# I would offer you $500,000 to watch every episode ofAmerican Bandstand, Soul Train, Midnight Special, and Solid Gold, at your own leisure. Do you take this offer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** theater-stage-dance, music\ **Created:** [July 25, 2026, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914 "2026-07-25T08:48:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/21 "2026-07-25T15:09:51Z")
I would. That works out to a little over $100/hr tax free which is far more than I’d make at any other job. The only downside is that I would burn out, and it would become a miserable chore after a while. If I watched 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, I’d be done in about 2.5 years. I’d probably break it up into 2-3 periods a day, each watch period I’d do 2-4 episodes to hit my 8 episodes a day. Maybe a couple episodes in the morning, a few more in the afternoon, then some at night. Pretty good pay. If I had to do this on top of my regular job, that would suck. But I would quit and live off savings for 2-3 years and make this my new full time job. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/22 "2026-07-25T15:22:57Z")
My thought was similar, put in a couple hours on the treadmill split between morning and night and, by the end of ~5 years, be healthy, wealthy and wise. There’s really no stuff in the OP to have to legalistically work around. At worst, you put some uncounted time on the clock because you fell asleep or got more interested in your phone than in watching. Then you just make it back up. But, for an extra $500k (a million if I can rope my wife in), there’s worse ways to make money. Get some steps in, do an “autopilot” hobby as you watch. Might be easier with someone else as you can comment on the acts and crowd as you watch. It doesn’t say they need to be watched in order so I’d probably attempt to randomize them all to keep it a bit fresher. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/23 "2026-07-25T15:28:00Z")
I couldn’t watch those shows. I just couldn’t. I don’t need the money, and at my age there just isn’t enough time left to spend so much of it on music I can’t stand. I’ve probably watched 10 minutes of each of those shows back in the 70s. That was more than enough. ETA: Thanks for the offer, though. It was a nice gesture. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/24 "2026-07-25T15:32:09Z")
The thing to do is to set up a camera and reaction livestream yourself for each episode. It gives you something to do as you watch, some structure around your watching times, perhaps a little audience participation/encouragement and maybe you become internet famous and make more money. Worst case scenario, no one ever watches and you’re still earning your way towards the $500k ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/25 "2026-07-25T15:33:01Z")
I would have to clarify what the spirit of the attempt is. Am I allowed to watch while exercising on a treadmill, exercise bike, or elliptical machine? What about on my iPad or phone on my daily commute, assuming I’m a passenger? If both of those are allowed, then yes, I would do it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/26 "2026-07-25T15:33:04Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Get some steps in, do an “autopilot” hobby as you watch. I think that might violate the “you can’t do anything else” clause (which is the deal-breaker for me). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/27 "2026-07-25T15:35:54Z")
I read “can’t do anything else” as in can’t be primarily doing anything else with the show on in the background. You are allowed to look away for 4-5 minutes, get food, etc. > You are allowed to look away from the TV screen for minutes at a time if you wish, … Or use the restroom, or go and get food,..but if it goes beyond four or five minutes, you must rewatch what you missed. This means you are not allowed to do anything while you are watching other than watch the show Actively watching while doing something else as a secondary activity would seem to be fine but I guess it’d be worth asking. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/28 "2026-07-25T15:37:03Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I think that might violate the “you can’t do anything else” clause (which is the deal-breaker for me). I think that’s what needs to be clarified. IMHO walking on a treadmill while paying attention would be like pacing back and forth in front of the TV while paying attention. I’m not the OP, but it seems like that would be in the spirit of the challenge, as opposed to something like reading a book, talking with friends or family on the phone, or being on the dope while having it run in the background. Clarification would be important 😜 . ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/29 "2026-07-25T15:45:38Z")
Yes. I’m pretty much unaware of the content of those shows, but $100/hour just to watch TV is a good deal any way you shake it. Depending on if I can do something in the background too, the way I generally “watch” shows now, it gets even better. Assuming the strict no other distractions, toilet breaks only, have to watch the ads too interpretation I would probably spend 12 hours a day, get it done within 2 years. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/30 "2026-07-25T16:02:06Z")
Hell no. At this stage of my life my time is far more valuable than the money. Maybe if I liked those shows, but they would be way down near the bottom of my watch list. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/31 "2026-07-25T16:15:04Z")
Depends on how strict the rules are on not doing anything else. I assume its meant so I can’t play video games on a second screen while watching or read a book. Does it preclude me from running in a treadmill or exercising while watching? If I can do that I’d give it a shot for a bit just to see how annoying it is; I’d know within a month if it was worth it. Otherwise no, not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/32 "2026-07-25T16:18:02Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > Yes. I’m pretty much unaware of the content of those shows, They showed people playing the popular music of the day, with people dancing to it. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I would. That works out to a little over $100/hr tax free which is far more than I’d make at any other job. > > … > > If I had to do this on top of my regular job, that would suck. But I would quit and live off savings for 2-3 years and make this my new full time job. Reasonable, if, first, you’re able to live off savings for 2-3 years, and second, if you view your job as simply something you have to do in order to get paid. While I could live off savings for long enough, I actually like my job, and I’d rather get paid a fraction of that to do something I like than to get paid more to do something I’d probably find pretty boring (and especially boring if I had to do it 40 hours a week). ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/33 "2026-07-25T16:23:35Z")
What is the entity that assures compliance with the rules? How does it know my eyes are actually on the TV? I think my attention would wander after a couple of years of sitting through mostly formulaic dreck to get to the occasional gem. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/34 "2026-07-25T16:58:49Z")
It’s not what the OP intends, but breaking it down, as suggested by some above, into segments, I could maybe do $50-100K bits, paid as I go, but not the whole thing as laid out. The therapy one would need at the end would cost more than the $500K. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/35 "2026-07-25T17:05:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I doubt I have the patience, time, desire, or attention span to be able to desire this. **pulykamell** stole my answer; _maybe_ if it came with a treadmill, but even then probably not. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/36 "2026-07-25T17:12:22Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Yeah, no. The Soul Train and Midnight Special part I could handle. Solid Gold, wasn’t that pretty much all disco? Yeah, Solid Gold is going to be the hard part for me to surmount. But on the other hand, I’ve sat around drinking while watching a great deal of The Midnight Special and Soul Train. I’m pretty sure I can get through AB and Solid Gold with enough alcohol and weed. Where do I sign up? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/37 "2026-07-25T17:18:02Z")
As long as I get to dance! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/38 "2026-07-25T17:20:54Z")
I would actually enjoy this. I’ve always wanted to get straight on modern music history/trivia. If they will be set up for me in chronological order, so much the better. Really do think you should let me crochet though. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/39 "2026-07-25T17:53:40Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m only being paid ~$100 / hour to do this project. If I treated it like a full time job and diligently put 40 hours / week into it you’re talking 122 weeks or 2-1/2 years. Which is a decent fraction of what’s left of my vigorous years. Not worth it. I was thinking “well, maybe yes, if I can clarify that using a treadmill and doing calisthenics is permitted” but when I got to that paragraph, I realized my answer is “no.” You nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-offer-you-500-000-to-watch-every-episode-ofamerican-bandstand-soul-train-midnight-special-and-solid-gold-at-your-own-leisure-do-you-take-this-offer/1031914/40 "2026-07-25T18:02:37Z")
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