Strutting their stuff

By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein  |  May 29, 2009

Hundreds of limber 20-somethings lined the streets of Downtown Crossing yesterday morning to audition for the Fox show "So You Think You Can Dance." Hot host Cat Deeley was on hand to rev up the locals, who arrived at the Hyatt Regency before 8 a.m. for the dance showdown. Would-be contestants included the 6-foot-8, Tommy Tune-esque Ryan Casey of Lexington and 25-year-old Christy Sattler of South Hadley, who warmed up by doing pirouettes on the sidewalk. One young ballerina told us she traveled from Miami because the Boston audition was the closest to home. Callbacks in front of the show's judges - Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe - are today. To see more from the auditions, visit www.boston.com/ae/celebrity.

Brady passes around some answers

Tom Brady faced his first blitz of the season yesterday, and deftly ducked it. The Pats QB was at the center of a media scrum after practice, and he managed to stay calm in the pocket. Though more comfortable talking about football than family, Brady did reveal that his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, is not pregnant, contrary to reports circulating on the Internet. "No. It's. . . . No," said Brady. "One is enough. I have dogs, and that's all I need." Asked about his busy offseason, which included two weddings to Bundchen, Brady was said he's rested and ready: "I'm a very optimistic person. I cherish those moments. There's been great things happening in my life for a long time and certainly this year was no different and different areas of success with marriage and with children. It's a great part of my life and so is work. I'm excited for all those things coming together." While his life might seem glamorous, the former sixth-round pick said celebrity does have a downside. "I had a little bit more privacy back in the past, but that's OK, and I learn to manage it, and I still find ways to enjoy myself, certainly here - I always have fun here," he said. But leave it to us to ask the real tough question: Why wasn't Brady wearing a helmet while bicycling with his son the other day. (The Boston Herald ran a photo on its front page yesterday.) "Do I need a helmet? I do? I'm not even going very fast," Brady said. "I'll get a helmet. I'll see if Mr. Kraft can provide me with a helmet." We bet he can - and will. "I'll look for a Patriots bike helmet in the pro shop," Pats spokesman Stacey James said afterward.

Not long before Susanna Hoffs treated a House of Blues audience to a singalong performance of "Eternal Flame" on Wednesday, the petite Bangles singer was backstage congratulating herself on her mix-tape skills. Turns out, Hoffs is responsible for the music that plays in clubs before the band takes the stage. "I go for '60s stuff, Buffalo Springfield . . . 'These Boots are Made for Walking' by Nancy Sinatra . . ." said Hoffs, who is married to "Austin Powers" director Jay Roach. The Bangles shared their local gig with hometown girl Juliana Hatfield, who told us backstage that she and Hoffs have a long history. Not only did the two share some Lilith Fair stages, but Hatfield also wrote tunes for Hoffs's first solo album in the early 1990s. To answer your obvious question, Hoffs is now 50. And yes, based on this photo, that's hard to believe. She might be an alien.

Aspiring actors take note: There's a casting call today for the movie "The Town," which will be filmed around Charlestown this summer. The movie, which Ben Affleck will direct and star in, is based on Chuck Hogan's dark novel "Prince of Thieves." Casting directors will be looking for men and women of all ages, shapes, and sizes, as long as they're over 18. Boston accents are a plus. You've got one of those, right? The casting call is at the Charlestown Community Center (225 Medford St.) from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Watertown gal Eliza Dushku joined celebs such as Drew Barrymore and Kelly Osbourne at a pro-Prop. 8 rally in Los Angeles this week. According to E!, the actress - who's been seen around town with new beau, former Celtic Rick Fox - spoke about her cousin's lesbian wedding at Harvard Yard and said, in support of the movement, "Two brides are hotter than one."

Read the Names Blog at www.boston.com/namesblog. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.