We’ve been skeptical of just about everything concerning Mark Burnett’s new reality show for NBC, The Voice. Real and potential problems include Burnett’s recent track record, NBC’s inability to do anything right lately outside of NFL football, the glut of singing competition programs, and the silliness of the show’s basic premise, which is that only singing ability and not image should matter (nice idea, but one which has never, ever been the case).

But landing big name judges with credibility and relevance to the 2011 music scene would be a major coup for Burnett, and according to Entertainment Weekly’s James Hibberd, he may be on the verge of doing just that. Hibberd reports that Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine and the man behind what the Grammys called “the song otherwise known as ‘Forget You’” Cee-Lo Green “are in serious discussions” to sign on as judges. Hibberd also adds that a female singer of similar stature, possibly Christina Aguilera, is also being considered, but talks there are not quite as advanced.

This is a different approach than the one taken by American Idol, whose singer-judges have been people whose hitmaking days are basically over (Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Paula Abdul — though Tyler still tours with Aerosmith). Cee-Lo was more or less anonymous in his time with Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley, but his current hit and recent appearances on Saturday Night Live and at the Grammys have made him a true public figure for the first time. And while Maroon 5′s current CD has been a bit of a commercial disappointment, it is still one of the most popular bands in the country, and Levine is considered one of rock’s leading sex symbols.

If they can pull this off, we might be forced to revise our thoughts about whether this show can work … though having Carson Daly as host would still give us pause.