It was a different show but the same old story for ABC: A new program unable to hold the big lead-in audience from “Dancing with the Stars.” This time the new show was “The Great American Dream Vote,” which lost more than half the first “Stars” results show’s lead-in in last night’s special debut.

“Vote” averaged a dismal 1.9 adults 18-49 rating at 10 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, retaining just 43 percent of “Stars’” 4.4 rating in the 9 p.m. slot. It slipped by 30 percent, from a 2.3 to a 1.6, in its second half hour.

Among total viewers, where “Stars” is strongest, “Vote” averaged only 6.1 million, or 11.5 million fewer than “Stars.”

That was despite airing against relatively light competition, with CBS showing a “Shark” repeat and NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” an original.

ABC has had a tough time finding a compatible new lead-out to “Stars” over the past year. Already two sitcoms, “Help Me Help You” and “Crumbs,” bombed when paired with the competition show.

The network may have more luck trying a veteran show behind “Stars.” Last fall the “Stars” results show led into “Lost,” already an established hit, and the two seemed to mesh well.

“Vote” was actually a special preview and will air regularly on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., but ABC probably could have tinkered with the schedule if “Vote” did well enough behind “Stars.” Luckily for the network, it’s only scheduled to run through April 18.

“Vote” invites contestants to help convince America to let them pursue their wildest dream. Contestants are winnowed down to two by the studio audience, then viewers can vote for their favorite. It’s hosted by Donny Osmond.

The return of “House” after a brief hiatus solidified Fox’s first place for the night with a 10.0 average rating and a 27 share, followed by NBC at 3.0/8, ABC at 2.8/8, CBS at 2.2/6, Univision at 1.7/5 and CW at 1.0/3.

Ratings for Fox are approximate, as “American Idol” aired from 8 p.m. to 9:07 p.m. and “House” was on until 10:07 p.m. Overnights measure timeslot, not actual program, data, and will be adjusted when final ratings come out later today.
 
At 8 p.m. Fox led with a 10.4 for “American Idol,” followed distantly by CBS with a 2.5 for a repeat of “NCIS.” ABC was third that hour with a 2.1 for a “Dancing with the Stars” recap show, NBC fourth with a 2.0 for “Dateline,” Univision fifth with a 1.9 for “La Fea Mas Bella” and CW sixth with a 0.8 for a repeat of “Gilmore Girls.”
 
Fox led again at 9 p.m. with a 9.5 for “House,” with ABC moving to second with a 4.4 for its “Stars” results show. Things were closer in total viewers, with “House” at 22.2 million and “Stars” at 17.6 million. NBC jumped to third with a 2.7 for “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” with CBS fourth with a 2.1 for a repeat of “The Unit,” Univision fifth with a 1.7 for “Destilando Amor” and CW sixth with a 1.2 for “Pussycat Dolls Present: Search for the Next Doll.”
 
At 10 p.m. NBC took the lead with a 4.3 for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” CBS and ABC tied for second at 1.9, CBW for a repeat of “Shark” and ABC for the premiere of “Vote,” with Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Nuestra Belleza Latina.”
 
Among households, Fox led the night with a 14.2 average rating and a 22 share. ABC was second at 7.3/12, NBC third at 6.4/10, CBS fourth at 5.7/9, Univision fifth at 2.2/4 and CW sixth at 1.6/2.