“American Idol” continues to slip compared with last year, but the losses were smaller last night than last week. And Fox continued to wallop the other networks.

“Idol” averaged an 11.7 adults 18-49 rating at 8 p.m. last night, according to Nielsen overnights, down 7 percent from a 12.6 for its third episode last year. The reality show also grabbed 29.1 million total viewers, also off 7 percent from last year’s 31.2 million.

Those modest declines were less than for last week’s two-hour premiere episode, which averaged a 13.8 rating and 33.2 million total viewers, declines of 11 and 12 percent, respectively, compared with last year.

"Idol" is in its seventh season, and its declines are in line with many other hit shows that have seen ratings slip this season due in part to increased digital video recorder viewership.

Even a slightly diminished “Idol” dominates the competition. Fox was 67 percent ahead of the other Big Five networks at 8 p.m., which combined for a 7.0 rating.

Fox led the night among viewers 18-49 with an 8.4 average overnight rating and a 20 share. NBC was second at 4.0/10, CBS third at 2.0/5, ABC fourth at 1.8/5, Univision fifth at 1.8/4 and CW sixth at 1.0/2.
 
At 8 p.m. Fox was first with an 11.7 for “Idol,” followed distantly by NBC with a 2.9 for its first hour of “The Biggest Loser.” Univision was third with a 2.2 for “Al Diablo con los Guapos,” CBS fourth with a 2.1 for a repeat of “NCIS,” ABC fifth with a 1.4 for an hour of “Just for Laughs” and CW sixth with a 0.6 for a “Reaper” rerun.
 
Fox led again at 9 p.m. with a 5.1 for a repeat of “House,” with NBC second with a 4.5 for its second half of “Loser.” ABC was third with a 2.0 average for “According to Jim” (2.2) and “Carpoolers” (1.7), CBS fourth with a 1.9 for a repeat of “The Unit,” Univision fifth with a 1.8 for “Pasion” and CW sixth with a 1.3 for “One Tree Hill.”
 
NBC took over first place at 10 p.m. with a 4.6 for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” while ABC moved to second with a 2.2 for “Boston Legal.” CBS was third with a 2.0 for “48 Hours Mystery” and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Aqui y Ahora.”
 
Among households, Fox was first for the night with a 12.3 average overnight rating and a 19 share. NBC was second at 6.5/10, CBS third at 5.9/9, ABC fourth at 4.1/6, Univision fifth at 2.0/3 and CW sixth at 1.6/2.