This week’s New York governor’s debate was supposed to be a clash between Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Carl Paladino. Instead, by some accounts, it turned into a farce in which independent candidates stole the show.

Among the highlights: Kristin Davis, a former prostitution madam, told jokes about brothels and gay bars and Republican Paladino surprised the audience by actually walking off stage in the middle of the debate to use the bathroom. “When you gotta go, you gotta go,” his campaign manager told the New York Times.

But the real show stealer was Jimmy McMillan of the Rent Is Too Damn High Party, who spoke repeatedly about the high cost of rent, which had made it difficult for families to pay their bills, put food on the table, and take care of themselves.

McMillan spoke about his expertise in karate, his support of gay marriage (“If you want to marry a shoe, I’ll marry you”), and, of course, about rent.