Pop The Balloon is a viral dating series that has been sent up on Saturday Night Live.
The Arlette Amuli-series, which began on YouTube, will now get its own live Netflix version.
The streamer has ordered Pop the Balloon Live, a reimagined version of the digital series that will air every Thursday at 8pm ET from April 10.
In the dating experiment, singles test their chemistry while trying to keep their balloon intact. As connections form and tensions rise, one thing is certain: when your balloon pops, so does your shot at love. The Netflix version will be hosted by Insecure star/comedian Yvonne Orji.
Amuli and her husband Bolia Matundu have run nearly 50 episodes of Pop The Balloon or Find Love on her YouTube channel, which has scored over 100M views.
The trend has spawned countless comedy sketches from various content creators and comedic personalities, earning millions of views on numerous social media platforms as well.
The Netflix move is the latest that the streamer has taken to take ideas that pop on social media or other digital sites and expand them for their platform.
It follows a deal with British influencers and pranksters The Sidemen, whose series Inside launched its second season on Netflix earlier this year. Pop The Balloon on Netflix will also feature reality stars including Johnny Bananas (The Challenge), Chase DeMoor (Too Hot To Handle), Farrah Abraham (Teen Mom), and Zaina Sesay (The Ultimatum).
It is produced by Sony Pictures Television’s Sharp Entertainment, which is behind TLC’s hit franchise 90 Day Fiancé.
Exec producers include Matt Sharp, Dan Adler, Bonnie Biggs, Ellen Rocamora; Bolia Matundu and Amuli.
“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. 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,” said Amuli and Matundu.
