jonathan koch

This year's event touches the reality TV community on a personal level with the honoree being a friend/colleague who has defied incredible odds over a two-year medical quest. Koch's story has been called a medical miracle. In 2015, he became gravely ill with an immune disorder that almost took his life and resulted in multiple amputations and most recently a hand transplant that changed his life.

Jonathan Koch, president and chief creative officer for Encino-based Asylum Entertainment, will be honored for his professional and philanthropic contributions at the third annual “Let’s Get Real” event, held to benefit the Saban Community Clinic in Los Angeles.

A sudden and shocking disease caused Jonathan Koch to lose nearly everything. When he survived, he couldn't bear to lose the game he loved—so he received a hand transplant, and relearned tennis. (Tennis Channel)

Jonathan went to a work conference in Washington D.C. and 24 hours later he was in the GW ICU unit fighting for his life. More than 2,500 miles away from his home in Los Angeles, the GW doctors reassured Jonathan that he was in the right place to get the help that he needed. 

Jonathan was able to move the fingers on his newly transplanted only hours after surgery performed at UCLA. Click below to read the full article in the Fall 2017 issue of UCLA's U Magazine.

Jimmy Fox, of the Unscripted & Unprepared podcast (which we highly recommend), interviews Jonathan about his rise in the entertainment industry and how he went from being the Red Robin to becoming President of Asylum Entertainment and a multi-millionaire. Jonathan ends the podcast by talking about how he went from the top of his game, the precipice of death in less than 48 hours. In this special episode Jimmy, along with Matt Shanfield and Ben Bitoni of Asylum, relive Jonathan's incredible story that all took place during one fateful trip to Realscreen Summit in Washington D.C. and so much more! Type in "Jonathan Koch" wherever you listen to your podcasts or just click on the link below. 

Read more on realscreen.com

A mysterious illness cost a healthy, athletic man parts of all four limbs. But thanks to one doctor’s groundbreaking surgery, the patient got a piece of himself back.

Hollywood mogul falls ill, close to death in less than 24 hours; Man prepares for remarkable hand transplant surgery; Hand transplant recipient thanks doctors who first saved his life.

Hour Includes Video Diaries Documenting Dramatic Decline in Health and Miraculous Recovery in Real Time
 
“20/20” Airs on Friday, August 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET) on ABC

Doctors told Jonathan Koch that he had a 10 percent chance of survival with hours to live. The damage to his body was so severe, his body had started pulling blood and oxygen away from his outer limbs to protect his internal organs. His hands and feet began to turn black and started to die. Read more to find out why Jonathan and his wife, Jennifer, said "no", when doctors wanted to amputate. 

Watch Jonathan Koch on ABC's Nightline with Juju Chang. Click on the link below to Watch on ABC or click here to watch on Hulu.

Jonathan Koch was at the top of his game as a successful Hollywood entertainment executive when suddenly his life came to a screeching halt. He became gravely ill and his body was quickly shutting down, but doctors couldn’t figure out why.

In October 2016, Jonathan Koch, a 51-year-old entertainment executive from Los Angeles, underwent a 17-hour procedure to replace the hand he lost to a mysterious, life-threatening illness. Six months after surgery by the UCLA hand transplant team and countless hours of physical therapy, Koch continues to make remarkable strides in his recovery.

Hollywood TV producer Jonathan Koch was a teetotal fitness addict when he was struck down by a mystery illness. Against all expectations, he survived – but his hands were destroyed. Then a surgeon decided he was the perfect candidate for a pioneering hand transplant

UCLA's Dr. Kodi Azari uses novel approach to prepare Jonathan Koch for complex surgery

In just 30 hours, a superfit reality TV producer went from the top of his game to the precipice of death. What happened next would teach him everything about grace, resolve, and the power of love.

REELZ World Premiere “The Kennedys-After Camelot" Starring Katie Holmes and Matthew Perry Comes to Life Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. Michael Prupas, Katie Holmes, Matthew Perry, Jon Cassar, Stephen Kronish, J. Randy Taraborrelli, Evan Tussman, Irene Litinsky and Jonas Prupas serve as executive producers along with Jonathan Koch and Steve Michaels of Asylum Entertainment and Stan E. Hubbard, REELZ CEO.

Jonathan Koch, OCS dad and president for Asylum Entertainment, shared a message of perseverance from a serious illness, which resulted in a hand transplant. “I worked myself to health,” he shared, noting that love and support also pulled him through.

Jonathan Koch, OCS dad and president for Asylum Entertainment, shared a message of perseverance from a severe illness which resulted in a hand transplant. It was a harrowing experience that tested his resolve. "I didn't will myself to health, I worked myself to health," he shared, noting that love and support also pulled him through. He challenged guests to never do the least they can do, but do the most when faced with difficult circumstances.

History is developing a documentary series from Asylum Entertainment that will tell the unique stories of the 50 U.S. states. Under the working title “50 States,” the series will ask directors to explore the history of their home states, with a different director focusing on a different state in each episode. Asylum Entertainment will produce for History. Steve Michaels and Jonathan Koch will executive produce for Asylum. 

PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 19: Producer Jonathan Koch, director Amir Bar-Lev, producer Ken Dornstein and producer John Battsek attend the 'Happy Valley' premiere at The Marc Theatre during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Colby D Crossland/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)

In its first company acquisition on the TV side, in a competitive situation Legendary Entertainment has bought 100% of TV production company Asylum Entertainment, producer of The Kennedys miniseries. Asylum will be part of Legendary Television & Digital Media. 

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Founded in 2003 by Steve Michaels and Jonathan Koch, who got their start in sports documentaries, Asylum is known for producing such programs as three documentaries for ESPN’s critically lauded 30 For 30 series and the Beyond The Glory series for Fox Sports, Beverly Hills Pawn, miniseries The Kennedys and TV movie Ring Of Fire. The company recently landed a pilot order at Comedy Central for half-hour  Crazy House. It is now in production on feature documentary Happy Valley, focusing on the sexual abuse scandal that recently rocked Penn State University and its football program. Next year, the company will release its first film, Small Time, written and directed by 24 co-creator Joel Surnow.

Executive Producer Jonathan Koch, TV personalities Staci Richter, Dominic Capone, Dawn Capone, Bartolomeo Tumbarello, Carmine Perelli, Madeline Santarelli, Jeff Vercillo and Lou Fratto speak onstage during 'The Capones' panel.

Actor John Doe, director Allison Anders, singer Jewel, Executive producer/COO Asylum Jonathan Koch and Executive producer/CEO Steve Michaels at Reel to Reel: Ring of Fire with Jewel at The GRAMMY Museum on May 21, 2013 in Los Angeles.