Trouble ensues, however, when Brian tells his former self about the September 11 attacks, causing the present to be dramatically changed, and ultimately resulting in an apocalyptic second American civil war.

The two manage to take advantage of 1999 Peter dumping his welfare money out of a blimp above the stadium to collect the money needed to purchase new batteries before nearly being crushed by the blimp after it is shot down and start making their way back, but only after briefly landing at 1999 Peter's trial and making the 1999 Kool-Aid Man miss his cue for breaking into the courtroom, causing him to break into pieces.

While watching the local news, it is also discovered that former President George W. Bush, who lost the 2004 presidential election to John Kerry due to being unable to exploit people's fears without 9/11, has returned to Texas and reformed the Confederate States of America, starting a second American Civil War.

To Brian's horror, the Civil War has resulted in nuclear attacks across the Eastern Seaboard that have caused the deaths of over 17 million people (including Cesar Millan).

Additionally, the show's humor has become dull (for instance, Peter enters the room with a roll of double-sided tape which he claims he will utilize for 7 minutes before the story focuses on Meg in a kissing booth, and abruptly announces a cutaway which just consists of him standing in a white void and proclaiming his dislike of Matthew McConaughey), Cleveland Brown has moved back to Quahog probably due to Stoolbend being in Confederated Virginia, and Joe Swanson is a cyborg who kills Quagmire – now a mutant humanoid frog named "Frogmire" – for violating curfew.

They return to the present in which 9/11 occurs, but Stewie discovers that Brian instead advised his past self to take false and undeserved credit for the Harry Potter novels.

Back in the present, the other Stewie and Brian, who is recovering from the leg injury, talk about the possibility of causing havoc during every time travel trip.

Archival recordings of actress Lacey Chabert, and voice actors Phil LaMarr and Fred Tatasciore from "Death Has a Shadow" were used, although they still received credit.

[10] Chabert had previously voiced Meg, before eventually being replaced by actress Mila Kunis, who had a role on the television series That '70s Show during Family Guy's first season.

[10] "Back to the Pilot" was broadcast on November 13, 2011, as a part of an animated television night on Fox, preceded by The Simpsons and Allen Gregory and followed by Family Guy MacFarlane's second show, American Dad!.

It was watched by 6.01 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings, despite airing simultaneously with Desperate Housewives on ABC, The Good Wife on CBS and Sunday Night Football on NBC.

The episode also acquired a 3.1/7 rating in the 18–49 demographic, beating Allen Gregory and American Dad!, in addition to significantly edging out both shows in total viewership.

From poking fun at its own flaws in the original series to acknowledging how silly the cutaway gags can be, Family Guy shone at its layered best tonight.

[14] He added, "Not only was the episode hilarious with amazing Brian and Stewie moments, but it was genuinely quite clever in the time-travel stakes, which is impressive on a nerd level.