Is Poker After Dark a freeroll?

[kross]

They keep saying at the beginning of each episode that each player put up $20k for a $120k winner-take-all tournament. But did they really?

What would be their incentive to put up $20k to play against 5 other great players (or sometimes 3 or 4, and 1 or 2 fish) for a winner-take-all? The producers putting up the money on their behalf would make much more sense, and be more likely to draw the players to the game.

I especially thought this during the commentators week. People like Gabe Kaplan, Mike Sexton, and Michael Konik don't seem like the kind of players to just plonk down $20k on a winner-take-all. I believe Howard Lederer would, as he probably feels he's the favorite. But not the others.

Also, why is there cash on the table in a tournament? Are they trying to cash in (no pun intended) on the success of HSP?

-- Kevin