Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 154,174	$ 156,017	$ 160,258	$ 163,524	$ 162,437	$ 171,549	$ 175,814	$ 633,973	$ 681,100	$ 654,988
Gross profit (loss), by segment								153,122	168,649	51,596
Interest expense								73,700	77,200	111,700
Depreciation and amortization								30,606	32,840	34,745
Closure and impairment charges								5,092	2,576	3,721
Capital expenditures								5,600	6,600	5,900
Goodwill (franchise segment)	697,470							697,470	697,470	697,500
Total assets	2,278,583							2,278,583	2,331,850	2,393,700
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense								61,500	63,300	96,600
Depreciation and amortization								7,200	9,000	9,000
Closure and impairment charges								2,900	0	0
Capital expenditures								5,300	5,000	4,400
Total assets	115,400							115,400	100,000	126,800
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss), by segment								379,400	399,000	375,100
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures									1,600	1,500
Operating Segments | Franchise operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues								484,400	494,700	456,100
Gross profit (loss), by segment								339,700	355,700	334,300
Depreciation and amortization								10,600	10,400	10,400
Total assets	1,608,700							1,608,700	1,643,900	1,635,000
Operating Segments | Rental operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues								123,000	127,700	122,900
Gross profit (loss), by segment								31,500	33,100	28,300
Interest expense								11,800	13,500	14,700
Depreciation and amortization								12,400	12,800	13,200
Total assets	339,500							339,500	324,500	344,300
Operating Segments | Company restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues								17,400	47,900	62,500
Gross profit (loss), by segment								(800)	(100)	(200)
Interest expense								400	400	400
Depreciation and amortization								400	600	2,100
Closure and impairment charges								2,200
Capital expenditures								300
Total assets	126,800							126,800	166,100	177,700
Operating Segments | Financing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues								9,200	10,800	13,500
Gross profit (loss), by segment								9,000	10,300	12,700
Total assets	$ 88,200							88,200	97,400	109,900
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss), by segment								$ (226,300)	$ (230,400)	$ (323,500)