‘Date On A Plate’ Might Be The Wildest Dating Show Yet, And It’s Already Going Viral

Just when you thought dating shows couldn’t get any more absurd, “The Masked Singer” producers Jeff Kmiotek and Andrew Watnick are serving up something no one saw coming, unless you’re only looking from the neck up.

Their newest project, “Date on a Plate,” is a jaw-droppingly bizarre dating series where contestants meet, flirt, and fall in love while only seeing each other’s heads, presented on silver platters. The rest of their bodies? Hidden under the table.

“Date on a Plate” is ridiculous, hilarious, and shockingly heartfelt.

Premiering May 19 on YouTube via the creators’ new digital studio, Elixir Shows, “Date on a Plate” has already taken social media by storm. A clip from the show racked up over 2 million organic views in just a few hours, proving that viewers are more than ready to embrace the madness.

Hosted by comedian Nicky Paris, the show features four singles competing in off-the-wall compatibility challenges. No bios, no filters, just headshots and humor. It’s a bold twist on traditional dating shows, and it’s already got people talking.

“I can’t even tell you how much fun I’ve been having hosting 'Date on a Plate,'” Paris told The Blast exclusively. “To watch it take the internet by storm before it’s even officially out is so surreal. I really feel it in my heart that this show is going to be something because at its core, it’s all about fun, the possibility of love and giving people much needed laughter.”

Paris, known for his sharp wit, brings an unfiltered charm to the role of host. One of his favorite moments? Watching contestants try to kiss each other through plexiglass.

“We call it ‘moutherpiece’ like a masterpiece,” he said. “The clip we released from the show has already gotten millions of views and people are going crazy over it. Upon reflection, I was never really into kissing with tongue and after watching this segment, it confirmed for me that my head has been in the right place.”

As for how he’d win someone over if he were a contestant?

“I’d fake a seizure. If they don’t break through the table to save me, they’re not the one,” he (half) joked.

The creators behind the show, Jeff Kmiotek and Andrew Watnick, are no strangers to bold TV. After working on hits like "The Masked Singer," they saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the dating genre, with something uniquely playful and oddly intimate.

“Working on shows like ‘The Masked Singer’ trained us to think super weird, and as we all know with the success of that show, weird works,” Kmiotek told The Blast. “Today, more than ever, people need silly escapism. Something to make them laugh, shout at the screen, and forget their worries for a while.”

Rather than focus on fairy-tale endings or over-the-top romance, the show leans into vulnerability and awkwardness to create authentic connections.

“We’re forcing our singles to be goofy and vulnerable, which leads to connection,” Watnick explained. “If they can laugh through the cringe and wade through the weird together, they’ve already built a strong foundation. And judging by the multiple couples we’ve already created, it works!”

The concept originated from an unused “Masked Singer” pitch involving a dinner cart and a head under a cloche. The visual stuck with them and eventually became the foundation for this offbeat new show.

But beneath the surface-level absurdity lies a deeper message, in a world driven by swipes, filters, and curation, “Date on a Plate” strips away the noise.

“What happens when you strip away everything but your face and personality?” Kmiotek asked. “Even though they’re concealed from the neck down, they’re actually more exposed than ever.”

And that’s part of the appeal. While the show is visually surreal, it encourages participants to show up as their most genuine selves.

“In a dating world dominated by curation, filters, and endless swiping, this show is a counterpunch,” Watnick added. “When you’re just a head on a plate, it’s personality or bust, authenticity or back under the cloche.”

To maintain the surprise element, the production goes to extreme lengths behind the scenes with blindfolds, blackout curtains, and secret paths to ensure contestants never glimpse each other before the big reveal.

“We use blindfolds, blackout curtains under the table, and secret paths, which are all designed to preserve the surprise we see on screen,” Kmiotek said.

The show’s viral success isn’t just an accident. It’s a result of meeting audiences where they are.

By choosing YouTube as the launch platform, Kmiotek and Watnick are positioning Elixir Shows to tap into Gen-Z’s viewing habits. “We enjoy complete creative freedom to dream up and create our wildest ideas,” Kmiotek explained. “And frankly, YouTube is where our audience is.”

And while the show may appear "unserious" on the surface, the team believes that’s exactly why it resonates. It’s fun. It’s weird. And it’s real.

“Our show is unserious by design, but deeply real in execution,” Watnick said. “Vulnerability is cool. Self-deprecation is attractive. And complete honesty is magnetic.”

With a format that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, the show is already redefining what modern dating content can look like. And if a second season happens?

“New games, more holes in the table, and maybe a guillotine (kidding, or not?),” Watnick teased.

Whatever happens next, one thing’s for sure, "Date on a Plate" is serving up something fresh, and the internet is eating it up.