The A plot/B plot formula has been sacred to many of the Simpsons best episodes, doubling the chances for laughs and intrigue with two seperate storylines. Although in some cases, such as this one, the B story could do better without the A story, since, well it was just more interesting and funny. The Marge bake-off plot provided a couple laughs, but all in all, is there anyone who couldn't predict the ending? The Lisa angle was at least a nice touch, although she's not one to criticize poisoning others' projects, being guilty of the same treason in "Lisa's Rival". Meanwhile, Bart poisons the minds of Springfield's children spreading Playdude smut. Angles like the parents coming after Homer on the issue, and the kids making sex jokes would have been far better explored in depth. I did like how they got this plot rolling without having Bart even see naked girls in the magazines, since Marge cut them out. The selling scene of the episode winded up being the "facts of life" moment between Bart and Homer, and a nice wrap-up of the storyline, but still, it would have been a good A story.
In terms of laughs, not much fell flat, but there weren't more than a few big laughs throughout the episode. Both of Homer's imagination sequences were entertaining, although the food mascot one was a bit familiar, since we've seen similar stuff with the bears last year in "Fat and the Furriest" or the Kool-Aid man and food icons in "The Way We Weren't", or the Nintendo characters in "Marge Be Not Proud". The ending joke with James Caan was a bit overboard for my tastes, probably being my bottom-of-the-barrel joke for this episode. Speaking of Caan, his guest spot was unnecessary as many cameos are, as well as the return of Thomas Pynchon's.
Overall, with some laughs, no glaring clunkers, a very solid subplot and a mediocre main plot (although both paced very well), this was definately solid, but not truly stand-out.
PS: So.... back to the old kitchen next week?