In the expansive digital universe where information is generated and shared at a staggering pace, celebrity gossip blogs have carved out a niche that is not only popular but also immensely influential. Operating at the intersection between entertainment, media, and public interest, these platforms offer a tantalizing mix of fact and speculation about the personal and professional lives of individuals who exist in the public sphere.

To fully comprehend the machinery behind these blogs, one must first understand the actors at play. The primary agents here are the bloggers themselves, often individuals with an uncanny knack for unearthing and interpreting the private lives of the glitterati. Then, there are the celebrities, the subjects of the narrative, whose every move, word, and wardrobe choice is dissected with clinical precision. The final actor is the audience, who consume, share, and react to these stories with fervor that fuels the entire operation.

Celebrity gossip blogs function as a virtual prism, refracting the spotlight aimed at celebrities into myriad narratives that cater to the audience's curiosity. These narratives often find their origin in the raw material of photographs, tweets, interviews, and sometimes, insider tips. The bloggers, akin to modern-day alchemists, transform this material into gold—stories that draw in millions of readers.

The setting for these blogs is primarily digital, predominantly websites and social media platforms. The 'when' of these blogs is a ceaseless 'now'. The 24/7 news cycle, coupled with the immediacy of the internet, means that these blogs are constantly updating, always chasing the next big scoop.

The modus operandi of celebrity gossip blogs can be likened to the chaos theory, where a small occurrence, like a butterfly flapping its wings, can trigger a hurricane. A minor social media faux pas by a celebrity, for example, can snowball into a nationwide scandal, influencing public opinion and, at times, the celebrity's career trajectory. The dynamic nature of the blogosphere also enables real-time interaction between the bloggers and their audience, offering a unique, unparalleled feedback loop.

The ‘why’ of celebrity gossip blogs is multifaceted. They provide an escape, allowing readers to momentarily live vicariously through the glitz and glamor of celebrity lives. From a socio-cultural perspective, these blogs could be seen as contemporary versions of folk tales, reflecting societal norms, values, and biases. Economically, they are lucrative business ventures, generating revenue through advertisements, collaborations, and sometimes, exclusive content.

The technology behind these blogs often involves the use of sophisticated algorithms that identify trending topics and sentiments, thereby guiding the content that is produced. In this aspect, one may discern a parallel with game theory, where each player (in this case, the blogger) makes strategic decisions (i.e., chooses content) based on the predicted behavior of other players (the audience and other bloggers). However, unlike a zero-sum game, both bloggers and their audience can derive benefit in this scenario.

Considering the omnipresence of celebrity culture and the insatiable human curiosity, the popularity of celebrity gossip blogs is unlikely to wane anytime soon. Like them or loathe them, one cannot deny the role they play in shaping public discourse. Their ability to turn the mundanity of everyday celebrity lives into captivating narratives is a testament to the power of storytelling. And in the digital age, where information is the new currency, they are likely to remain key players in the media landscape.