{alltv} 'Dan For Mayor' star gets spiffy

Finally, Fred Ewanuick doesn't have to dress like a slob.

"It's nice to be spiffy, but in real life I hate collars and ties," Ewanuick said. "It's like a really weak person choking you all day."

As the title character in Dan For Mayor, Ewanuick spent the first season in rather casual attire, to say the least. And that came on the heels of six slovenly seasons playing Hank on Corner Gas.

But now in the second season of Dan For Mayor -- which debuts Sunday on CTV -- Dan actually is the mayor. New office, new duds.

"Our wardrobe designer picked out some really cool suits and shirts," Ewanuick said, "And the way I've worked it out in my head is that Claire (Dan's girlfriend, played by Mary Ashton) is kind of dressing him, so that's OK."

As season No. 2 begins on Dan For Mayor, three months have passed since Dan's victory in the mayoral race in the fictional town of Wessex, Ont.

Dan may have stumbled into the mayor's job on a whim and a fluke, but now he genuinely wants to do well, or at least do something. Alas, the machinery of government in Wessex has "sidelined" Dan -- even random citizens are aware of it -- but Dan, as usual, is the last to know.

In the Season 2 premiere, Dan's impatient desire to "do something" leads to turmoil with regard to the naming of a new arena. Watch for a funny visual when Dan's chief of staff Alan (played by Laurie Murdoch) points out to Dan that Wessex simply can't name any more city buildings after "dead white guys."

While the first season of Dan For Mayor largely was a creative success, it inherently was stuck with a constricted premise. With Dan now seated in the mayor's chair, the second season can breathe a lot better.

"That's exactly it, the entire run of the first season was like one big pilot," Ewanuick agreed. "Now, with the election in the final episode of last season, we know this world and we can play in it. There are a lot more opportunities for comedy, and the scripts are a lot tighter because of it."

Ewanuick admitted it took him a while to adjust to being a series lead. Being at the centre of the action all the time, but also serving as a quasi-straight man for the more extreme characters, amounts to an ego check and a different sort of responsibility.

"The first and most obvious thing is, just the work load," Ewanuick said. "When I think of what Brent (Butt) did on Corner Gas, where he was producing and sometimes directing and writing and being the main guy, I don't know how he did it.

"I used to get on his back for not coming out for a drink once in a while, and I totally get it now. 'Right, because you have absolutely no energy left!' But I really enjoy it and now I'm spoiled. I asked for it and I got it. I want this all the time."

Everything but the collars and ties.