"Lisa Goes Gaga" contains examples of:
- Adults Are Useless:
- Per usual, Principal Skinner does nothing to stop the students from picking on Lisa.Lisa: You said they'd take it easy on me.
Principal Skinner: I know very little about children. - Later, Ms. Hoover joins the fourth graders in posting mean comments about Lisa.Ms. Hoover: Not so smart now, are you?
- Per usual, Principal Skinner does nothing to stop the students from picking on Lisa.
- Artistic License – Education: Springfield Elementary apparently has a 'Least Popular Student' award, although considering how terrible the system already is, it's not at all surprising.
- Characterization Marches On: While this episode was widely panned by viewers and critics, writer Tim Long at least remained consistent with his focus on Lisa's unpopularity among her peers; this can be seen his later Lisa-centric episodes like "The Kid is All Right" and "Panic on the Streets of Springfield," the latter of which featuring a brief scene where even Milhouse won't pass up a chance to pick on Lisa.
- Despair Event Horizon: For Lisa, it's having everyone find out that she faked the kind messages about herself in an effort to earn their goodwill, since, in her mind, her integrity was all she had left.
- Internet Jerk: So pervasive that Marge sincerely comments, "It takes a lot of courage to post positive things anonymously."
- Kids Are Cruel: The children of Springfield Elementary, who ruin Lisa's self-esteem and get away with it.
- No More for Me: A glimpse of the Gaga Express causes Cletus and Brandine to give up moonshine and force all of their kids, including their unborn baby, to do the same.
- Non-Standard Character Design: Lady Gaga’s skin color and eye design are different compared to other people.
- Not Cheating Unless You Get Caught: Homer tried to comfort Lisa by saying her mistake wasn't ghostwriting positive messages about her but getting caught. Fortunately, Lisa, instead of listening to him, decided to once again benefit from the fact she could ignore him without it being a big loss.
- Person as Verb: Milhouse notes that by being caught in a lie and shamed in front of the entire school, Lisa "pulled a me."
- Popcultural Osmosis Failure: When Lady Gaga arrives at Springfield, Grampa Simpson calls out "I love you, Lady Zsa Zsa!"
- Retargeted Lust: Marge might not confirmed bisexual, but she seemingly enjoys the kiss from Lady Gaga and immediately calls Homer to sleep with him.
- Sock Puppet: Lisa made an account called "Truth Teller" who gives a good comment about her and she becomes popular at school, but Bart finds out about it and she is hated again.
- Sparkling Stream of Tears:Lisa: Are you crying glitter?
Lady Gaga: Tiny diamonds. Hurts like hell. - Sweeps Week Lesbian Kiss: Lady Gaga kisses Marge in an effort to cheer her up. Much to Marge's surprise.
- Traveling at the Speed of Plot: Lady Gaga's train spends at least a full day on its ride through Springfield before it turns on the "afterbras" to get there faster when she realizes Lisa needs her. It reaches the station in the next scene.
- Unlimited Wardrobe: Lady Gaga wears 18 outfits in this episode.
