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Fox easily captured the primetime ratings race on the opening Tuesday of the May sweep behind more powerful perfs from "American Idol" and "House," the top two programs of the night.

According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, "American Idol" (11 rating/30 share in adults 18-49, 27.6 million viewers overall) beat the other five broadcast nets combined by 6 shares in 18-49 and was up about 10% year to year. "House" (8.7/22 in 18-49, 22.8 million viewers overall) also rolled, surging about 25% over its year-ago score.

CBS was a solid second from 8 to 10 with "NCIS" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 14.5 million viewers overall) and "The Unit" (3.7/9 in 18-49, 13.9 million viewers overall) but bombed at 10 with its reunion special of 1980s ABC hit "Dynasty" (1.6/4 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall).

NBC was paced by "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.3/14 in 18-49, 15.1 million viewers overall), which ruled from 10 to 11, while ABC was led by "Boston Legal" in the same hour (3.1/8 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall).

Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 9.8/26; NBC, 3/8; CBS, 2.8/7; ABC, 2.2/6; WB, 1.4/4; UPN, 1/3.

In total viewers: Fox, 25.2 million; CBS, 11.3 million; NBC, 7.9 million; ABC, 6.8 million; WB, 3.4 million; UPN, 2.1 million.