixth at 0.6/2.
 
NBC led each hour of the night, beginning with a 2.7 at 8 p.m. for “Deal or No Deal.” CBS was second that hour with a 2.2 for a repeat of “NCIS,” Univision third with a 1.7 for “La Fea Mas Bella” and ABC fourth with a 1.5 for repeats of “George Lopez” and “According to Jim.” Fox was fifth with a 1.4 for “Lot” and CW sixth with a 0.7 for a repeat of “Gilmore Girls.”
 
At 9 p.m. NBC led with a 4.3 for its first hour of “Talent,” with Fox jumping to second with a 2.8 for a repeat of “House.” Univision was third with a 2.0 for “Destilando Amor,” CBS fourth with a 1.8 for a repeat of “The Unit,” ABC fifth with a 1.4 for its first hour of “ALMA” and CW sixth with a 0.5 for a “Veronica Mars” repeat.
 
At 10 p.m. NBC was on top with another 4.3 for the second hour of “Talent,” with CBS second with a 1.9 for “48 Hours Mystery,” Univision third with a 1.4 for “Ver para Creer” and ABC fourth with a 1.3 for the second half of “ALMA.”
 
NBC also finished first for the night among households, finishing with a 7.7 average rating and a 13 share. CBS was second at 5.3/9, Fox third at 3.6/6, ABC fourth at 2.6/4, Univision fifth at 2.1/4 and CW sixth at 1.1/2.