Buddy

Buddy is one of the mutants living beneath New New York, and he has taken an instant, overwhelming shine to Leela. He follows her around with puppyish devotion, gushing compliments and trying to get close, blissfully unaware of how uncomfortable this makes her. He is sweet, needy, and utterly without self-awareness.

Maurice LaMarche gives Buddy a wheedling, love-struck warmth that turns a one-joke premise into something oddly touching rather than just cringeworthy. The writing lets his crush stay harmless and a little pathetic instead of sinister, so the comedy comes from Leela's exasperation and his obliviousness rather than menace, and LaMarche's delivery makes every syrupy line land.