¡SATIRISTAS! are cadre of independent comic provocateurs and proud voices targeting political hypocrisy, media distortion, complacency and the institutionalized ignorance infecting American culture. They are distinguished from generic comedians by the savage bite of their wit, virtuosic command of sarcasm and irony, and finely tuned bullshit detectors.

In ¡SATIRISTAS!: Comedians, Contrarians, Raconteurs & Vulgarians(It Books, a division of Harper Collins. Hardcover), through candid interviews and intimate art portraits, stand-up comedy veteran and filmmaker Paul Provenza and comedy’s go-to photographer Dan Dion shine a spotlight on some of the most interesting comic artists who influence and critique — both subtly and not-so subtly — American culture.

They probe the minds of some of the most unflinching satirical voices heard today, like Bill Maher, Stephen Colbert and Lewis Black. They query ubiquitous late night commentators Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno and Craig Ferguson.

Veteran greats Randy Newman, Lily Tomlin and Cheech & Chong speak their minds alongside legends like The Smothers Brothers, Tom Lehrer, Paul Krassner and Monty Python’s Terry Jones.

Household names Robin Williams, Roseanne Barr, Richard Lewis and Robert Klein speak alongside comic virtuosos Paul Mooney, Colin Quinn, Patrice O’Neal, Culture Clash, David Cross, and Bob Odenkirk.

Comic film and television icons Mike Nichols, Judd Apatow, Roseanne Barr, and South Park creators Matt Stone & Trey Parker talk alongside cult favorites Kids in the Hall, Upright Citizens Brigade, Doug Stanhope, Sandra Bernhard, Dave Atell, Greg Giraldo and Margaret Cho.

Spoken word artists/punk icons Jello Biafra and Henry Rollins and provocateurs Penn Jillette and Janeane Garofalo speak alongside literary satirists Andy Borowitz, P.J. O’Rourke and writers from The Onion.

You’ll discover new, up-and-coming comedians carrying the !Satiristas! torch as they make names for themselves as outspoken and controversial comedy stars of tomorrow. And along with many, many others — in what came to be his final on-camera interview — is the revolutionary, uncompromising George Carlin.