Source: Pop The Balloon / Netflix
Social media has assured a new dating strategy, where everything gets publicized, from Love Island to Love Is Blind and Married at First Sight, or everyone’s favorite crashout, Montoya, on Temptation Island.
But none have flourished as much with a simple, straight-to-the-point strategy as Pop The Balloon has.
Exploding on YouTube, the show features a man or woman speed dating about 10 people of the opposite sex who are equipped with a balloon they pop as soon as they get the slightest ick.
Each episode lasts about an hour, explodes into several dating debates, garners upwards of a million views, and even landed a skit on Saturday Night Live!
Now, the show is going the streaming route as Deadline announces it will get its own live Netflix version beginning April 10 and on Thursdays thereafter.
It’s normally hosted by series creator Arlette Amuli, who guides the potential matches through the process, but Netflix is switching it up, swapping her for actress and comedian Yvonne Orji.
Amuli and her husband, Bolia Matundu, started the viral channel. Along with Matt Sharp, Dan Adler, Bonnie Biggs, and Ellen Rocamora, they will remain as executive producers.
Boasting over 50 episodes and hundreds of millions of views, Amuli and Matundu are excited to see what Pop The Balloon looks like in its new era with the Insecure star at the forefront.
“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,” Amuli and Matundu said in a statement. “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—and we are looking forward to her serving as the host for the reimagined version at Netflix.”
Social media is unsure of Pop The Balloon‘s new era, but its hard to argue with millions of views. See the reactions below.