Marcel & Hayes
Marcel
FIRST APPEARED: S1:E1
BACKGROUND: Human
INSTRUMENT: Guitar
IN THE SHOW
Marcel, the namesake of Podcast With Marcel, is the assumed pilot of the Anteek. Once fisherman for the Monroe Corp., he is now a bluegrasstronaut turned runaway space bandit.
In S1:E3 Marcel is the one who suggests to Hayes that they flee Saturn’s moon Titan by stealing a Monroe Corporation fishing vessel and asking the local bartender bot, JD, to join them. This sets up S1:E5 to begin including shorts, first in the form of comic book panels and eventually in the form of cartoons.
Marcel is quick to jump to conclusions. This regularly leads to the abrupt ending of conversations, as seen in the talks with the Muhlenonian diplomats in High Council High Jinx (S1:E8) and the investigation of the Monroe Corporation tracker in Midwest Mania (S1:E9). He also has a tendency to be a know-it-all as seen in Nomenclature Nuisance (S1:E6) and Amorous Automaton (S1:E7).
IN REAL LIFE
Besides voicing himself on the show, Marcel Ardans provides all of the art, animation, and sound design for Podcast With Marcel.
Podcast With Marcel was initially conceived of with the help of Eli Gilbert. That project never got off the ground and was eventually rebooted with the help of Hayes Griffin. Marcel created the initial lore, intro audio, and character designs as a surprise for Hayes. All of these aspects were introduced to Hayes in real time during the first episode of PWM. Much of the initial lore plays off of their shared love of Star Trek, Star Wars, and other nerd stuff.
Hayes
FIRST APPEARED: S1:E1
BACKGROUND: Human
INSTRUMENT: Mandolin & Guitar
IN THE SHOW
Hayes, the co-host of Podcast With Marcel, is the engineer aboard MC-58957-D. Once fisherman for the Monroe Corp., he is now a bluegrasstronaut turned runaway space bandit.
In Nomenclature Nuisance (S1:E6) Hayes names the ship “The Antique” which is later misspelled by Marcel and JD as “Anteek” in JD Green (S1:E6). Though this name is briefly used to refer to the ship itself, the discovery of the ship’s sentient computer in Long Time, No CPU (S1:E7) results in the name “Anteek” being transferred to the computer.
Hayes is quick to frustration but incredibly honest and loyal. Much like his real life personality, he regularly reigns in Marcel’s antics. This can be seen in Nomenclature Nuisance (S1:E6) as the boys argue about whether or not Star Trek is real and in Mechanical Mixology (S2:E1) when Hayes is annoyed with JD.
IN REAL LIFE
Besides voicing himself in the show Hayes Griffin handles behind the scenes work for PWM, including working on many scripts, including: Bass Phishing (S1:5), Amorous Automaton / Long Time, No CPU (S1:E7), and Boxcar Boondoggle / Mechanical Mixology (S2:E1).
J.D. & Anteek
J.D.
FIRST APPEARED: S1:E1
BACKGROUND: Bot
INSTRUMENT: Bass
IN THE SHOW
JD (Jeremiah Didymus) is a bartender bot that Marcel introduces to Hayes in S1:E1. He quickly became a core member of the team when Hayes and Marcel asked him to join them in stealing a Monroe Corporation fishing vessel to escape Titan and travel the Appalachian Supercluster in S1:E3. JD is subsequently seen beating up security bots and helping the boys leave titan in PWM’s first comic strip, JD Escapes (S1:E5).
JD is only capable of saying a few phrases this makes communication difficult as seen in Bass Phishing (S1:E5). In this short, the boys discover that JD has always longed to play bass with a bluegrass band. It is later confirmed that JD is terrible at the bass in Beer Pressure (S1:E10).
In Lock, Stock, and Peril (S1:E10) it is revealed that JD may have previously been employed by the Monroe Corporation when he easily unlocks a Monroe Corporation shipping container. JD’s long backstory is given in full in Mechanical Mixology (S2:E1), where we discover JD joined the Monroe Corporation to support his mother but eventually played a hand in the destruction of his home planet. Before JD is able to expose the Monroe Corporations secret plot his new voice box fails him and he returns to only being able to communicate in a few stock phrases.
IN REAL LIFE
JD is voiced by Dwayne Tarver an accomplished actor and voice actor. After Dwayne’s lines are recorded they’re triggered by a soundboard that Marcel controls during taping sessions.
JD is notably voiced by a different voice actor when his voice box is replaced in Mechanical Mixology (S2:E1).
Anteek
FIRST APPEARED: Long Time, No CPU (S1:E7)
BACKGROUND: Bot
INSTRUMENT: Unknown
IN THE SHOW
Anteek is the loose-cannon sentient computer aboard MC-58957-D. In Long Time, No CPU (S1:E7), it’s revealed that Anteek has been dormant for the entirety of Hayes and Marcel’s time using this ship. They never activated her because they never finished reading the manual and watching the orientation VHS. Hayes accidentally awakens Anteek when Marcel gives him a duo-corder and Hayes tries to talk to other ships saying, “Ya’ got yer ears on out there? This is the space cowboy, I gotta few gumball machines on my tail and I’d like to make it out of here shiny side up. Come on back.”
Hayes and Marcel’s lack of knowledge of Anteek is also hinted at in Smokey and the Planet (S1:E9) where Marcel is seen watching the orientation VHS and the voice of Bryan Sutton can be heard saying, “…and remember hydro-carbon fishermen, if you ever find yourself surrounded by hostiles in deep space. Never, ever, under any circumstances, give control of the ship to the…” One episode later in Lock, Stock, and Peril (S1:E10) Anteek is given control of the ship and immediately initiates the self-destruct sequence.
IN REAL LIFE
Anteek is voiced by Kjerstin Lie, Marcel’s wife. Anteek’s voice is based off a bad Sierra Hull impersonation, combined with some post-processing. Besides voicing Anteek, Kjerstin has also lent her writing talent to many episodes, including: Nomenclature Nuisance / JD Green (S1:E6), Midwest Mania (S1:E9), and Beer Pressure (S1:E10).
Guest and More
FIRST APPEARED: S1:E8
BACKGROUND: Muhlenonian
INSTRUMENT: Guitar & Mandolin
In Muhlenos Mayday (S1:E8) Marcel and Hayes receive a distress call from Muhlenos Prime. While meeting the locals they run into flatpicking champion, Andy Hatfield, who shares stories about his time at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas.