“American Idol” ended its biggest season yet with its second-biggest finale.

According to Nielsen fast nationals, 35.4 million total viewers tuned in to watch Taylor Hicks become the Fox show’s second-ever male winner. That was a substantial 20 percent boost over last year’s 29.4 million who watched Carrie Underwood win.

It also marked the program’s second-biggest finale ever, behind only 2003’s tightly contested final between Clay Aiken and winner Ruben Studdard, which drew 38 million.

It was well above the 28.8 million who watched Fantasia triumph in 2004.

Fox didn’t need the help in May sweeps, as it already held a commanding lead with a 4.5 adults 18-49 rating through the first 27 nights of sweeps. But its final margin of victory over runner-up CBS, already at 0.8, will likely jump up a tenth or two after last night.

“Idol” averaged a 13.8 18-49 rating from 8 to 10 p.m., more than doubling its nearest competition. The show peaked with a 17.0 rating and 42.9 million viewers during the 9:30 p.m. half hour.

The first hour averaged an 11.6, bettering the combined broadcast competition at 8 p.m.

“Idol” finishes as broadcast’s highest-rated show among 18-49s for the third straight year. It’s also poised for its best-ever averages, likely over a 12.0 for the Tuesday and Wednesday editions.

Proving that two hit shows can indeed coexist in the same timeslot, ABC’s “Lost” also had a big night. The two-hour finale averaged a 7.5 18-49 rating from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., even to last year’s season ender.

The final hour, with “Idol” off the air, jumped to an 8.0 average. About 17.5 million total viewers tuned in for the two-hour finale.

Fox easily won the night with its 13.8 rating and 35 share among 18-49s, followed by ABC with 6.0/15. CBS and NBC tied at third with 1.9/5, Univision fifth with 1.5/3, UPN sixth with 0.7/2 and WB seventh with 0.6/1.
 
Fox started the night in the lead with an 11.6 at 8 p.m. for the “Idol” finale. ABC was a distant second with a 3.2 for a “Lost” clip show, followed by NBC with a 1.9 for “Dateline,” Univision with a 1.6 for “La Fea Mas Bella,” CBS with a 1.4 for a “Dr. Phil” special, UPN with a 0.7 for “Hair Show” and WB with a 0.6 for the first part of the movie “Daredevil.”
 
At 9, Fox was first again with a 15.9 for “Idol,” ABC second with a 6.9 for the first hour of “Lost” and CBS third with a 1.6 for a repeat of “Criminal Minds.” NBC and Univision tied at fourth with a 1.5, for a “Law & Order” repeat and “Barrera de Amor,” respectively. UPN was sixth with a 0.7 for “Hair” and WB was seventh with a 0.6 for “Daredevil.”
 
At 10, ABC took over the lead with an 8.0 for “Lost,” followed by CBS with a 2.7 for a repeat of “CSI: NY” and NBC with a 2.3 for another “Law & Order” repeat. 
 
Among households, Fox took the night with 20.0/31, followed by ABC with 8.6/13, CBS with 4.7/7, NBC with 4.5/7, Univision with 1.9/3, UPN with 1.3/2 and WB with 1.1/2.