CLAWS - TNT
CLAWS – TNT

Turner’s TNT has given a series greenlight to “Claws,” a “midnight-dark, wickedly funny meditation on female badness set in a South Florida nail salon,” says the press release from the network.

Executive produced by Rashida Jones, “Claws” follows the rise of five diverse and treacherous manicurists working at the Nail Artisan of Manatee County salon, where there is a lot more going on than silk wraps and pedicures. At the center is salon owner Desna (played by Niecy Nash), who lives with and cares for her mentally ill twin brother, Dean (played by Harold Perrineau). Desna’s staff includes best friend Jennifer (Jenn Lyon), a tenuously sober ex-party girl raising two children from previous relationships; Quiet Ann (Judy Reyes), Desna’s enigmatic driver who also provides security for the salon; Polly (Carrie Preston), a mild-mannered preppy who recently served time in prison for identity theft; and Virginia (Karrueche Tran), who makes no effort to hide her boredom and impatience with her job.




Adding chaos to the Nail Artisan mix is Roller (Jack Kesy), a gangstered-out redneck who runs a barely legal pain clinic and uses Desna’s nail salon to launder their obscene profits; Bryce (Kevin Rankin), Jennifer’s husband who is also newly sober and trying to stay legit by working as an abundance coach; and Dr. Ken Brickman (Jason Antoon), a bona fide doctor at a decidedly un-bona fide and illegal drug clinic.

Janine Sherman Barrois is executive producer and will serve as showrunner for “Claws.”

Will McCormack is an executive producer as well.

The pilot was written by series co-executive producer Eliot Laurence and directed by Nicole Kassell.

“Claws is wild and hilarious, and we can’t wait for viewers to immerse themselves in this fascinating world,” said Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT. “This is a show with great storytelling featuring empowered female characters and brought to life by a diverse group of incredibly talented individuals both in front of and behind the camera.”




“Claws is such a unique and special show. We are so grateful to Eliot Laurence, Janine Sherman Barrois, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack and our supremely talented cast for bringing these amazing characters to life, and to TNT for believing in it,” said Susan Rovner and Brett Paul, Co-Presidents of Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

TNT has ordered 10 episodes of “Claws,” which is slated to launch in 2017.

“Claws” is produced by Jones and McCormack’s Le Train Train, in association with Warner Horizon Television and Turner’s Studio T.