The beer was poured, popcorn buttered and viewers sat on the edge of their seats anticipating a good bout.
The first matchup resembled that of a polite grappling game. Each player made weak attempts for submissions, but neither sought the knockout. Fans were left feeling disappointed.
By the second faceoff, the game plan had shifted. Both came out swinging, with the guy in blue delivering an undercut just before the final bell.
The last meeting had its heated moments. There was a bit of back and forth, but by the end both men were standing and the judges argued over who had inflicted more direct damage.
With the U.S. presidential debates finished, the hockey lockout seems bleaker. The politics south of the border fit nicely into the sporting hole. By comparison, the blank-faced chatter in Ottawa resembles a Bob Ross marathon, as he carefully fills in a forest on an empty canvas. The difference becomes abundantly apparent in the debates. And it's reflected in the ratings.
Last year's Canadian electoral prime ministerial debate set an all-time record for viewers. Four million people tuned in to watch our guys (and gal) go head to head, representing a 26 per cent increase over the previous record of 3.05 million viewers in 2008, reported CTV.
An estimated 67 million people sat down to see Obama and Romney meet up in their first debate - 21 per cent of the population. Canada's viewer record equals to approximately 11 per cent of its residents.
While the United States' numbers are likely bolstered by outsiders - during Tuesday's debate one viewer tweeted that more Canadians seemed to comment on the debate, while American streams focused on sports - there are a few lessons we could take from our neighbours.
A two-party system guarantees fireworks, but debate formats and how they're presented contribute to the level of discussion. The town-hall meeting style of the second presidential debate, in which citizens asked the questions, pulled out the showboat that lies within most politicians. Add to that the fact that the setting enabled some face-to-face encounters. And ABC's fact check posts on candidates' comments while they spoke, added game commentary to the talks. Topping it off, was where the debates took place. In front of thousands of people, the duo duked it out at universities in Colorado, New York and Florida. All in all, it added to the buzz.
While I don't want to see Canadian politics devolve to a simplified match of one liners, I do think putting a bit of the fight into the ring couldn't hurt. These debates are important, and if adding some sporting pizzazz helps get more Canadians watching, my gloves are in.
