Times Square Gossip

Damian Lewis New York, NY — Homeland star Damian Lewis returns to Showtime with Billions, playing a hedge-fund titan using all his power to stay ahead of the law. Just in time for the show’s January 17 debut, he sat down with Cigar Aficionado to talk about his latest anti-hero role, his time on Homeland and the show’s portrayal of Islam, and how he maintains work-life balance with his wife, Helen McCrory (a semi-regular on Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful”) and their two children, among a variety of other topics. The February cover story in Cigar Aficionado hits newsstands January 12. Select quotes include: On Billions and his new acting role: “Bobby is a character who plays right to the strength of what is best about television right now. I feel very fortunate, really, to be working in this particular realm at this particular moment. It’s my great fortune that I came of age at a time when this new form of television was developing.” On why TV today is be...

**** REAL NEW YORKER'S **** De Niro In Cigar Aficionado Happy Birthday Mr. De Niro! The legendary actor turned 72 yesterday, but he also covers Cigar Aficionado ’s newest issue with an exclusive interview. The issue hits newsstands August 25. Since its inception in 1992, Cigar Aficionado magazine’s editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken has conducted six interviews with unique men from different walks of life. The September/October issue offers Shanken’s seventh cover interview in the 23-year history of the magazine. All of these have been with men who rarely sit for interviews: · 1994: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro · 1995: Business Mogul Ronald O. Perelman · 2003: Director Francis Ford Coppola · 2003: War Hero General Tommy Franks · 2005: NBA Legend Michael Jordan · 2008: Hollywood Producer Arnon Milchan · 2015: Legendary Actor Robert De Niro De Niro, one of ...

Liam Neeson Liam Neeson In Cigar Aficionado Liam Neeson takes the weekend box office by storm – literally, Taken 3 took The Hobbit out of the top spot, drawing in $40.4 million in domestic theaters and $41 million abroad. But Neeson takes a break from kicking some serious ass on the big screen to chat with Cigar Aficionado for their February 2015 issue, discussing everything from the evolution of his career to his upstate getaway where he enjoys fly-fishing and more. Liam Neeson is truly the thinking man’s movie star. With a filmography ranging from the critically-acclaimed drama Schindler’s List to the blockbuster trilogy Taken, he’s proven himself a box-office magnet and action hero–and he’s not done yet. At age 62, Neeson is experiencing the renaissance of his career, boasting seven different movies in theaters in 2014 and four movies up for release this year. The movie audiences love to watch him kick serious ass, but Neeson also has a softer side and longs for hi...

Michael Strahan Michael Strahan’s rise to NFL greatness was improbable, and his second coming as a television star is even more remarkable. After 15 years with the New York Giants, the 6 foot 5 former football superstar now juggles three TV jobs and has even more ventures to keep him occupied. But despite his physical size and drive to defy categorization, this gentle giant also has an admitted shy side off the small screen. The November cover story in Cigar Aficionado hits newsstands October 28th. A selection of quotations include: On knowing no limits: “I don’t limit myself and I tell my kids not to let anyone limit you. That’s one of the great things I learned from my dad. He never said, ‘If…’ It wasn’t ‘If you’re drafted by the pros.’ It was always ‘When.’ When you’re drafted by the pros. He made things seem like they were supposed to happen.” On his football field strategy: “I always looked at football as psychological. It was like chess, where y...

Usher Between his platinum records, his dance moves, and his stewardship of talent on “The Voice,” the entertainer called Usher is the whole package. And, oh yeah, he has those eight-pack abs. The story is featured on the cover of the September 2014 issue of Cigar Aficionado , on newsstands August 26th. On former protégé Justin Bieber, who has run into trouble lately: “We’re all God’s children. I can only imagine. I mean, it’s a crazy journey at any age. Who knows what would have happened to me or if I’d even be having this conversation from this perspective.” On his famous 8-pack abs: “I was always athletic and, you know, everyone wants something they’re known for. But I was 5-foot-8. It wasn’t going to be basketball or football. So it was my abs.” On coaching Josh Kaufman, the winner of NBC’s “The Voice:” “I get bragging rights as the one who won, after six seasons of it ping-ponging back and forth between Adam and Blake.” On “Yeah,” hi...

**** SMOKING STARS **** Rob Lowe Rob Lowe Speaks to Cigar Aficionado about Good Looks, Cubans And Charlie Sheen. The star is featured on the cover of the July 2014 issue of Cigar Aficionado, on newsstands June 24th. On whether he’s had plastic surgery to retain his good looks: “I’d like to think that, if I had work done—which I haven’t—I wouldn’t be coy about it. I’m just a product of good genetics and taking care of myself.” On his relationship with Charlie Sheen: “I love him, even though he hates sobriety. We spar over all kinds of things. There’s no funnier, smarter, more enjoyable raconteur than Charlie. I love him when he rants about why people in AA are idiots. I admire him living the life of his choosing.” On getting sober and turning to cigars: “When I got sober. That was 1990. One of the things you have to do when you stop [drinking] is you have to find other ways to have fun. You’re looking for new ways to bond, to be social, to...