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T2 WHATS UP! February 6 - 12, 2022 TV FEATURE BY SARAH PASSINGHAM TV Media T he women of Nail Ar- tisans 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 fi- nale 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 perfor- mance in the thrilling comedy "Scream Queens," her starring role in the mockumentary com- edy series "Reno 911!" or her dra- matic turn in the emotional miniseries "When They See Us" — Desna has spent four seasons on a journey to obtain her Amer- ican 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"), obvious- ly 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 keeping 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 ne- cessitated that she keep her boy- friend's girlfriend close. Kar- rueche Tran, the first Asian Pa- cific 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 se- ries 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 laundering for the Husser fami- ly began as she wished to up- grade her salon, but mob ties bind. And now that Desna has learned she has what it takes to be a ruthless leader, her busi- ness 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 Out- Bentonville Acupuncture 5 x 5 continued on page T10 Carrie Preston and Niecy Nash star in "Claws" Fresh set Not a subscriber? No problem, subscribe today and receive an iPad with your subscription*. *iPad must be returned within 30 days of termination of account. now available on the digital replica! NEW INTERACTIVE PUZZLE PAGES Get the new puzzle pages on the digital replica, featuring puzzles daily! CROSSWORDS KIDS' GAMES SUDOKU WORD GAMES STRATEGY & MEMORY NUMBERS Call 479-684-5509 or visit nwaonline.com/nwaipad