Pitchfork is reporting that indie songstress Neko Case and Bloodshot Records artist Kelly Hogan will appear in an upcoming episode of Cartoon Network’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The duo - along with former Philadelphia Phillies player John Kruk - will play sirens whose musical stylings pique the interest of the Aqua Teen’s neighbor Carl, he of the blue stretch pants and sour demeanor. 

With a zillion questions on my mind (Question #1: WTF?), I spoke with Hogan and Case while they were on their way to lunch, in the midst of both a tour and work on Case’s new album, with Hogan arranging and contributing background vocals.

How did this come about?
Kelly Hogan: Neko Case is really in love with the milkshake [Master Shake]. She wants to marry the milkshake. She doesn’t care that 1) it’s a milkshake and 2) that it’s a cartoon of a milkshake. They found out she was a fan of the show and they were a fan of Neko so there was some mutual love. And then it was going to be an episode about sirens so they drafted me.

Did Neko have to talk you into this?
No, no. I’m more of a Squidbillies fan. That’s my Southern people in squid form. But I was totally into it. I love all those Cartoon Network guys. I knew some of them from Atlanta. I was very excited to be a cartoon.

Did you have much input into the script or your cartoon likenesses?
As far as the drawings, they were asking me to send them photos of myself. I said I won’t be too picky however it turns out. They said “Good, because Glenn Danzig sent his drawing back seven times with comments like “I’m way more cut than that, man.” The first draft of  my [drawing] made my boobs bigger and my double chin smaller so I just wrote back “I’m way less cut than that. Thank you.” I was very satisfied.

What about your character’s name, BJ Queen?
It wasn’t based on my rep, necessarily. I called dibs on that one actually. It was kind of unclear in the script – which one was Chrysanthemum and which one was BJ Queen – and I was like “BJ Queen!” I’m going to have to get a custom license plate made for my van.

Are you hoping to work on future episodes?
We’d love to come back and do more. Anything Dave Willis wants us to do [and] to get Neko closer to the milkshake. But they weren’t even in our episode. [To Case] Do you have a plan for milkshake? Hold on one second. [Hands the phone to Case]

You clearly have designs on Master Shake. What’s your plan at this point?
Neko Case: Well, he’s a cartoon so there’s not much I can do. I got myself into cartoon form, which I never though was going to happen. But those freaky little hands…[Laughs]. I don’t know, I just had a thing for that milkshake and I don’t know why. It’s kind of like having a thing for Bugs Bunny, I guess, only a stupider and meaner Bugs Bunny.

So you have a thing for bad milkshakes.
I think I love him so much because I know it could never happen [Laughs].

The forbidden fruit thing, right?
Yeah [Laughs].

Do you have a favorite episode of the show?
The one where they’re doing sports trivia. I love the ones with the Mooninites. “Notice our digital dongs!”  And the ones where the Mooninites come in contact with the space Germans or whatever.

You’re singing all your lyrics in the show. Are there any plans for you to do a duet with MC Pee-Pants?
I wish. We just did this other thing called Cheyenne Cinnamon, and MC Pee-Pants is in it. T-Pain is in it, too. Apparently, he has jewelry that looks like Mooninites. It’s like actual Aqua Teen bling.

Are you and Kelly working on an album together right now?
Yep, we were in Vermont yesterday and we’re in Littleton, New Hampshire today going to get some pizza. We have some shows around here so we figured we’d come out here and rehearse.

Is this your album?
It’s me. It’s supposed to come out January 2009. I’m badgering [Kelly] to put one out, too.

Do you have a title yet?
No, that would be too much planning.

What about Master Shake, Please Marry Me?
[Dejectedly] No. Someday maybe I’ll be able to get in with the shake.