My goodness, the Conan O’Brien circus just might be coming to an end. NBC announced that it had reached a deal with Conan to release him from his contract, with Friday night (that’s this weekend) being the final installment of Conan O’Brien on the Tonight Show, after just 9 months. The Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno situation at NBC has been getting really messy lately, with Conan using his ongoing late night spot to take shots at NBC and Leno, all while seeing his ratings rise and garnering support of many. Now, it looks like Conan is going to walk with $33 million, while Jay Leno will move into the Tonight Show slot at 11:35 EST, where he will continue to be not funny. More details via New York Times. An while I’m not one to tell you to stay in and watch the tube on your weekend nights, keep in mind the guests for tomorrow nights final show: Neil Young as a musical guest, with Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell appearing. Who knows what else will be in store? This week has been a parade of Conan friends and acquaintances, so you know these last two shows (counting tonight) are going to be extra funny. Hey Conan – since you’re gonna be out of work, if you want to be a guest curator for Mission Creek, that’d be fine.

Thursday
Daniyal Mueenuddin / Prairie Lights / 7pm / FREE
Pakistani writer Daniyal Mueenuddin visits Prairie Lights to read from his highly acclaimed collection of short stories, In Other Rooms, Other Wonders. Mueenuddin, who lived in the United States for school but has since moved back to his native land, was a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award with this collection, his first collection of published works. While there, stop by the Times Club, Prairie Lights’ new bar serving wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres. Full disclosure: I’ll be serving you the wine.

Friday
Datagun with Lizz King, Coyote Slingshot, Living Ghost / Picador / 9pm / $5
Our own Datagun – featuring 3/4s of the Mission Creek core (not me!) – are finally putting out their debut album. Wild was recorded one year ago with Pat Stolley of Daytrotter fame, at Future Appletree Studios in Rock Island. Wham City affiliate Lizz King joins the bill, as does Dan Davis’ excellent Living Ghost project and Dom’s electro-punk Coyote Slingshot. And hey! Wild is on sale at Amazon mp3 this week! Who needs CDs when you can get it for $5.99 ?

Saturday
Samuel Locke-Ward & the Boo-Hoos, Hott, Lipstick Homicide, Old Panther / Mill / 9pm / $6
How could we resist this no frills rock-and-fuckin’-roll show for Saturday night? Ever prolific Sam Locke-Ward, with his Boo Hoos on this bill, is pretty much a must see at this point in Iowa City. And after finally seeing Hott on New Years Eve, I confirmed for myself what I’d suspected — they just might be the best band in town right now. Add to the mix Lipstick Homicide and Dubuque’s Old Panther, and you’ve got a Saturday night no-brainer.