No, Valentine’s Day isn’t the most entertaining, heartwarming, romantic film ever made. Heck, it’s not even very good. Do I recommend you watch it? Sure, why not- but I suggest waiting until it comes out on DVD.

I could go on and on about the (mostly) predictable story-lines, the lack of real chemistry between the characters and the kind of dull plot, but I won’t; it’s been written, there are many reviews online and in print, writing the film off as a big-budget waste of time. You can read them if you like, but I’m going to list the hidden gems that are in the film- because there are some worthy parts of the film, believe it or not.

• George Lopez, as Alphonso, says his wife is his best friend. It was sweet.
• Taylor Swift gives acting a try as Felicia, the kind of annoying and ditsy girlfriend of Willy (Taylor Lautner). And you know what? She wasn’t too bad, she even got a few laughs from the audience. Well done, Tay.
• Julia Roberts was the only one who got a little tear-jerk from the audience, as Captain Kate Hazeltine, when her character connection is revealed.
• Topher Grace is in it, playing a pretty similar character to, well, every character he’s played. And I like that.
• Ashton Kutcher is a super sweet florist, which is adorable.
• When Sean Jackson’s (Eric Dane) love interest is revealed it is shocking. Believe me, you won’t be guessing this one!
• The real gem of the film is at the end, when the blooper reel is played during the credits. Julia Roberts makes a throw-back to her Pretty Woman days when the limo driver asks, “There’s Rodeo Drive, ever shopped there before?” To which Roberts responds, “Once. Big mistake. Huge, huge mistake.”

Lately, Sesame Street has been the talk of the town. With guest stars like First Lady Michelle Obama, and TV show spoofs like “30 Rocks” and “Mad Men,” Sesame Street is becoming a hot item in entertainment news; not to mention their take on Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which quickly became an Internet sensation.

Scrolling through YouTube videos of the popular children’s show, I realized that Sesame Street has featured some prominent guests over the years. Recently the show has featured Paul Rudd and Neil Patrick Harris, among others, but back in the day Sesame Street still managed to bring in the stars.

I went through Sesame Street’s YouTube channel and selected my personal favourite celebrity guest stars. These guests are: singer Johnny Cash, Christopher Reeve, a young Julia Roberts, and Billy Joel along with Marlee Matlin. As many Sesame Street guest appearances go unnoticed, I found it interesting to learn who visited the friendly neighbourhood.

Guest: Johnny Cash appears as a wonderful Sesame Street guest. (Below)

Guest: Christopher Reeve guest stars with his young son Will as he explains being in a wheelchair. It is a very sad and touching video to watch. (Below)

Guest: a young Julia Roberts is as sweet-as-can-be in her Sesame Street appearance. (Below)

Guest: Billy Joel and Marlee Matlin sing “Just The Way You Are.” (Below)

Strolling the crowded streets of Toronto, it’s hard not to notice the Bay’s advertisements for Vanity Fair Portraits, the exhibit sponsored by the department store. On Friday I decided to visit the exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, and on my walk down Bloor street I felt giddy with excitement at every sign and billboard I passed.

I have been a Vanity Fair reader for years now, indulging in every page of the high-cultured magazine. I’ll never forget Evgenia Peretz’s “Truly, Madly, Nicky” in the Society pages of 2008’s September issue. I remember reading the article in my dorm and thinking that this is the best magazine article I’d ever read. There wasn’t anything particularly different from Peretz’s article to other VF pieces, nor was the content groundbreaking; it was simply that I had never before heard of Nicky Haslam, nor would I have ever heard of Haslam, if it weren’t for Peretz’s article. And that is why I love Vanity Fair; because they find interesting societal figures and shine a spotlight on them.

Vanity Fair is the epitome of meticulous magazine perfection. Not only does the magazine have incredible articles, but they have groundbreaking photographs as well. Every issue includes fascinating pictures by iconic photographers. It is truly a treat to study the lighting, contrasts and content of every photograph in the glossy pages of Vanity Fair.

However, because the size of a magazine is limited, the pictures can only take up one to two pages. To see photographs in all their glory as full-sized pictures framed on museum walls truly is a sight to see. Prince William looking dashing as he gazes into the camera, and Hilary Swank in mid-air as she runs on the beach are two of the photographs featured in the Vanity Fair Portraits exhibit.

There are also the pinch-me moments at the ROM’s exhibit; the historical figures captured by the lenses of Vanity Fair photographers provide us with an insight as to who the people with magnificent minds were during their time. These photographs include Pablo Picasso, Albert Einstein and Amelia Earhart, among many others.

The exhibit also features videos documenting the making of iconic photographs. One such video features George Clooney on the Universal set surrounded by women, as Annie Leibovitz photographs him.

From photographers like Mario Testino and Annie Leibovitz, to stars like Julianne Moore and Madonna, Vanity Fair Portraits is a must visit for aspiring photographers, VF readers and fans of pop culture.

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Whilst fact checking, I came across the IMDB profile of writer/producer/director Ryan Murphy. Murphy has worked both the small and big screens, and his name is the new golden ticket for success. His small screen credits include Popular, Nip/Tuck and Glee, while his big screen work includes Running with Scissors.

Murphy’s latest project is the screenplay for Eat, Pray, Love. Set to be released in 2010, the film is based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir about a woman’s journey around the world in search of herself. In the novel, Gilbert is a depressed divorcee looking for happiness. Her flourishing writing career may foot the bills, but she still spends her nights crying on the bathroom floor. Having decided to make a change, Gilbert spends one year abroad. She eats in Italy, prays in India and loves  in Indonesia. Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir was a huge success, spending 110 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. Of course, her guest stint on Oprah didn’t hurt (I confess, that’s why I picked up a copy from Chapters back in ‘06). Paramount Pictures will be bringing the Penguin published book to the big screen, with Ryan Murphy writing the screenplay. The film is sure to be a hit judging by the names attached: Brad Pitt is producing the feature, Julia Roberts is set to play Elizabeth Gilbert, James Franco is rumoured to be starring in it, and Javier Bardem has signed on.

But the scribe is Hollywood’s “It” man this year for his work on the smash hit Glee. The musical dramedy airs Wednesdays on FOX and revolves around McKinley High’s Glee Club. When Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) decides to battle it out against the wicked cheer coach for Glee Club success, he gets a lot more than he bargained for. From his wife’s fake pregnancy to a teen’s real pregnancy, discrimination against minorities, to bullying and true love, Mr. Schuester encounters it all whilst teaching at McKinley High school. With musical numbers threaded throughout the show, Glee is definitely 2009’s most original series.

Ten years ago I was singing the same tune for The WB’s Popular. When the father of queen bee Brooke McQueen (Leslie Bibb) gets engaged to the mother of social outcast Sam McPherson (Carly Pope), the two Jacqueline Kennedy High school students are forced to live together. The series includes such oddball characters as the powerful and manipulative Nicole Julian (Tammy Lynn Michaels)-who reveals a softer side when she searches for her biological mother-, the desperately dorky April Tuna (Adria Dawn), and-my personal favourite-the wacky Mary Cherry (Leslie Grossman). Despite the fact that Popular only had two seasons (thanks to its Friday night death spot), the show still has a strong cult following.

From the big screen to the small screen, Ryan Murphy has done it all. His stories of social outcasts have garnered him critical acclaim, but not always mainstream success. Now that Murphy is Hollywood’s “It” man, it seems he hasn’t forgotten life outside of the in crowd.