At this rate, it won’t take Fox much time at all to catch up with the Big Three, much less pull ahead. The second night of the network’s “American Idol” delivered ratings nearly as spectacular as night one, sending the other networks into a deep funk last night.

“Idol” averaged 36.9 million total viewers from 8 to 10 p.m. last night, according to Nielsen overnights, just 600,000 fewer than its record debut total Tuesday night. It was up an impressive 5.4 million over last year’s night two, though that show was only an hour long.

Among adults 18-49, “Idol” averaged a 15.4, 0.3 behind Tuesday’s debut. That was up 18 percent over last year’s 13.0 for night two. “Idol” peaked with 39.6 million total viewers at 9 p.m. and a 17.0 in 18-49s.

What’s more, “Idol” obliterated the competition last night, outdrawing the other four English-language networks combined. Only one show, CBS’s “Criminal Minds,” managed to draw a rating above 3.0 in 18-49s, and among total viewers, it was the only competitor to top 10 million.

In fact, in the 8 p.m. hour, “Idol’s” most-watched competitor was ABC’s double dose of “According to Jim,” with a mere 6.9 million viewers.

It seems “Idol” is poised for its most-watched season ever, and that’s saying something. The first two episodes have pulled the second- and third-most viewers in the show’s history, behind only season two’s 38 million finale.

And if “Idol” continues at this pace, long-lagging Fox will quickly catch up to the other three in season-to-date 18-49 average. As of Sunday, CBS was slightly ahead of ABC and NBC with a 3.7 average to the latter two’s 3.6. Fox trailed with a 3.2.

Another impressive night for “Idol” meant another easy first-place finish for Fox among 18-49s, as it averaged a 15.4 rating and a 36 share for the night. CBS was second at 3.1/7, NBC third at 2.2/5, ABC fourth at 2.1/5, Univision fifth at 2.0/5 and CW sixth at 1.2/3.
 
At 8 p.m. Fox led with a 13.9 among 18-49s for the first hour of “Idol,” followed by a 2.6 for Univision’s “La Fea Mas Bella.” ABC was third with a 2.2 for an hour of “According to Jim,” CBS fourth with a 1.9 for “Armed & Famous,” CW fifth with a 1.5 for “Beauty and the Geek” and NBC sixth with a 1.2 for a repeat of “Friday Night Lights.” “Geek” did take third in 18-34s in the hour with a 1.8, behind “Bella’s” 2.9.
 
Fox increased its lead during the 9 p.m. hour with a huge 17.0 rating for the second half of “Idol.” CBS was second that hour with a 3.4 for “Criminal Minds,” NBC third with a 2.3 for “Deal or No Deal” and Univision fourth with a 2.0 for “Mundo de Fieras.” ABC dropped to fifth with a 1.4 average for “Knights of Prosperity” (1.4) and “In Case of Emergency” (1.4), with CW sixth with a 1.0 for “One Tree Hill.”
 
CBS took advantage of Fox’s absence during the 10 p.m. hour, leading with a below-average 4.1 for “CSI: NY.” NBC was second with a 3.1 for “Medium,” ABC third with a 2.7 for “Primetime” and Univision fourth with a 1.5 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”
 
Fox also had a huge night among households, leading the night with a 20.1 average rating and a 30 share. CBS was second at 7.1/11, NBC third at 5.0/8, ABC fourth at 4.0/6, Univision fifth at 2.5/4 and CW sixth at 1.8/3.