NBC’s “Dog Eat Dog” continued to make the case last night that it could be the biggest reality hit of the summer, scoring its highest adult 18-49 rating to date and beating its closest time-period pursuer by a commanding 42 percent margin among adults 18-49. That keyed another dominant NBC Monday win among adults 18-49, marking the 12th time in 13 weeks NBC has taken the night in the key 18-49 demographic.

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According to preliminary “fast affiliate” in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, last night’s third episode of “Dog Eat Dog” (4.7 rating, 14 share among adults 18-49, 10.5 million viewers overall) was easily the night’s No. 1 telecast among adults 18-49 and was also No. 1 for the evening among adults, men and women 18-34; men and women 18-49; and adults and men 25-54.

Dog Eat Dog’s” 4.7 rating among adults 18-49 tops last week’s results for both editions of Fox’s “American Idol,” while “Dog’s” overall viewer total of 10.5 million beats five of six “American Idol” telecasts to date. In summer-long averages for overall total viewers, “Dog Eat Dog” is the most-watched reality series, with an average of 10.3 million viewers to 10.1 million for the Wednesday “American Idol” and 9.8 million for the Tuesday “American Idol.”

From 9-9:30 p.m. ET last night, “Dog Eat Dog” topped CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond” among adults 18-49 by a convincing 19 percent margin (4.4/13 vs. 3.7/11) and by 50 percent among adults 18-34 (4.5/15 vs. 3.0/10). From 9:30-10 p.m. ET, “Dog” buried CBS’ “Becker,” winning by a 70 percent margin among adults 18-49 (5.1/14 vs. 3.0/8) and nearly tripling “Becker” among adults 18-34 (5.4/17 vs. 1.9/6).

Dog Eat Dog” also built by a powerful 34 percent on its 18-49 lead-in from “Fear Factor” (3.5/12 among adults 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall).