11 Pilot Episodes That Helped Current Hit Shows Fly High

Castle's first episode, "Flowers For Your Grave" aired on 3/9/2009. Eight years later and fans are finally looking forward to seeing Rick Castle and Kate Beckett move forward as a married couple. That's something that started out as a lovely flirtation in the premiere, when Castle, suffering from a bit of writer's block discovers inspiration in Beckett as she investigates a murder that appears to be based off of one of his novels. His fliration with her fails, but she inspires him to write. He'll base his next series of novels on a certain pretty detective he's come to know – but he needs to do more research. Of course, we always knew it wasn't just inspiration he saw in Beckett! Castle returns 9/21.2015

Penny moved in across the hall from roommates Leonard and Sheldon in the pilot episode of The Big Bang Theory on 9/24/2007 and the lives of our lovable nerds were never the same again. It's taken nine years, but when the series returns this fall Leonard and Penny will be on their way to the alter. Will they go through with it? Howard, who began as the lonely wannabe ladies man is now married and must figure out how to send the new lonely guy, Stuart, packing. Sheldon has come a long way from the guy no one ever thought would ever be interested in anyone to buying an engagement ring for Amy. Raj has overcome the selective mutism that plagued him from the beginning, but will he be brave enough to tell Emily how he truly feels in Season 9? The Big Bang Theory returns Tues 9/22/2015

The premiere episode of NCIS, airing on 9/23/2003, is titled "Yankee White" and introduces Caitlin "Kate" Todd, who is new to the team that was introduced on Jag Season 8. The story is that a Navy Commander dies on US Airforce One and the team is sent to help. During the hour, the first three of Gibbs' Rules are introduced. The episode was seen by 13.4 million viewers and garnered an 8.4 rating, to show how different TV is now than it was 13 seasons ago! Although it's still one of the highest rated shows on TV, it now gets about 2.5 share with 15 million viewers. WOW!! NCIS Tues Returns 9/22/2015

In the series premiere of Modern Family, which aired on 9/23/2009, we were introduced to Jay Pritchett, his wife Gloria and all of his children and grandchildren as three interesting unique families all born of Jay in some way make up one big family. The series has been nominated for awards annually ever since and continued to make us laugh for all six seasons, no doubt right through Season 7 and beyond. Modern Family returns Wed 9/23/2015

The first Law & Order spinoff premiered on 9/20/1999. "Payback" featured a case in which a cab driver was murdered and castrated. Olivia Benson became personally involved when she realized that cab driver was a rapist and murderer himself. It's hard to believe (and somewhat disheartening) that we'll be on Season 17 when the series returns this fall, meaning there are more special victims cases than we care to think about, right? Thank goodness Benson has been on the case all along. Law & Order: SVU returns Wed 9/23/2015

On March 27, 2005, "A Hard Day's Night" gave viewers their first look into Seattle Grace and the five surgical interns we grew to love. It initiated Meredith and Derek's romantic relationship, sparked the friendship of the "twisted sisters," gave George his endearing "007" nickname, and revealed that Meredith's mother suffered from Alzheimer's. When the series picks up this fall, Meredith will be navigating the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital without her husband or her best friend by her side. At least there will be somewhat of a return to roots for the show when Meredith moves back into her old house, this time with Maggie and Amelia as her roommates. Twelve Seasons and Grey's will still be running strong! Grey's Anatomy returns Thurs 9/24/2015

"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" first aired on 12/17/1989 and introduced us to the dysfunctional family we've grown to love over twenty-six seasons. The family falls on hard times when Homer doesn't get his annual Christmas bonus and Marge has to spend their savings on a tattoo removal for Bart. Luckily, a trip to the dog track saves Christmas, not with a winning ticket, but with a brand new member of the family in Santa's Little Helper. Season 27 returns on 9/27 and will include guest appearances by Sofa Vergara and Lena Dunham, the returns of Sideshow Bob and Spider Pig, and the possible split of our favorite animated couple. Say it isn't so! The Simpsons returns Sun 9/27/2015

Family Guy first aired "Death Has a Shadow" on 1/31/1999. The episode introduced us to Peter Griffin and his family and friends in the quaint town of Quahog, Rhode Island. In the premiere, even though Peter assured his wife, Lois, he would not drink to excess at a bachelor party, he did, subsquently losing his job at Happy-Go-Lucky toy factory. He then goes on welfare, receives a check for $150k, is talked into giving it back by Lois and dumps it out of a blimp over the Super Bowl. After his arrest, his family comes to his rescue. In other words, just another day in Quahog, as we've come to learn after 13 hilarious seasons of this pop-culture reference laden and surprisingly touching comedy. Family Guy returns Sun 9/27/2015

"Extreme Aggressor" introduced us to the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit on 9/22/2005, led by SSA Aaron Hotchner, as they used their profiling skills to catch some of the most sick and twisted criminals in the country. The stakes were high in the pilot as the team raced to find the unsub that strangled three women before he claimed his next victim. The members of the team may have changed over the years, but the series continues to bring viewers intriguing and engaging cases. When the new season premieres, there will once again be a new face as Aisha Tyler joins the cast for Season 11. Criminal Minds returns Wed 9/30/2015

On 9/13/2005 readers' dreams came true when Kathy Reichs' novels came to life as Bones premiered on Fox. Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan found herself working with FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth after she returned from a trip to Guatamela where she was helping to identify victims of genocide. Brennan was spunky and full of fight. She smiled a lot. There were instant sparks between the Dr. and the Agent. As we roll into the eleventh season, she's married with Booth's children. What's next for the couple? We'll have to watch to find out! Bones returns Thurs 10/1/2015

Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles have grown up on Supernatural. When the pilot aired on 9/13/2015 the two were so fresh faced! We're given a brief glimpse into the horrible early life of Sam and Dean Winchester before we learn that John Winchester has gone missing 22 years later and Dean hopes his little brother Sam will help him search for their pop. Their first case is a woman in white and we get a good look at what Dean's been doing while Sam's been in college. Coming up in Season 11 the brothers have to deal with the darkness they unleashed with they freed Dean from the Mark of Cain. Supernatural returns Wed 10/7/2015