If you read the comments there are a lot of pissed people! They do raise a good point and that is why the overtime wasn’t corrected for the west coast?
The season-long ill treatment of the previously reigning Idol (one Taylor Hicks) was extrememly cheap, cynical and distasteful on the part of AI. It probably contributed at least in a small part to the declining ratings, at the very least the Taylor fan base has forever been turned off the show, and with good reason. Until now, no previous winner was so rarely highlighted during the following season and when so, dismissed or trashed. There was bound to be a blowback for such poor treatment of a contestant, who, whether you wanted him to win or not, worked hard and stayed positive to earn the title.