The song was part of a skit featuring an irritable police commissioner (Jim Boyd) and several of his inept recruits (Morgan Freeman, Luis Avalos and Skip Hinnant).
In an episode of the 1980s TV series Fame, Morgan Stevens, in character as David Reardon, performed the selection with the assistance of some of the regular cast.
During the 2010 Writers Guild Awards, Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, did a parody of the song entitled "Ya Got Trouble" but it was about unscripted shows.
"The Bible, Part 3", an early version of the song "All-American Prophet" from The Book of Mormon was modeled stylistically after "Ya Got Trouble", and ended with the same line: "Remember my friends, listen to me because I pass this way but once!
"[6] In a 2016 episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, "Josh and I Work on a Case," the eponymous character Rebecca cajoles the tenants of an apartment complex to sue their landlord in a parody of this song entitled "Cold Showers Lead to Crack".