Kang & Kodos

All credit for this idea belongs to thpletcher over on Pinside. I’ve had a Simpsons Pinball Party for a few years now and love it. I purchased it as part of a bulk buy from a friend of a friend a few years back. It was one of 5 games I brought home that night (OK that morning as we arrived home around 2 or 3am)

About a week ago, I was reading through the TSSP club thread on Pinside and I saw thpletcher’s post that he had purchased the Kang and Kodos 13″ plush from Kidrobot and used them as a topper.

Odd … because I had “almost” purchased the very same plush “just because” about a month ago – they looked cool but I just couldn’t get past the “plush” part and worried they would be droopy or misshapen. Besides, I really wanted a vinyl version. So I didn’t buy them. Fast forward a few weeks and I saw that Pinside post and changed my mind on the spot. The post provided no details except where to buy them and that the poster had added some lighting to illuminate them.

Before I jumped in, I read up and refreshed myself on the background of these 2 character of the Simpson’s universe. What I found is that they are way cooler than I ever anticipated. First, most people know that the Kang and Kodos duo are aliens in the series. They almost exclusively show up during the annual Halloween “Treehouse of Horrors” special episodes. They are not friendly. It turns out though that they do “love humans” – to continue the joke “they just can’t eat a whole one by themselves”. (ba dum tsh)

Turns out the Simpsons writers were heavily influenced by the original Star Trek. The Kang and Kodos’s names come from two 1960’s Star Trek characters – one alien and one human. Kang was a Klingon captain portrayed by actor Michael Ansara in the 11th episode of season 3 called “Day of the Dove“. Kang would then reappear in Deep Space Nine’s “Blood Oath” and Voyager’s “Flashback”, though for me – there is only one Star Trek and that’s the original Shatner based series. Kodos the Executioner was a human bad guy from the 12th episode of the season titled “The Conscience of the King“.

It’s an unwritten writers rule that Kang and Kodos must appear in every Halloween episode. Again, according to Wikipedia, “the writers say the duo will often be forgotten and are added at the last second, leading to brief appearances.”

With the cultural significance solidified and my comfort level with a “plush topper” increased, I ordered the pair from Kidrobot. In the meantime, I started planning how to provide some light up there. Early on I got the idea to use ultraviolet light. I searched for a few minutes for a nice bright LED style light bar but could not find the one I would need at around 24″ to 27″ (max width is 27 1/2″ up there)

I finally settled on the simplest solution – a UV LED Light strip. I bough a nice aluminum channel to stick it to and waited (impatiently) for all the parts to arrive. The UV LED arrived first. Great. I could get that bit installed and plop the plush up there when they arrived. The LED strip install went smoothly:

• Cut the Muzata aluminum channel to length (27″ in my case)
• Cut the plastic diffusor to length with sharp scissors (27″)
• Wipe down inside of aluminum channel with alcohol
• Measure LED strip to best cut point – cut with scissors (around 26″ in this case)
• Peel LED strip backing and adhere to inside (45 degree) flat face of aluminum channel
• Wipe down underside of aluminum channel with alcohol
• Add a piece of 3M VHB RP-16 tape to underside of aluminum channel
• Fold the LED power supply cable back on itself and zip tie it into a short loop (see image)
• Do the above step so the power supply cable does not hang over AND so it does not begin to delaminated the LED strip from the aluminum channel (takes the “spring” out of it)
• Mount the aluminum channel with integrated LED strip right even with front edge of cabinet
• Add the controller unit to the power supply cable end of the LED strip
• I used some sticky velcro to hold the controller/LED supply cable junction to the cabinet top
• Plug in the power supply to 110volt outlet (mine is controlled by Alexa to come on with the game)

The remote that comes with the unit (like most remotes) would be confusing to an Electrical Engineer, with a degree in Physics and a Doctorate in Computer Science. Thankfully, I only have a 2 year degree in Fine Arts but it was still a struggle. The Brightness buttons also control the speed at which anything takes place and the “Jump” and “Fade” buttons are reversed.

The “100” button on the tiny remote will get you back to “just the lights thank you” and that last hint is worth reading this far! I tell you all that because you can set a pretty cool “fading effect” using the “Jump” setting and then use the Bright/Dim buttons to control the fade to your liking – see video of the whole thing in action

Overall a simple and relatively inexpensive topper for your TSSP. I was worried about the “plush” part but to be honest they look amazing. I was worried the UV LED might not be bright enough – actually, it’s just perfect. I was also concerned about them being too large – they are close but they look fine, especially if placed against a wall OR in a row of games with toppers already installed.

Simpsons Tree House of Horrors XV (aired in 2004). Kang and Kodos are cooking the Simpsons

Bart: Am I the only one in horrible pain?

Homer: You’re the only one who won’t shut up about it.