American TV/radio personality Ryan Seacrest is facing a lawsuit from a TV tycoon, accusing him of stealing the idea for his new reality show from a four-year-old Turkish series.

Papers filed on Monday in Manhattan federal court charge Seacrest and NBC network with ripping off the idea for his new series Momma's Boys from Perfect Bride, which debuted in Turkey in 2004.

The series, which follows bachelors and their mums as they struggle to find a suitable bride for their boys, was "willfully appropriated" according to the suit, filed by Luftu Murat Uckardesler.

Uckardesler is seeking to bar Seacrest's show from TV for copyright and trademark infringement.

Uckardesler's attorney says, "It's like me having a talent show and saying: 'We're going to pick the next American Idol."

A spokesperson for NBC said it hasn't yet seen the suit, but "is familiar with the plaintiffs' allegations, which are entirely without merit."

Momma's Boys is scheduled to premiere in the U.S. on Tuesday.