The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Two new "Little House" stars Matthew Laborteaux (center), who has been a star on NBC-TVs "Little House on the Prairie" for three years, gives some helpful hints to "the new kids"--Jason Bateman (left) and Missy Francis, who will join the popular show's regular cast in a special two-part episode titled "The Lost Ones" on Mondays, May 4 and 11. by Bill Kiley It was the first day of work for the two new kids, and everyone on the set of NBC-TV's popular "Little House on the Prairie" set was watch­ ing them very closely. But no one watched them closer than Matthew Laborteaux, the 14-year-old actor who stars as young Albert Ingalls. He knew exactly what the two small children were going through. "They're a little scared, and a little nervous," said Matthew, who was 11-years-old when he joined the regular cast of the hit series. "They're trying to figure out who is nice, and who isn't. They'll be a little itchy for a few weeks, but then they'll settle down and have the best time of their life." Michael Landon, the star and ex­ ecutive producer of "Little House," said he is adding a little boy and a lit­ tle girl to the regular cast of the pro­ gram because "Most of my kids have grown up. Laura is married and will soon become a mother. Mary is mar­ ried to a lawyer now--and the 'Little House' is getting too empty." He hired 12-year-old Jason Bateman and 8-year-old Missy Fran­ cis, who will be introduced to the public in a special two-part segment titled "The Lost Ones" scheduled on NBC-TV on Mondays, May 4 and 11. "It's like the first day at a new school," said young Laborteaux as he watched Jason and Missy on the stage for the first time. "They feel like 'the new kids,' and they know this cast and crew has been working together for years, and they're wondering how they'll fit in." After one scene was finished the assistant director yelled "Noodle!" and Matthew smiled as he watched the confused look on young Jason's face Matthew approached the boy and explained that when a scene is finished, and another §cene is to be prepared for filming, it is called a "new deal." "They use a lot of verbal shorthand here," said Matthew. " 'Noodle' is just a way of saying 'new deal.'" Jason nodded and asked what the term "MOS" meant. "That means a scene will be shot 'without sound,'" said Matthew. "Back in the thirties there was a Ger­ man director who always said, 'Vee vill shoot the next scene mittout sound, and 'mittout sound' became 'MOS' and they still use that term in movies and TV." Matthew spent the next few days helping the "new kids" learn about their new responsibilities. He warned them that Landon, and the state of California, is very strict about attending school on the set, and that when a scene was finished they were to rush off to school instead of going somewhere to play. "You'll have plenty of time to play too," said Matt, "but get your school hours in first or there's trouble." He warned them that they shouldn't even go to the bathroom without checking out with the assistant director first. What's the hardest thing they'll have to learn7 "Discipline," said Matthew. "They'll have to learn when fun stops and work begins. Michael is a beautiful guy to work for because he jokes a lot and plays games with us, but, 30 seconds after telling you a funny joke, he expects us to be able to step in front of the camera and do a crying scene if it is needed Learn­ ing to shut off the real world and step into the make-believe world in a mat­ ter of seconds is what acting is all about. "Once they learn that, and what is expected of them on the stage, they'll relax and they'll be thrilled. TV COMFUtOG KNVICtS. MC.