The CW’s ‘Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll’ ranked second in the timeslot only to ‘House’ in key young demos.

On a night when Fox rocked with “American Idol” and “House,” the new net looked pretty good with “Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll,” which ranked second in its time period in key young demos.

“Pussycat Dolls” averaged a 1.7 rating/4 share in adults 18-49 and 3.93 million viewers overall in the 9 o’clock hour — the best numbers to date there for the CW — airing behind “Gilmore Girls” (2.0/5 in 18-49, 4.47m).

“Pussycat Dolls” opened higher than the net’s biggest hit, “America’s Next Top Model,” which averaged 3 million viewers when it first debuted on UPN in May 2003.

Show, in which the girl group sets out to find a new singer, also averaged a 2.1/6 in adults 18-34, a 3.2/8 in women 18-34 and a 2.7/8 in teens — all behind only “House” in its time period.

Fox remained in control of the night with “American Idol” (10.9/29 in 18-49, 27.95m) and “House” (9.6/24, 24.40m). While the music competish was down 8% vs. the same night last year, the hot medical mystery series rose by 15%.

Encouraging start for “Pussycat Dolls” comes on the heels of best-ever debut ratings for “America’s Next Top Model,” recent season highs for wrestling’s “Friday Night Smackdown” and a strong third season of “Beauty and the Geek.”