Real or complex tensor model observables, the backbone of the tensor theory space, are classical (unitary, orthogonal, symplectic) Lie group invariants. These observables represent as colored graphs, and that representation gives an handle to study their combinatorial, topological and algebraic properties. We give here an overview of the symmetric group-theoretic formulation of the enumeration of unitary and orthogonal invariant observables which turns out to bear a rich structure. From their counting formulae, one finds a correspondence with topological field theory on 2-cellular complexes that brings other interpretations of the same countings. Furthermore, tensor model observables span an algebra that turns out to be semi-simple. Dealing with complex tensors, we discuss the representation theoretic base of the algebra making explicit its Wedderburn-Artin decomposition. The real case is more subtle as a base of its Wedderburn-Artin decomposition is yet unknown.