james.hughes

Mystery is the stage name and alter-ego of the Canadian author and entertainer Erik Von Markovic. He is most famous for starring as the main character of the book, 'The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of pickup artists' as well as starring on the VH1 reality TV series, 'The Pick-Up Artist.'

Mystery was born Erik James Horvat- Markovic on 24 September 1971 in Toronto, Canada. Before moving in to the role of a pickup artist, Markovic worked as a professional magician and earned his money from it, stating the world famous magician David Copperfield as his idol.

Markovic made a success of this line of work and was earning up to $1500 a night performing at big corporate events, even appearing on TV. In order to become more of a success, Markovic moved from his home in Toronto to LA in the United States in order to try and land himself into a major television spot. This did not work out and he was forced to move back to Toronto, totally broke.

A pick-up artist is somebody who is an expert in picking up girls. By this, we mean he is a master of seduction. Whilst broke, Markovic began trawling the bars and clubs of Toronto, gaining knowledge and skills as to how to pick up women.

He used his experience as a magician to impress girls with tricks and jokes in order to get their attention and he soon found out that this method proved to be very successful. His first indulgence as an advisory pickup artist came when he advertised his live services to men.

Five students picked him up on his offer and paid $500 each to receive live, audio instruction from Markovic when approaching women in clubs.

Markovic's first mainstream exposure came following his contribution to the book, 'The Venusian Arts Handbook' in which he detailed some of his 'mystery methods.' He continued running seminars and boot camps about pick-up artistry but his fame hit heavy heights when he starred in his own VH1 reality TV series, 'The Pickup Artist' in 2007.

Along with this, came his 'Mystery' alter ego and the show and after a disappointing start, it became immensely popular in the U.S. The show saw Mystery take on eight inept men and teach them the art of becoming a pick-up artist.

The show followed these men as they learned the tricks of the trade and became more confident when it came to chatting up women.

A final word

Today, the show is no longer running but Mystery does continue to run his seminars and boot vamps in LA and he is a minor celebrity.

Phillip Calvin Mcgraw, better known in the U.S as 'Dr. Phil', is an American TV personality, an author and psychologist and equally, the presenter of his own television show, 'Dr. Phil.' In his career, he has amassed fame and fortune but not without its controversies. Let us have an overview of the life and work of Dr. Phil McGraw.

Dr. Phil was born on the 1st of September 1950 in Vinita, Oklahoma and is the son of an oil equipment supplier. He grew up with three sisters before attending the University of Tulsa, under an American Football scholarship where he played middle linebacker.

He had the misfortune of being on the receiving ends of one of the most one-sided games in college football history - a 100 - 6 defeat to the University of Houston. Shortly after this, he transferred to Midwestern State University.

Phillip graduated from Midwestern State University with a bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He then did a master's degree in experimental psychology before finally earning the title of Dr Phil Mcgraw. He obtained his Ph.D in clinical psychology from the University of Texas in 1979.

Mcgraw went on to work with his father in his father's psychology practice, as well as delivering seminars before he went on to write a best-selling book, 'Life Strategies.'

Later, he went on to co-founded Courtroom Sciences Inc. (CSI), a trial consulting firm through which McGraw later came into contact with Oprah Winfrey.

McGraw first gained fame in 1995 when Oprah Winfrey hired McGraw's legal consulting firm CSI to prepare her for a trial that she was involved in.

Winfrey was so impressed with McGraw that she thanked him for her victory in the case, which ended in 1998 and as part of her gratitude, she invited him to appear on her show. His appearance proved so successful that he began appearing weekly as a "Relationship and Life Strategy Expert" on Tuesdays, starting in April 1998.

Over the next four years after this, McGraw went on to write three other best- selling relationship books.

In 2002, McGraw formed his own production company, Peteski Productions, and launched his own daily television show, Dr. Phil. It is an advice show, where he tackles a different topic on each show, offering advice according to his guests' troubles.

McGraw is married to Robin Jameson and the couple has two children, Jay and Jordan. The children have now moved out and McGraw shares his home with his wife in Beverly Hills.

McGraw is also a private pilot, with an instrument rating, flying single engine airplanes in his leisure time.