FERNANDO VILLEGAS Aaron Cohen has seen and done a lot when it comes to sports television. Cohen, who runs his own Patent Seven Productions, has 20 Sports Emmys to his credit and last year won his fourth Dick Schaap Outstanding Writing Award for his open to the 2014 Sochi Olympics on NBC. Other film credits include ESPN “30 for 30” films like “The Fab Five” and “Rand University.” Yet the writer/producer never lacks for motivation.
“That feeling of being in the middle of the action of something that the whole sports world is paying attention to, there’s a certain thrill to that,” Cohen said. “I like having my hands in a lot of different things.”
Cohen’s first internship wasn’t in sports; it came with the talk show “The View.” Not long after, however, the Harvard graduate was working under Bob Costas for NBC’s coverage of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. (“I was essentially getting coffee for him,” Cohen said.) But Cohen eventually began writing for NBC. He’s also become the voice behind HBO’s “24/7” series, among other big projects.
“He is hands down recognized as the best writer in sports television,” said Rick Bernstein, HBO Sports senior vice president and executive producer. “Anyone can call themselves a writer, but there’s no one I’ve ever worked with like Aaron.”
Cohen has been to every Olympics since those 2000 Games in Sydney, but he said this summer’s event in Rio will provide a new challenge, given its location relative to the United States. “The thing that really excites me is that this is going to be totally live,” Cohen said. “It’s going to be massive.”
— Josh Carpenter
Aaron Cohen
Patent Seven Productions | Writer
Age: 37
Where born: New York City
Education: Harvard University (B.A., social studies)
Family: Wife, Miriam; children, Sabrina (5), Lyla
(2 1/2)
Advice I’d give to my younger self: Bet on yourself, and don’t be afraid to take creative chances.
2016 will be a good year if: Everyone in my family
stays healthy and happy.
Person in the industry I'd like meet: I wish I could have had lunch with the late Dick Schaap.
I'd like to change jobs for a day with: Terry Collins. I’d love to spend a day in the Mets dugout.
Groups supported: JCC Manhattan; Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing I’ve done: Married my wife and had two daughters.
You'd be surprised to know: I can often be caught using the thesaurus in Microsoft Word.
