Remember when the Toronto International Film Festival was an earnest celebration of the art of cinema? Yeah, neither do we. Our memory is too impacted from all the flashing camera lights and screaming paparazzi. Like it or not, TIFF has become as notable for its red carpets and nightclub parties as it is for its films, and with the festival now nearly over, there's already been enough salacious celeb conduct in Toronto to fill a year's worth of National Enquirer.

Undoubtedly the star of this year's TIFF (and it seems, every year's TIFF), George Clooney was spotted all over town. Whether it was at the red carpet for one of his two buzz-heavy films The Men Who Stare At Goats and Up In The Air, shopping for frivolous things, or eating mini-sliders at one of many high-profile invite-only parties, the man was everywhere! "Privileged" columnists were bragging about rubbing elbows with Clooney, Jeff Bridges, and, yes, actual goats at the Goats after party in the Bridle Path, but the Cloon gave the plebes something to talk about when he dined unannounced at Il Posto, a rather ho-hum Italian spot in Yorkville.

Seeing George Clooney out of the celebrity context was surprising (even if it was in Yorkville), but it was a little less surprising from our hero, Drew Barrymore. Drew has always struck us as one of the most down-to-earth, fun-loving celebrities in Hollywood, and despite adding "director" to her resume at this year's TIFF, she skipped out on her own Whip It! premiere afterparty at Tattoo for a can of PBR at the tiny hole-in-the-wall Ossington standby, Sweaty Betty's. Drew, her Debbie Harry haircut, and Justin Long must have looked somewhat out of place amongst the hipster conglomerates, but I'm sure Ellen Page was right at home bumping Joy Division (or maybe the Moldy Peaches) on the jukebox.

If there was an "It Girl" to be found at this year's festival, there's no question it was Megan Fox, the seemingly factory manufactured (yeah, I've never understood the appeal) lead of the Diablo Cody-scripted Jennifer's Body. If news of her former Transformers crew members' harshly-worded anti-Megan tirade reached the young starlet (a response to her "working with Michael Bay is like working with Hitler" gem), she didn't let it alter her plastered-on smile as cameras swarmed here at every juncture.

Despite having a few more years of experience, Jennifer Connelly didn't show the same composure. As the story goes, Connelly and her husband (and co-star) Paul Bettany left the Creation party early, causing host and Astral Media exec John Riley (he doesn't deserve to be bolded) to publicly rip up a picture of the star and proclaim her his "former favourite actress". At a press conference the next day, Connelly tearfully revealed that it was the one year anniversary of her father's death, promptly inserting Riley's size 10 foot directly into his own gaping mouth. Oops.

Meanwhile, Colin Farrell, who last year made headlines for treating a homeless gentleman to a $3000 shopping spree (and reportedly getting his life back in order), this year caught the public's attention for speaking out against a photographer who he felt insulted his assistant. What the photographer undoubtedly wasn't aware of was that Farrell's assistant was also his sister. Double oops.

And, while teenage girls went ecstatic when the Jonas Brothers were spotted shopping at Holt Renfrew (presumably for their designer line of Beanie Babies, or whatever it is kids are into these days), a more bizarre TIFF guest was hosting and performing at his own party. That's right, a few lucky attendees were treated to a set by Snoop Dogg at Circa.

Unfortuately, we didn't manage to catch a glimpse of the President of the Universe, Oprah Winfrey, but given reports that she barely even surfaced from her limo to smile and wave, we're not exactly surprised. It was much easier to spot Ricky Gervais, one of the least likely socialites, but also one of the most ubiquitous on this year's party circuit. It just goes to show, you never know who's handing out invitations.