Ned Flemkin

Ned Flemkin is a 9-year-old kid who wanted to get a pet at the store, but with the allowance he has, he can only afford a newt who doesn't really do anything at first. After going back to the pet store, the store owner gives him special food for newts called "Zippo". But after Ned feeds him too much Zippo, his newt grows into a shape-shifting, pop-culture-referencing pal named Newton, who ends up being Ned's best friend and is taken everywhere with him.

Trivia

 * In the pilot, Ned’s voice was originally going to sound more like a kid than on the show.