I have some sad news to report: a small puppy, not unlike Lassie,

I have some sad news to report: a small puppy, not unlike Lassie, was
just run over in the parking lot.
[Audience gasps]
And now it's time for the comedy stylings of Homer Simpson!
-- Smithers warms up the audience, "Rosebud"

Related:

• Burns: Could you explain your model, young man? Grimes:
  [from audience] What's to explain? He's an idiot!...
• Burns: That man who's getting all those laughs, Smithers.
  who is he? Smithers: Homer Simpson, sir, one of the...
• Burns: The one who shot me was...[camera pans to Smithers] Aah!
  Aah! Waylon Smithers! Smithers: [pained] Noo! Wait...
• Homer: It's Mr. Smithers, he's calling for you. Smithers:
  [on a beach] How's everything going there, sir? Well...
• Homer: [snores] Bart: Look alive, Simpson, I'm not paying you to goldbrick.
  Homer: [wakes up] Uh... Yes sir. Bart: Now get cracking...
• Burns: [gasps at his sight] Good Lord, Smithers, you look atrocious.
  I thought I told you to take a vacation. Homer...
• Jay: Welcome to "Coming Attractions". I'm your host,
  Jay Sherman, thank you. Tonight, we review...
• Man 1: Excuse me, we wanted to see the geek who valued the happiness of his children more than money.
  Homer: [unenthused] Right here. Man 2: Aw, you said...
• Quimby: People, take it easy. We're all upset about Mr.
  Burns' plan to, uh, block out our sun. It...