Futurama: Every Planet Express Crew Member Ranked
5. Professor Farnsworth
The Professor is a brilliant and irreplaceable part of the show, so it might seem a little harsh to have him in fifth. However, for the top five it’s probably best to think of them as all being joint first, as they’re separated by the slimmest of margins, though there’s a relative canyon between Nibbler and Farnsworth for sixth and fifth.
The mad scientist is hardly a new character, and with Rick & Morty’s Rick, the Professor probably isn’t even the most popular animated one from the past 20 years. Still, despite building off what is far from new territory, Futurama managed to go to unique, fun places with it.
More so than arguably any mad scientists before him, Professor Farnsworth simply loves inventing things. With Futurama already so bizarre, he takes it to strange new extremes and works well leading the plot, running the B story, supporting another main character or just popping up for a spot gag.
In a sci-fi sitcom as limitless as this, Farnsworth’s flexibility is a massive asset. It shows how deep Futurama’s cast is that he’s down in fifth.