10 Cartoon Extras Who We All Adore

So we have finally made it to the classic joke that frequented the wonderful Spongebob Squarepants. The phrase "My leg!" was used in this show over eighty times, and is a pure example of how far a gag can go in a cartoon.

What started as a simple recurring joke eventually morphed this extra into a whole character with a name and a personality. His title may be Fred, The Fish but we all know him as the "my leg" guy.

This simple line on paper shouldn't be funny at all, but part of what makes it work is the fact that it's so intrinsically woven into the world of Bikini Bottom. It would feel weird for an accident to happen and for audiences not to hear the classic catchphrase.

This is such a fine example of how to take something that shouldn't even get a laugh and turn it into one of your show's identifying features. Spongebob as a series is surprisingly good at taking small details like this and developing them into a genuine presence within the show.

We are only here overanalysing this simple line thanks to the fact that the showrunners decided to go full in with a joke that most writers would have ignored.

Let's hope that Fred's leg can one day retire in peace.