“Pop The Balloon” Set to Debut as Live Netflix Dating Series, Yvonne Orji To Host

The viral YouTube dating series Pop The Balloon is making the jump to Netflix with a live, reimagined version called Pop The Balloon Live, set to air every Thursday at 8 PM ET starting April 10. Hosted by Insecure star Yvonne Orji, the new series takes the quirky digital concept to a larger audience, adding a live twist to its popular format.

Originally created by Arlette Amuli, Pop The Balloon challenges singles to test their chemistry while keeping a balloon intact. As romantic connections form and tensions rise, the stakes are high—if the balloon pops, so does the chance at love. Amuli and her husband, Bolia Matundu, have already run nearly 50 episodes of Pop The Balloon on YouTube, garnering over 100 million views in the process.

The Netflix iteration is a strategic move in the streamer’s ongoing efforts to transform viral digital content into mainstream hits. Pop The Balloon Live follows a similar strategy seen with Inside, a series from British influencers The Sidemen, which launched its second season earlier this year.

The new series will also feature reality TV personalities including Johnny Bananas (The Challenge), Chase DeMoor (Too Hot to Handle), Farrah Abraham (Teen Mom), and Zaina Sesay (The Ultimatum).

Produced by Sony Pictures Television’s Sharp Entertainment, the same team behind TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé, Pop The Balloon Live promises a blend of romance, humor, and real-time drama. Executive producers include Amuli, Matundu, Matt Sharp, Dan Adler, Bonnie Biggs, and Ellen Rocamora.

Amuli and Matundu shared their excitement, stating, “We’re thrilled to see Pop The Balloon take on a new life on Netflix. From day one, we’ve kept love and fun at the heart of the show, and watching it evolve and soar beyond our wildest dreams has been truly exciting. We can’t wait for both new and longtime fans to experience it.”

Get ready for high stakes, big laughs, and heartwarming moments when Pop The Balloon Live premieres next month.