"Aşk-ı Memnu": Mm Mm Good

I couldn't understand a word they were saying, but it just didn't matter. Yummy romantic TV serial "Aşk-ı Memnu" was a blast to watch with Ayhan's family, while in Ankara, Turkey. Adapted from a famous book that was originally historically set, it's been adapted for modern times, and plays out like a Turkish "Dynasty."

As Ayhan's niece Ecem explained to me, the weekly (two-hour!) series is packed with family scandal, including heaps of infidelity. Hurrah! But let's get real here: The primary appeal is leading actor (and 2001 "Model of the World") Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, who's as dreamy as Brad Pitt and David Beckham rolled into one big Turkish Delight. Grr! (That's Turkish for "grr.") Not surprisingly, he was voted "sexiest Turkish man alive" in a poll conducted by Turkish daily Hürriyet in July 2009. I concur.