Ep 2. Kate Hudson/Radiohead

On October 14, 2000, popular comedic sketch show Saturday Night Live returned for its 26th season with episode 2 featuring actress Kate Hudson as the host and British rock band Radiohead as the musical guests. The episode was met with excitement from fans eager to see what the new season had in store.

Kate Hudson, known for her roles in films such as "Almost Famous" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," proved to be a fitting choice for host with her infectious energy and comedic timing. She appeared in several sketches throughout the episode and even joined in a musical number with the cast.

Radiohead, one of the most iconic and influential bands of the past several decades, kicked off their set with "The National Anthem" from their album "Kid A." They followed up with performances of "Idioteque" and "Morning Bell" from the same album. The band's abstract and atmospheric sound was a departure from the more traditional musical acts that had appeared on the show in the past, but their performance was met with rapturous applause.

The episode also featured a number of recurring sketches and characters that fans had grown to love over the years. "Celebrity Jeopardy," a parody of the popular game show featuring impersonations of famous figures, made a return with Will Ferrell reprising his role as Alex Trebek. This time, the contestants included Hudson as Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon as Nicolas Cage, and Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery. The sketch had fans in stitches as usual, with Connery's snarky comments and Cage's bizarre behavior stealing the show.

Another sketch that had audiences laughing was "Jarret's Room," which starred Fallon as a slacker college student hosting a web show from his dorm room. Hudson played a fellow student who stops by to hang out, causing jealousy from Fallon's best friend Gobi (played by Horatio Sanz). The sketch was a fan favorite due to the irreverent humor and off-the-wall jokes.

Other standout sketches from the episode included "The Delicious Dish," a parody of a National Public Radio cooking show that featured Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer as hosts; "The DeMarco Brothers," a musical group of con men played by Ferrell, Chris Kattan, and Chris Parnell; and "A Wedding Story," a mock reality show that poked fun at the over-the-top nature of modern-day weddings.

Overall, episode 2 of Saturday Night Live season 26 proved to be a hilarious and entertaining installment of the long-running sketch show. With the talented Kate Hudson as host and Radiohead as musical guests, the episode delivered on all fronts and left audiences eager for more.