Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Sarah Passingham TV Media T he women of Nail Artisans of Manatee County returned 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 jour- ney 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 fami- ly), 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 seasoned 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 everyone toes the line. Despite staying loyal to Desna for years, Ann has spent Season 4 oppos- ing 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. Karrueche Tran, the first Asian Pacific American to win an Emmy (for her role in streaming soap opera "The Bay" in 2021), por- trays Virginia Loc, who proved herself in Season 3 by quite liter- ally 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 laun- dering 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 crimi- nal underworld. 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 associ- ates. Nash's performance as Desna is remarkable and, as a result, she was awarded an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress 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." Reflecting on the experience of making four seasons of "Claws," Nash shared that the person she will miss most is the head of the nail department behind the scenes, Morgan Dixon. "It would just be such a plea- sure to come to work and see what the story was we were tell- ing through our nails every day," Nash told the Post, making clear the importance of styling in char- acter development. Rounding out an exceptional main cast are Kevin Rankin ("Friday Night Lights") as Jennifer's husband, Bryce Husser; Jason Antoon ("NCIS: Hawai'i") as Dr. Ken Brickman, the head of one of the Husser family's pill mills; Harold Perrineau ("Romeo + Juliet," 1996") as Dean Simms, Desna's brother; Dean Norris ("Breaking Bad") as Uncle Daddy, the big boss at the top of the Husser crime family; and finally, Jack Kesy ("The Strain") as Dwayne "Roller" Husser, Desna's on-again-off-again boy- friend who is entangled more in criminal activity than his own family's enterprise. While it is sad that such a unique show is coming to an end, it's worth celebrating its four-season run and its impor- tance in the pop culture land- scape. "Claws" has turned the often cruel Florida joke on its head by adding humanity to stories that would certainly make an absurd cherry-picked headline. To top it all off, the series also sets high stakes for its dramatic storylines while showcasing the cast's comedic chops to fully flesh out its characters and keep them from simply being "Florida Man" or "Florida Woman" cari- catures. Schwering Realty 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover Judy Reyes stars in "Claws" Nail Artisans close shop in 'Claws' Chase Center 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5"

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