Entertainment NOW

2 • February 6 - 12, 2022 Entertainment Now By Sarah Passingham TV Media T he women of Nail Artisans of Manatee County re- turned to our screens this year, but this time it was to close up shop. The South Florida- set dark comedy "Claws" airs its series finale Sunday, Feb. 6, on TNT, bringing to an end the fourth and final season of the show. Having debuted in 2017, "Claws" brought Desna Simms to life, a nail salon owner doing business for the mafia on the side. Portrayed by Niecy Nash — whom fans might recognize from her pitch-perfect performance in the thrilling comedy "Scream Queens," her starring role in the mockumentary comedy series "Reno 911!" or her dramatic turn in the emotional miniseries "When They See Us" — Desna has spent four seasons on a journey to obtain her American Dream. Desna's dream is supported by the women she works with at her salon (they also fold into her work with the Husser crime family), her three best friends: Jennifer, Polly and Quiet Ann. Jennifer Husser, played by Jenn Lyon ("Justified"), obviously has her own ties to the mafia through marriage, while Desna's real partner in organized crime is sea- soned con-woman Polly Marks, portrayed by Carrie Preston of "The Good Wife" fame. Desna's muscle, meanwhile, comes in the form of Quiet Ann, played by "Scrubs'" Judy Reyes, the woman responsible for keep- ing watch and making sure every- one toes the line. Despite staying loyal to Desna for years, Ann has spent Season 4 opposing her former boss as part of a rival crew, complicating Desna's crime-world domination. Desna's crew also added one more member early in "Claws'" run when a murder cover-up necessitated that she keep her boyfriend's girlfriend close. Kar- rueche Tran, the first Asian Pacific American to win an Emmy (for her role in streaming soap opera "The Bay" in 2021), portrays Vir- ginia Loc, who proved herself in Season 3 by quite literally taking a bullet for Desna. While they may have started out on questionable terms, Virginia is integral to both Desna's salon and her criminal enterprise. Those unfamiliar with the series might now be wondering what exactly Desna is reaching for as she claws her way through the Florida crime and nail art industries? For starters, it was a means to an end. Money launder- ing for the Husser family began as she wished to upgrade her salon, but mob ties bind. And now that Desna has learned she has what it takes to be a ruthless leader, her business has become inextricably linked with the criminal under- world. A natural scene-stealer, Nash handles the comedy and drama beats of "Claws" effortlessly. As absurd as a dark comedy about Floridian crime could get, Nash lands each of the show's leaps, from Russian mob interference to crooked cops and flipped as- sociates. Nash's performance as Desna is remarkable and, as a re- sult, she was awarded an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Ac- tress in a Comedy Series in 2018. Nash doesn't take leading a series sitting down, and she told Ilana Kaplan for the Washington Post that "there's a responsibility that you hold to get your show over the finish line every season … And I welcomed it." Cover Story Judy Reyes stars in "Claws" Wave goodbye: Nail Artisans close shop in 'Claws' Ready Rental 3 x 4 Hayley Siefert 3 x 2 Letters & Numbers Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row,every column, and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 through 9 AND the letters A-F. Solution on page 12.

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