In a weekend filled with the broadcast networks furiously renewing shows and greenlighting new fall series, Variety is reporting that CBS, which will officially unveil its fall 2009 line-up on Wednesday in New York City, has given the OK to five new dramas: The Good Wife, starring Julianna Margulies; Three Rivers, starring Moonlight alum Alex O’Loughlin; medical drama Miami Trauma starring Jeremy Northam; an untitled drama about U.S. Attorneys; and the much-anticipated NCIS spin-off starring Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J. On the comedy side, Accidentally on Purpose, starring Jenna Elfman, is also expected to get the go ahead when the schedule is announced.

For more renewals and pickups, read The Ausiello Files and Ausiello’s Fall TV cheat sheet.

Comedian Ricky Gervais has signed a deal with HBO that will bring to life an animated series based on his popular podcast series, according to Variety. The series, to be titled The Ricky Gervais Show, will feature the comedian and longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant — both of whom were behind HBO’s Extras. The plot of Gervais is set to focus on the happenings in the life of their friend, Karl Pilkington, who figured prominently in the podcast series. HBO has ordered 13 episodes of The Ricky Gervais Show, which is expected to appear on the pay-cable network in early 2010.

Drew Carey, host of The Price is Right, has signed a two-year first-look deal with CBS Television Studios. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it puts him in a position to exec produce and appear on scripted and non-scripted series that his production company, International Mammoth TV, may develop.

Farrah Fawcett proved she’s still a major draw for TV audiences when her special, Farrah’s Story, attracted 8.9 million viewers to NBC Friday night, according to a press release issued by the network. Although not the no. 1 network show for the evening (CBS’s Numb3rs outdistanced Fawcett, with 9.6 million people watching the procedural drama’s season finale), it was still NBC’s highest-rated Friday night program in a year, excluding the Olympics. Farrah’s Story, shot with Fawcett’s own video camera, documents the Charlie’s Angels vet’s two-and-a-half-year fight with anal cancer.