Get paid to watch TV shows... Really

Remember when dad told you that sitting watching TV for hours on end was worthless? That you were just melting your brain and turning into a couch potato?

Well, now dad may be wrong because there's a way to earn money watching TV.

Yep, there's an app for that

Imagine: Earning money for sitting on the couch in front of the TV. Just like everything else in life, there's now an app for that.

A company called Viggle has launched an iPhone and iPad app, where your Apple device will listen to what's on TV (sorry, not yet available for the Android market). The app, just like the music service Shazam , will instantly identify what you are watching.

It will then give you two points per minute, that will go toward earning a gift card to various stores or restaurants. Also, you will earn 1,500 bonus points just for joining and extra points for watching certain sponsored shows.

But... doesn't that stink?

But from the "doesn't that stink" file, the fact that you're going to have to watch a lot of TV to earn money.

The Associate Press estimates you'll have to watch three weeks of prime time evening shows to earn $5, which is enough for a Venti Latte at Starbucks. Doesn't that stink?

But advertisers and TV networks say just the idea of earning money for watching shows will get people to watch more TV and more commercials. So they see it as a win-win for everyone.

If you want to give it a try, with no cost or hidden fees, go to Viggle.com. But while you might earn a few bucks this way, I wouldn't make a career out of being a couch potato.

And that way you don't waste your money.

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