Kristin Chenoweth, who stands a mere 4-feet-11, always looks fragile. So when she tells me during an interview on the set of "Pushing Daisies" that she was in a really bad bar fight the night before, it just doesn't ring completely true.

But, the actress, who plays Olive Snook on the series, does have a large splint on her left hand. It is not a prop for a scene being shot for an episode of the second season set to start Oct. 1. Chenoweth has really been injured.

She tries to stick to the bar fight story. "You should see the other guy," Chenoweth says as we stand just outside the Pie Hole, the key set for the series. The Emmy-nominated actress and the rest of the cast have shown up at the Warner Bros. Studio lot to meet with television critics in late July.

I press her for the truth. Finally, probably assuming I could crush her by sitting on her, Chenoweth admits the injury happened in a recording studio.

Chenoweth was in the middle of recording a Christmas album at Capitol Records. The session was going smoothly until she felt a pain in her left hand. When she looked, red streaking had started.

"I was bit by something and had to be rushed to the hospital. It turns out it was a Brown Recluse Spider," Chenoweth says. "I felt stupid because I did not want to go to the ER."

Good thing she did. Half of the Brown Recluse Spiders have no venom. But those spiders that have venom can cause blistering that leads to an oozing ulceration. There can be headaches, nausea, vomiting, soreness and flu-like symptoms. In rare cases, amputations were necessary.

It was her record producer, Jay Landers, who made Chenoweth go to the hospital. Although no serious damage was done, Chenoweth would have to wear the brace for a few days.

There should be no signs of the brace by the time the first episodes air or even at the "Primetime Emmy Awards" Sept. 21. Chenoweth is nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category. It is one of 12 nominations "Pushing Daisies" picked up for its strike-shortened first season.