# For People in Central Time, is it annoying Prime Time starts at 7 pm? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2014, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231 "2014-08-10T12:20:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Osiris\_the\_1st](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9de0a6/32.png) [@Osiris\_the\_1st](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osiris_the_1st)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/41 "2014-08-11T13:40:24Z")
I’ve lived in the central timezone all my life and would absolutely hate everything occuring an hour later, since I’m getting up anywhere between 4 and 6:30AM depending on what I’m working at the time. We’re generally in bed by 10PM at our house even on weekends. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/42 "2014-08-11T14:05:58Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I hadn’t considered that East Coast people work 9 to 6 until this thread. That was brought home to me on 9/11. The first plane hit at 8:45, and reports were, “The death toll wasn’t as bad as it could have been, because most people weren’t at work yet.” In the midwest the vast majority of people in office jobs, who are going to work that day, are in the office by 8:45. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/43 "2014-08-11T14:39:15Z")
Central standard here. Never had a problem with prime time at 7. Then I ditched cable a few years back and never had a problem with prime time period. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/44 "2014-08-11T14:45:25Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Do people really eat dinner at 7? That seems ungodly late to me. Even 6 is pushing it. Longtime CT-er here. Growing up, my mom had dinner ready at 5, 5:15 at the latest, so we could eat as a family and then watch national news at 5:30 and local at 6. (Well, my dad did.) So, hearing people eat at 7? 8? :eek::eek: That seems really late to me. So, to the OP, no. 7-10 for Prime Time is just the way it is for me, as I’m sure 8-11 is for you. Of course, until my current job which I just started four months ago, I got up at 5:30 am and was at work by 6:30. Of course, I could leave at 3 pm and still felt like a lot of time left to do things before evening! I try and go to bed by 10:30 or so. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later, but about then. (I don’t watch the news, it’s just that was the time we went to bed.) vislor ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/45 "2014-08-11T14:52:17Z")
Just missed the reply window. My new job starts at 8, officially, but I try and get in by 7:45 and then I leave around 4. And it seems late to me! I’m still trying to adjust to it. So I think I would be struggling with a 9 to 6 time. OTOH, my wife would love it! vislor ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/46 "2014-08-11T15:04:55Z")
> [@The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](#): > > When I was a little kid in Central time, my bedtime was 7pm, but I could stay up a little later if there was a Charlie Brown special or similar show on. I felt sorry for the East Coast kids who never stood a chance with shows not coming on until 8pm. Yeah that’s the thing. I grew up in Central and live in central now but I’ve also lived in Eastern for a while. 8:00 just seems late to start prime time. My kid goes to bed at 8:00 so he’d be missing Simpsons or Agents of SHIELD if we were East of here. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/47 "2014-08-11T15:15:04Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Do people really eat dinner at 7? That seems ungodly late to me. Even 6 is pushing it. Oh, you crazy Central Time folks ;). I eat dinner at any point from 7-8pm. Usually 7pm, but there are plenty of times its 7:30pm, or even later (I have definitely had a few meals after Church meetings or whatnot at 8:30pm). ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/48 "2014-08-11T15:32:59Z")
I grew up Eastern and then moved to Central to go to college, which was a double adjustment - shows started an hour earlier, while at the same time my day started and ended hours later than before. So where I used to miss Letterman because he was on too late (12:30 am ET at the time), now I missed him because he was on too early (11:30 pm - I’d still be out socializing for at least another hour). Now that I’m old and have to drop my kids off at school by 7:00 am, I appreciate being able to watch the news, then Fallon’s stand-up and maybe his first guest and still get to bed by 11. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/49 "2014-08-11T15:55:59Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Johnny Carson was mega-popular when I was growing up, and I couldn’t imagine living on the coasts where he didn’t come on until 11:30. If you watched the monologue and a single guest, you’d be up until midnight! Who can stay up until midnight and then go to school or work the next morning??? And depending upon when you’re talking about; Johnny Carson used to be a 1 1/2 hour show! \* \*And I just now found out that before it was a 1 1/2 hour show, it was a 1 3/4 hour show! Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/50 "2014-08-11T16:23:13Z")
It’s all what you’re used to and what the people around you do. I work 10-6, and most of my co-workers roll in around 10:30. I leave on time, but those folks always stay later. I’m usually home by 7pm and eating around 7:45, so having dinner any earlier seems like the early bird special to me. And yes, I’m on EDT. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/51 "2014-08-11T16:38:19Z")
I also grew up CT and then moved to ET, and I’ve never fully adjusted to prime time running until 11…it just seems so late. On the other hand, I think CTers and ETers alike can agree that living in PT must be like living on Mars. No wonder they’re all so confused. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/52 "2014-08-11T17:17:21Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Do people really eat dinner at 7? That seems ungodly late to me. Even 6 is pushing it. Growing up, dinner was anywhere from about 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Nowadays, standard dinner time is about 7-9 p.m, for me, as a central timer. If I’m inviting people out or over to dinner, 7-8 p.m. would probably be the average expectation. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/53 "2014-08-11T17:20:29Z")
Central Timer here. I like when shows are (of course I am used to it) With lunch at noon my meals are symmetrical: 6am, noon, and 6pm Weekends I’ll have brunch at ~9AM I have flexible work hours but usually it is 7:30-4 9with a 30 min lunch) If I have to work late I can still get home for supper (usually) Brian ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/54 "2014-08-11T17:21:58Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Oh, you crazy Central Time folks ;). I eat dinner at any point from 7-8pm. Usually 7pm, but there are plenty of times its 7:30pm, or even later (I have definitely had a few meals after Church meetings or whatnot at 8:30pm). I live near Boston. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/55 "2014-08-12T05:05:56Z")
Is it annoying? No. In fact, when I’ve traveled to the East Coast, the schedule there seems annoyingly late. But in reality it’s just what someone is used to. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/56 "2014-08-12T05:50:03Z")
but how do west coast people wake up at 10am for football games? ungodly early for weekends ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/57 "2014-08-12T12:29:31Z")
I moved from ET to CT in 1992 and then back again in 1996. So before DVRs (we still don’t have one anyway). Worked for the same company throughout. Started work at 9 on the East coast and 8 in the Midwest. Pretty much everything seemed to be shifted over by an hour. People ate dinner earlier, went to bed earlier, etc. Tailgates at the Chiefs games had breakfast foods at the start and then lunch offerings. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/58 "2014-08-12T13:39:09Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > For people that live in Central and Mountain and have a 7-10 Prime time, do you hate it and wish it started later like ours and Pacific’s do? Ugh, gross, never. 7-10 is clearly the perfect time slot and I feel sorry for the poor deprived easterners. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/59 "2014-08-12T14:39:26Z")
Sounds like basically Eastern and Central time people do things at the exact same time if you were to use GMT, but the local time numbers are an hour different. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231/60 "2014-08-12T16:16:38Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > but how do west coast people wake up at 10am for football games? > > ungodly early for weekends I’m up at 7:00 most weekends. Get a few things done before the games [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-in-central-time-is-it-annoying-prime-time-starts-at-7-pm/695231.md?page=4)