Last week ABC just barely finished ahead of NBC on the first night of the new season, according to Nielsen overnights. Last night it was not nearly as close.

ABC averaged a 4.7 rating and 12 share, according to Nielsen overnights, to easily win the night, 18 percent ahead of second-place NBC and CBS. It was the only Big Four network that did not see a decrease compared with last week’s debut ratings, mainly because its hit “Dancing with the Stars” ballooned from 90 minutes to 120.

Not coincidentally, ABC is also the only network without a new show on the night. CBS, Fox and NBC all saw ratings for their new programs decline in week two.

CBS’s new comedy “The Big Bang Theory” slipped a not-too-bad 8 percent, from a 3.7 to a 3.4, though second-year sitcom “Rules of Engagement” was down a more alarming 11 percent week to week.

Fox’s “K-Ville” continued to fall in its third week, down 13 percent from a 2.3 to a 2.0.

But NBC sustained the night’s biggest losses, with all three of its shows off double-digit percentages from last week.

“Chuck,” the well-reviewed comedy at 8 p.m., fell 14 percent, from a 3.6 to a 3.1, while 10 p.m.’s less-praised “Journeyman” was off 11 percent, from a 3.7 to a 3.3.

The network’s 9 p.m. anchor, “Heroes,” also fell 14 percent, from a 6.5 to a 5.6, while facing that extra half-hour of ABC's "Stars."

However, with the number of digital video recorders in the Nielsen sample more than doubling this year, it will be more apparent when DVR ratings are released next week whether the shows actually took real hits or if more people simply decided to time shift them in their second week.

The critically adored new CW series “Aliens in America” debuted with a 0.9 rating among the network’s target 18-34s, losing 10 percent from lead-in “Everybody Hates Chris.”

Oddly, after all the attention lavished on "Aliens," it was the network's "The Game," a second-year sitcom, that had a standout night. The "Girlfriends" spinoff delivered series highs in every major demographic, growing out of its "Girlfriends" lead-in to a 1.8 in 18-34s and a 2.7 in women 18-34.

Meanwhile, CBS and NBC tied for second last night at 4.0/10. Fox finished fourth at 2.5/6, Univision fifth at 1.5/4 and CW sixth at 1.1/3.
 
At 8 p.m. ABC led with a 4.9 for the first half of its two-hour “Stars,” followed by CBS with a 3.2 average for “How I Met Your Mother” (3.0) and “Theory” (3.4). NBC was third with a 3.1 for “Chuck,” Fox fourth with a 3.0 for “Prison Break,” Univision fifth with a 1.0 for “Amar sin Limites” and CW sixth with a 0.9 average for “Chris” (1.0) and “Aliens” (0.8).
 
At 9 p.m. ABC and NBC tied for the lead at 5.6, ABC for its second half of “Stars” and NBC for “Heroes.” CBS was third with a 4.3 average for “Two and a Half Men” (4.6) and “Rules of Engagement” (3.9), Fox fourth with a 2.0 for “K-Ville,” Univision fifth with a 1.9 for “Destilando Amor” and CW sixth with a 1.3 average for “Girlfriends” (1.2) and “The Game” (1.4).
 
CBS took over first place at 10 p.m. with a 4.6 for “CSI: Miami,” with ABC second with a 3.6 for “The Bachelor.” NBC was third with a 3.3 for “Journeyman” and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Cristina.”
 
Among households, ABC led the night with an 11.2 average overnight rating and a 17 share. CBS was second at 7.7/12, NBC third at 5.9/9, Fox fourth at 4.2/6, Univision fifth at 2.0/3 and CW sixth at 1.8/3.