In September 2006, "General Hospital" put out a casting call for a "college-aged kid" who was a cross between Seth Green and Spicoli, a character played by Sean Penn in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". The part was won by Anderson, who says he tries to emulate Spicoli's speaking style when playing the character. Spinelli's dialogue, a rapid-fire mix of surfer lingo and Internet slang, has offered comic relief, and an unusual "tech-savvy" character to the show. "ABC Soaps in Depth" called Spinelli "one of the quirkiest characters daytime has ever seen," while Michael Fairman stated, "Spinelli rates high as one of soaps most recognizable characters, something it has taken other actors and their alter-egos years to pull off." Speaking on Anderson's performance and subsequent inspiration behind its spinoff book, costar Carolyn Hennesy said to "Entertainment Weekly", "His mind is so fantastical. When Spinelli is Spinelli, the Spinelli-speak is very difficult to wade through, which is why I think Bradford Anderson is deserving of something higher than an Emmy. How he has managed that dialogue is genius to me." Anderson says he generally doesn't improvise the part, instead sticking to the script supplied a couple days before filming. The name of the specific writer or writers who create Spinelli's dialogue have not been identified. After indulging his fans in some of his first appearances, Anderson no longer "speaks Spinelli" outside the show. He commented to "Soap Opera Digest", "Spinelli does not make public appearances; Bradford does. I leave him at work, and that's more than okay for me."