Why does the UK close so early?

starryshell

Guess you've never been to Switzerland or Germany. Nothing open on a Sunday, except for a few shops at train stations or a random convenience shop - usually attached to a petrol station.

Everything closes no later than 4 on Saturdays, frequently closed by 1pm.

During the week, virtually every shop is closed by 6, except in some cities which have later shopping hours on Thursday giving an extra hour or perhaps two of shopping in select stores.

Small and medium sized shops often close for 2 hours for lunch during the week.

Restaurants are only open for lunch during lunch hours - generally closing at 2 and reopening at 4 or 5.

The UK may not be a 24/7 society, but it is a good compromise between the US 24/7 madness and the restriction of the Germanic ways.

shaun_from_Africa

goater78 wrote: »

American tv is far superior than UK tv.

They do make some extremely good drama shows, but there is an awful lot of rubbish as well.(Personally, I think that "The Shield" is the best police drama series I've seen), but the main problem I do find is the amount of advert breaks.

These ofen appear without warning and you can be watching something and then start wondering why someone in the show is suddenly in the kitchen preparing dinner before realising it's actually an advert for some food item.

Where I'm currently working we only have US TV (our current setup has 148 TV channels) and even with this it is often hard to find a decent watchable program, and the Americans that I work with always say the same thing.

System

I only watch American tv on sky or Netflix so don't have the issue with the adverts.

I can't think of a none sport related tv program I actually enjoy which is British. Possible only Sherlock and that's 3 episodes every 2 years. I'm quite enjoying the American Sherlock Holmes "elementary" which is a 24 show season.

dacouch

My local pub was still in full swing at 7am this morning

Sharon87

goater78 wrote: »

American tv is far superior than UK tv.

I highly disagree with this statement. The American TV imported over here is usually the better stuff. I've seen some really crappy American TV, their reality shows are even worse than ours. We just see the dramas, as they do them well. But on the whole British TV is better in my opinion, especially when it comes to documentaries, factual entertainment and even some dramas are a lot better than Americans. Also out comedy beats theirs off the scale. American comedy is for simpletons mainly! (not that there's anything wrong with being simple, it's just not for me )

And I don't know what time the museums shut in London. I haven't been to one for a year or so.

System

Our comedy does not beat American comedy off the scale. The quality of British comedy these days is very very poor.

Obviously you only watch the american comedy aimed at simpletons but they do some very clever comedy e.g bored to death (sadly cancelled), American office (better than the uk office), Big Bang theory etc.

I can't think of a current British comedy program that is good? Maybe outnumbered but that's coming to an end (and its not great)

Sharon87

goater78 wrote: »

Our comedy does not beat American comedy off the scale. The quality of British comedy these days is very very poor.

Obviously you only watch the american comedy aimed at simpletons but they do some very clever comedy e.g bored to death (sadly cancelled), American office (better than the uk office), Big Bang theory etc.

I can't think of a current British comedy program that is good? Maybe outnumbered but that's coming to an end (and its not great)

We have great stand up comedy as well. I was thinking two and a half men is for simpletons and those kinds of shows. What about the likes of Charlie Brooker? He's a genius when it comes to comedy, look at A Touch of Cloth and Screenwipe. American comedy rarely makes me laugh, whereas here it can have me in stitches. Comedy was better in the 00s than now, but it's still pretty good these days. I think Miranda, Outnumbered, Not Going Out, Red Dwarf (although not as good as before), 8 out of 10 cats (and other panel shows) as well as Live at the Apollo all are good examples of British comedy.

chewynut

goater78 wrote: »

American tv is far superior than UK tv.

That would be because the Americans make so much more TV than the UK that they eventually manage to make something good. They have ABC, AMC, CBS, CW, Fox, FX, HBO, NBC, SyFy, Showtime, TNT and USA Network.

It's sheer quantity

starryshell

goater78 wrote: »

Our comedy does not beat American comedy off the scale. The quality of British comedy these days is very very poor.

Obviously you only watch the american comedy aimed at simpletons but they do some very clever comedy e.g bored to death (sadly cancelled), American office (better than the uk office), Big Bang theory etc.

I can't think of a current British comedy program that is good? Maybe outnumbered but that's coming to an end (and its not great)

I agree. I'm originally from the US, but have been living in Europe for 10 years. For most of that time, I've watched exclusively UK broadcast TV, even before moving here a few years ago. When Americans do TV well, it is damn good. But most of it is unimaginative, annoying and geared to the lowest common denominator.

stephen77

goater78 wrote: »

Our comedy does not beat American comedy off the scale. The quality of British comedy these days is very very poor.

Obviously you only watch the american comedy aimed at simpletons but they do some very clever comedy e.g bored to death (sadly cancelled), American office (better than the uk office), Big Bang theory etc.

I can't think of a current British comedy program that is good? Maybe outnumbered but that's coming to an end (and its not great)

Americans only make funny cartoons. Simpson, family guy and american dad.
The last funny non-cartoon americans made was police squad.

Friends is the biggest pile of wa** i have seen.