The term "parental unit", used to refer to parents, was popularized by the Coneheads; characters originally appearing in an SNL skit, which was basis of the 1993 movie Coneheads (both skit and movie written and performed by Dan Akroyd, among others).
"Use a lower tone of voice when speaking to your parental unit, young one..."
Best spoken in a low quasi-robotic monotone.
| 
