If yesterday's French-language debate was a dress-rehearsal, tonight's English-language debate was opening night. But one of the principle actors didn't seem to have practiced his lines. Prime Minister Paul Martin broke his leg on stage - and not in a theatrically good way. As for Conservative leader Stephen Harper, he was the surprise hit of the two-day debating season. The following are some of Public Eye's notes from the debate.

- Prime Minister Martin looked like a Black Cassandra throughout the debate - a prophet constantly and loudly wondering why no one was listening to his forecasts of impending (Conservative) doom. On several occasions, he even threw his hands out in frustration, a gesture that only seemed to accentuate his impotence. Another snafu: the Liberal leader couldn't decide whether he wanted to look like a prime minister or an opposition leader, addressing the camera or gunning down his opponents. As a result, he did both. Perhaps no one ever told Mr. Martin it's not polite to look away when you're talking to someone?

- Prime Minister Martin clearly has an addiction. He can't seem to stop himself from legitimizing opposition parties. When New Democrat leader Jack Layton criticized the prime minister for arrogantly assuming the Liberals are the only ones who can defeat the Conservatives, Mr. Martin actually said, "I'll accept that criticism." Then, later in the debate, Prime Minister Martin compared Mr. Harper to Ontario Premier Mike Harris - a guaranteed way to make sure voters in that province don't think of the Conservative leader as a scary extremist but instead the same guy they elected twice.

- Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe once again harped on Liberal mismanagement and corruption. His coup de grace: Mr. Duceppe finished his closing remarks by accusing the prime minister of not telling the truth about the sponsorship scandal during the debates and he now had, "60 seconds" to do so - "It's your turn sir." Clearly shaken, Mr. Martin (the last to close) coughed uncomfortably and proceeded to stutter through his canned speech.

- Mr. Layton seems to agree with the old adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, becoming a third party validator for Mr. Harper. He disagreed with the Conservative leader's positions. But on more than one occasion, Mr. Layton complimented Mr. Harper for being "completely upfront" with his policies unlike the Liberals. So much for claims the Tories have a secret agenda.

- Mr. Layton also did the Conservative leader a huge favour by goading the prime minister into asking the New Democrat whether his, "handlers tell you to talk all the time?" The prime minister laughed at his own joke. But the New Democrat leader wasn't amused, remarking that missile defense - the issue under discussion - isn't a laughing matter. Public Eye thinks Canadians will likely share Mr. Layton's opinion.

- Mr. Layton may have been dreaming in Technicolor by suggesting the New Democrats could lead a minority government. But his argument that the New Democrats could challenge the Conservatives shows just how vulnerable his campaigners think the Liberal vote is.

- Mr. Harper was the most prime ministerial of the four leaders - calm and collected beside the sputtering Liberal leader. By focusing on what the Conservatives have in common with the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois (don't laugh - we're serious) and declaring his willingness to work with both parties, the Tory leader looked like the kind of broker-mediator Canadians love to elect. Notice the emphasis on looked.