 Critical responses to the episode were mostly positive . According to Nielsen ratings , it was viewed in 22 @.@ 01 million homes during its original airing in the United States . " Death Has a Shadow " was written by Seth MacFarlane and directed by Peter Shin , and featured a guest performance from Pat Summerall as well as various recurring guest voices from the series . In the tenth season episode " Back to the Pilot " , which premiered on November 13 , 2011 , Brian and Stewie go back in time to " Death Has a Shadow " . 
