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The latest financial institution to be “robbed’’ by Ben Affleck appears to be Melrose Savings Bank on the corner of Main and West Foster streets. Affleck, who plays a bank robber in his new movie “The Town,’’ was shooting with his crew at the bank yesterday morning. According to local police, he’ll be there again today and maybe tomorrow. A local spy named Tricia Dollaher told a Globe reporter that she managed to get a nice picture from across the street of Affleck taking a cigarette break. She’d hoped to get closer to him. Apparently, second-hand smoke is desirable when it’s coming from Affleck. “I’d feel better if he was over here smoking,’’ she said.

Actor, musician, and patriarch of the Seaver family Alan Thicke called us the other day to remind us that he’ll be in Connecticut for the next few weeks hosting “The Price Is Right Live,’’ which runs at the Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Fox Theater through Nov. 18. Thicke, who’s best known for his years on “Growing Pains,’’ explained that the live version of “The Price Is Right’’ is just like the TV show. Contestants “come on down.’’ They win prizes. There’s even Plinko. The only difference between the original game show and its live counterpart is that when “Price’’ is live, contestants can’t be censored. That makes being the Bob Barker a more unpredictable experience. “I got hugged by a giant of a man last night,’’ Thicke said, laughing. “He was very aggressive.’’ Thicke told us he’d be trekking to Boston this week with his wife and son to celebrate his anniversary. No word on whether he meant his son and soul crooner Robin Thicke. Of Robin, who appears on “Gossip Girl’’ star Leighton Meester’s new pop single, proud poppa Alan said: “He’s a pretty darn decent fellow and a wonderful artist. Anytime they can raise the bar on the family franchise, it’s a good thing . . . and he’s certainly done that.’’

Director Jason Reitman, of “Juno’’ and “Thank You for Smoking’’ fame, has been in Boston for a few days to promote his soon-to-be-released film, “Up In The Air,’’ which stars George Clooney and Vera Farmiga, who you may remember from “The Departed.’’ Reitman appeared at Emerson College to answer student questions about the film, and asked fans on Twitter to tell him where to eat while staying in town. They wisely sent him to Neptune Oyster for a lobster roll, and the good news is, he liked it. The director confessed to us yesterday that it was the first time he had ever tried a lobster roll. In fact, he thought a lobster roll meant sushi. Reitman described it on Twitter as, “Chopped up hot lobster, dripping in butter, on a toasted brioche roll.’’ Reitman actually had a longer description than that, but the rest of it isn’t appropriate to print.

Playboy model Jayde Nicole has become a reality show star thanks to her on-again-off-again boyfriend Brody Jenner, a regular on MTV’s “The Hills.’’ But she swears that she never meant to put her personal life in front of the camera. “I kind of just got thrown into it,’’ Nicole told us yesterday. “I just showed up one day and there were cameras. Once you’re in, you can’t go back.’’ Nicole - who’ll host a Little Black Dress party at Shrine at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods tonight and at the Estate in Boston tomorrow night - says she’s learned that one of the perks of reality show fame is that she has a new collective of fans. Before, when she was only known as a Playmate, Nicole’s followers were mostly men. Now, when she does club appearances, she’s surrounded by adoring young women. Who knew? Nicole, not surprisingly, wanted to plug her show while she was on the phone with us, and says it’s important to watch the next few episodes of “The Hills.’’ Apparently, she gets into a brawl with costar Kristin Cavallari. “I had never been in a physical altercation before,’’ Nicole told us. Classy, right?

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon’’ star Ashley Greene will not be at the Natick Collection on Thursday. The actress, who plays Alice Cullen in the teen vampire series, was supposed to appear on behalf of Nordstrom and Hot Topic with costar Kellan Lutz, but now only Lutz is scheduled to attend. No word on whether another cast member will visit the mall in Greene’s absence. We’d be more than satisfied if Robert Pattinson took her place. Just sayin’.

Ryan Tedder and his band, OneRepublic, performed for Mix 104.1 listeners at the Hard Rock Cafe. Tedder, for those who don’t know, moonlights as a songwriter, penning hits for everyone from Beyoncé to Jordin Sparks. The band opened for Rob Thomas last night at the Wang Theatre.

Boston gal Gisele Bundchen sounds as beautiful as she looks in a new ad for Gafisa, a Brazilian real estate and development company. The ad - which is easily found on YouTube - is in Portuguese, but our Names translators tell us it features Mrs. Tom Brady talking about her childhood home, sharing a room with her siblings, and family Sunday dinners.