I can see merit in it. I don't think it's the worst idea in the world but at the same time don't think it's a must. Could be good.
The Big Game was a TV show that did something like this in the past. Pokerstars were involved.
6 max cash games with 5 recognised names from the poker world plus 1 wildcard entry. 150
hands of $200/$400, starting stacks of $100k. The amateur players had their buy-in paid for them and they were allowed to keep any profit they made. If they lost money or felted they went home with nothing.
They'd pick someone who they thought would be good on TV because of their personality or someone with an interesting backstory. Players were invited to send in auditions once they'd qualified through 3 levels of satellites.
It can make for good TV and a nice story if people end up cheering on the amateur, especially if they were likeable/charasmatic and came across well in front of the cameras. It would be the dream of lots of the audience to be in their shoes, and could give them something to aspire to.
Could even be someone's big break if they were talented but didn't have much of a bank roll to start with.
