Li Junhu, a waiter. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Among the five senior citizens who appear in the first episode, only 68-year-old Tan Shaozhu used to work in restaurants. Sun Lijun, 63, is a former gynecologist; Li Junhu, 69, was a plumber; Hu Gongying, 76, was a teacher; and 80-year-old Li Dongqiao is a retired military officer.

"Sometimes it's like working with five children," Huang says. "But their life experiences, sense of responsibility, persistence and positive outlooks are always present, which I find deeply touching."

Many funny moments arise in the pilot episode of the show.

For example, during rehearsals, a participant forgets to ask the "customer" (played by Huang) to pay the bill. Consequently, once the restaurant opens, he keeps staring back at the table he serves in case someone "dines and dashes", leaving without paying the bill. His unflappable attention confuses many customers.

Another participant accuses the chef of making the wrong dish, until she realizes she had simply forgotten which dish the customer had ordered.

Other moments are capable of reducing the audience to tears. When one elderly waitress tries to explain to customers that she is a patient, she even forgets the name of her disease.