# Who's your favorite Futurama minor character? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2004, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762 "2004-12-27T11:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762/61 "2004-12-29T08:06:23Z")
Wow, far more responses than I had expected, thanks everybody. And I’ll respond to people more fully later, got very limited time now. > [@Dead Badger](#): > > And I, too, would vote for Zoidberg but he doesn’t seem minor enough. He’s had a whole episode of his own. So has Hermes, but the way I see it, if they can run entire episodes without even a mention of your character, you’re not major, and thus minor. Perhaps there is a middle ground? ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762/62 "2004-12-29T17:19:58Z")
Maybe it’ll be helpful to define characters a la musical’s definitions. There are “leads” whose character arc propels the action and secondary characters who prop up the “leads”. The secondary characters are given entire scenes or songs in the musical but their function is to prop up the leads. In Futurama, we have the employees of Planet Express: The Professor - usually the main storyline driver so a “lead” Leela - the love interest so, a “lead” Fry - obviously a “lead”. He’s the protagonist and we follow his life. Bender - when The Professor doesn’t drive the story, he does. Amy - the show can exist without her so she’s secondary. Think Ado Annie Zoidberg - the show can exist without him so he’s secondary. Comic relief. Totally Ali Hakim Hermes - the show can exist without him so he’s secondary. Comic relief. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762/63 "2004-12-29T17:42:36Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > I love Zoidberg… sometimes I even do the woop-woop-woop noise when I’m driving, to let my passengers know I’m about to do something questionable. But I’m shocked and saddened to see him called a minor character. I didn’t think there were any episodes without the doctor. I’m pretty sure Hermes, Amy, and Zoidberg didn’t appear in the first episode, at least. I distinctly remember the Professer introducing Fry, Leela and Bender to them in the second episode. ---
**Author:** ![Phatlewt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Phatlewt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phatlewt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762/64 "2004-12-29T17:58:13Z")
The robot characters are my favorite minor characters. Hedonism Bot, The Robot Devil, and Calculon are all great. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762/65 "2004-12-29T18:05:24Z")
> [@Darwin's Finch](#): > > Speaking of lawyers, I’d have to add a vote for the Hyperchicken (“I’m sorry, I thought you was corn!”). Sweet Zombie Jesus! I love he Hyperchicken! “Your honor, I move that I be disbarred for that there in-competence.” ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762/66 "2004-12-29T18:18:34Z")
I, too, love Calculon, primarily for his subtle, nuanced **ACTING TALENT!** –Cliffy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-futurama-minor-character/281762.md?page=3)