“Jericho” fans may not have done a good enough job getting the word out about their famously uncanceled show’s return. While last night’s season two premiere fared better than the first-season finale, it was still off from the show’s first-season average and finished second in its new timeslot.

“Jericho” averaged a 2.5 adults 18-49 rating in the 10 p.m. Tuesday slot, according to Nielsen overnights, up 19 percent over last spring’s finale, when it aired at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

But that was still 11 percent off the show’s 2.8 average last season and down 22 percent from a 3.2 for its first-season premiere. “Jericho” finished behind a repeat of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” in the timeslot, though its rating did remain steady from its first to its second half hour.

The show was revived last spring after its initial cancellation following a campaign by rabid fans. But at the time CBS said its ratings would have to improve to warrant a third season.

Fox led the night easily among 18-49s with a 12.3 average overnight rating and a 29 share. NBC was second at 2.8/7, CBS third at 2.5/6, Univision fourth at 1.6/4, ABC fifth at 1.5/4 and CW sixth at 1.1/3.
 
At 8 p.m. Fox was first with an 11.4 rating for the first hour of “American Idol,” followed by NBC with a 2.8 for the first half of “The Biggest Loser.” CBS was third with a 2.3 for a repeat of “NCIS,” Univision fourth with a 1.9 for “Al Diablo con los Guapos,” ABC fifth with a 1.4 for “Just for Laughs” and CW sixth with a 0.8 for a “Reaper” repeat.
 
Fox was on top again at 9 p.m. with a 13.2 for the second hour of “Idol,” with NBC second with a 3.1 for another hour of “Loser.” CBS was third with a 2.7 for the season premiere of “Big Brother,” Univision fourth with a 1.5 for “Pasion” and ABC and CW tied for fifth at 1.4, ABC for “According to Jim” (1.4) and “Carpoolers” (1.3) and CW for “One Tree Hill.”
 
At 10 p.m. NBC jumped into the lead with a 2.6 for a repeat of “SVU,” while CBS was a close second with a 2.5 for “Jericho.” ABC was third with a 1.8 for “Boston Legal” and Univision fourth with a 1.3 for “Aqui y Ahora.”
 
Among households, Fox was first for the night with a 16.7 average overnight rating and a 25 share. CBS was second at 5.5/8, NBC third at 5.1/8, ABC fourth at 3.7/6, Univision fifth at 1.9/3 and CW sixth at 1.7/3.