The fourth-season premiere of “Bones” lifted Fox to an easy victory Wednesday night, with the series drawing its best debut in total viewers since its 2005 bow.

“Bones” averaged a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating from 8 to 10 p.m. last night, according to Nielsen overnights, equaling its 2007 debut. Among total viewers, “Bones” jumped 14 percent over last year, to 9.7 million.

“Bones” saw a big jump from its first to its second hour, rising from a 3.0 to a 3.5, despite strong competition from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and the CW’s “America’s Next Top Model” premiere.

Fox led the night among 18-49s with a 3.3 average overnight rating and a 9 share. NBC was second at 2.6/7, Univision third at 1.9/5, CW fourth at 1.7/5, CBS fifth at 1.4/4 and ABC sixth at 1.3/4.

At 8 p.m. Fox was first with a 3.0 for the first half of “Bones,” followed by NBC with a 2.5 for the first hour of “Talent.” Univision was third with a 2.1 for “Al Diablo con los Guapos,” CW fourth with a 1.6 for the first hour of “America’s Next Top Model,” CBS fifth with a 1.4 for “Greatest American Dog” and ABC sixth with a 1.3 for a repeat of “Wife Swap.”

Fox was first again at 9 p.m. with a 3.5 for more “Bones,” while NBC held onto second place with a 2.9 for another hour of “Talent.” Univision was third with a 2.1 for “Fuego en la Sangre,” CW fourth with a 1.8 for more “Model,” CBS fifth with a 1.6 for a “Criminal Minds” rerun and ABC sixth with a 1.2 for a repeat of “Supernanny.”

At 10 p.m. NBC took the lead with a 2.4 for its coverage of the Republican National Conventions, with ABC second with a 1.5 for its RNC coverage. Univision was third with a 1.4 for “Don Francisco Presenta” and CBS fourth with a 1.2 for RNC coverage.

Fox also finished first for the night among households with a 6.0 average overnight rating and a 9 share. NBC was second at 5.9/9, CBS third at 3.5/5, ABC fourth at 2.8/4, CW fifth at 2.4/4 and Univision sixth at 2.3/4.