'America's Got Talent' Judges Howie Mandel and Mel B Agree to Disagree on Their New Seating Arrangement

Mandel says it took six years to change his seat on the show's set

Photo: Trae Patton/NBC

America’s Got Talent judges Howie Mandel and Mel B agree to disagree when it comes to the reality competition show’s newest seating arrangement.

After sitting in the same judge’s seat for years, Mandel decided he should finally switch it up for season 10.

“This year I changed – seven years, six years I spent in the same seat – and I never thought about seating arrangements, and I said, ‘Can I sit on the other side?’ ” Mandel, 60, tells PEOPLE.

“And everybody, they didn’t care,” he continues. “They said, ‘Go sit where you want.’ ”

Mandel went on to reveal that when he moved, singer and mom of three Mel B “moved over just to remain close to [him].”

“I thought [that] was a real vote of confidence, and it kind of shows how much fun I am to be with,” explains Mandel.

But Mel B, 41, maintains she switched seats for a different reason.

“It was a technical lighting situation,” she says in defense.

AGT airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.