Friday PM is a one-hour late-night variety and talk show airing on Portland Media Center’s Channel 5, with a rich history dating back to its launch in 2021. Created, hosted, and executive-produced by Luigi Scarcelli, the show initially debuted as Friday Night Matters during a critical moment for the station. With Portland Media Center just emerging from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Channel 5 faced a significant content gap, particularly in its Friday night lineup. Scarcelli, recognizing this need, pitched the idea for a fresh, community-focused show to the station’s leadership, who quickly gave the green light.

Friday Night Matters began as a 30-minute program, airing at 8 PM, and primarily featured single-studio interviews and live musical performances. Early episodes were directed by Tim Wells, with Scarcelli building the show’s format around candid conversations and local talent. The show quickly expanded to include street interviews, sketch segments, and regular appearances from local personalities, including the ever-enthusiastic Portland Extrovert (played by Jamie Terrellan) and the astrologer Amanda Painter, who became beloved recurring guests. This approach gave the show a distinctly unpredictable, community-driven feel, setting it apart from more traditional late-night formats.

By its second season, the show was rebranded as Friday PM, moving to its current 9 PM time slot and extending its runtime to a full hour in its third season. With this expansion, the show began experimenting with live broadcasts, leaning more heavily into musical performances and unscripted, in-the-moment interactions. It also briefly dabbled in podcasting, converting a handful of episodes from late in Season 2 into audio format, though this experiment was never fully developed.

As the show grew, so did its production team. David Bedel succeeded Wells as director during Season 3, bringing a new level of polish and technical ambition to the show. Warren Edgar, who had initially been involved as a marketing coordinator for PMC Channel 5, transitioned into a direct production role, eventually becoming the show’s director and later its executive producer alongside Scarcelli.

Today, Friday PM is a cornerstone of Portland’s local media scene, airing live every Friday at 9 PM and simulcasting on PortlandMedia.org. The show continues to defy easy categorization, blending interviews, live music, community updates, and unpredictable street segments, often leaning into the creative chaos of Portland’s vibrant arts community. It is a frequent stop for local politicians, artists, and entrepreneurs, and serves as a platform for PMC leadership to share new initiatives and community news.

Despite operating independently, Luigi Scarcelli Official maintains a close, symbiotic relationship with Portland Media Center, making Friday PM a vital part of the station’s identity. From on-the-street interviews during First Friday art walks to intimate in-studio performances, the show captures the pulse of the city like no other, building a loyal audience both locally and online via its YouTube channel.