PASSAGES: Ray Tests Yuks for Science

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/01/2002 at 12:30 PM EDT

SET: "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Ray Romano, 44, is scheduled to headline at a Sept. 27 benefit for a UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center study called Rx Laughter, on how humor affects ailing children, reports the Associated Press. Kevin James of CBS's "The King of Queens" and standup comedian Wendy Liebman also will entertain. . . . BOUNCED: Fox TV's "American Idol" gave the boot Wednesday night to performer Ryan Starr. The remaining six contestants -- Christina Christian, Kelly Clarkson, Tamyra Gray, Justin Guarini, R.J. Helton and Nikki McKibbin -- are jockeying for a $1 million record deal, with the winner to be announced on the summer show's finale Sept. 4. . . . SOLD: Country singer Toby Keith's new album, "Unleashed," which contains the patriotic post-Sept. 11 song "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American)," sold more than 338,000 copies and topped the charts during its first week in stores, reports the AP. Last week's No. 1 album, the Dave Matthews Band's "Busted Stuff," fell to No. 4 but has sold more than 834,000 copies to date. . . . CAST: Outgoing Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, 51, plays a thief who steals the Liberty Bell (as security guards playing with Ventura action figures look on) in the upcoming Dana Carvey comedy "The Master of Disguise," reports the AP. "Thanks for the Liberty Bell, guys," Ventura tells the guards in the movie, which opens Friday. "I'll bring it right back."