Well how bout this … The wildly popular YouTube dating experiment Pop The Balloon is getting a major upgrade as it transitions to Netflix in a live, interactive format. The streaming giant has tapped Insecure star Yvonne Orji to host Pop The Balloon Live, which premieres April 10 and airs weekly on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
This ambitious move aligns with Netflix’s strategy of transforming viral social media concepts into full-scale series, following recent successes like Inside with British influencers The Sidemen. With Orji’s comedic charm and the show’s unpredictable mix of romance and competition, Pop The Balloon Live aims to become the next must-watch unscripted hit.
Created by Arlette Amuli, the high-stakes dating show tests romance with a simple but dramatic premise: Contestants must navigate budding connections while protecting their balloon. If it pops, their shot at love disappears instantly. The series first gained traction on YouTube, where Amuli and her husband, Bolia Matundu, produced nearly 50 episodes under the title Pop The Balloon or Find Love, amassing over 100 million views.
Netflix’s adaptation will feature a mix of reality TV personalities, including Johnny Bananas (The Challenge), Chase DeMoor (Too Hot to Handle), Farrah Abraham (Teen Mom), and Zaina Sesay (The Ultimatum). Sharp Entertainment produces the show, the studio behind 90 Day Fiancé, with executive producers Matt Sharp, Dan Adler, Bonnie Biggs, Ellen Rocamora, Bolia Matundu, and Arlette Amuli.
In a statement, Amuli and Matundu shared their enthusiasm for the project’s next chapter:
“We’re thrilled to see Pop The Balloon take on a new life at Netflix. From day one, love and fun have been at the heart of this series, and watching it grow beyond our wildest dreams has been incredible. As executive producers, we’re proud to support this next chapter and can’t wait for both new and longtime fans to experience it. Yvonne is engaging, witty, and authentic—we’re excited for her to bring her energy to the reimagined version on Netflix.”