The Enterprise cast and crew had a way of saying things
All co-workers and colleagues have a way of shaking off stress. For some, it’s drinks after work on Fridays while others want to get as far away from the office and everyone related to it for as long as they can on the weekends. The cast and crew of Star Trek: Enterprise went in a slightly different direction. Every Friday, according to J.G. Hertzler in an exclusive interview with Heavy, who has appeared in multiple Star Trek series, became Foul Mouth Friday. The rules were simple. Anyone on set “could say anything to anybody in the foulest way imaginable and not be held responsible.”
Hertzler got in on the fun and admits he “let loose in an unbridled tirade, on not just one occasion” when he cursed out some line producers while he was on set to film his scenes for “Judgement.” The actor was playing a Klingon lawyer representing Captain Archer who had been charged for conspiracy against the Klingon Empire.
Foul Mouth Fridays were no longer allowed on the Enterprise set
Shortly after Hertzler’s tirade, Foul Mouth Fridays disappeared, and according to John Billingsley, who played Dr. Phlox on the series, the tradition had come to an end which led to Hertzler apologizing for ruining the fun for everyone. Billingsley, though, admitted it was probably for the best, and there wasn’t another Foul Mouth Friday from the point forward.
Hertzler isn’t saying exactly what it was that he said to the producers, but they obviously didn’t hold it against him as he returned to Enterprise the following season for another guest star appearance.
It’d be interesting to know if the Enterprise actors came up with a new way to blow off steam, one that didn’t involve saying things that could get someone’s back up, although there’s no way of knowing if that’s exactly what happened.