Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 148,775	$ 144,671	$ 155,199	$ 156,174	$ 154,174	$ 156,017	$ 160,258	$ 163,524	$ 604,819	$ 633,973	$ 681,100
Gross profit (loss), by segment									(425,374)	153,122	168,649
Interest expense									61,979	61,479	63,254
Total interest expense									72,700	73,700	77,200
Depreciation and amortization									30,648	30,606	32,840
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets		$ 531,600							531,634	0	0
Closure and other impairment charges									3,968	5,092	2,576
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and closure and other impairment charges									535,600	5,100	2,600
Capital expenditures									13,370	5,637	6,642
Goodwill (franchise segment)	339,236				697,470				339,236	697,470	697,500
Total assets	1,750,240				2,278,583				1,750,240	2,278,583	2,331,900
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense									62,000	61,500	63,300
Depreciation and amortization									7,700	7,200	9,000
Closure and other impairment charges									0	2,900	0
Capital expenditures									13,300	5,300	5,000
Total assets	181,300				115,400				181,300	115,400	100,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss), by segment									341,600	379,400	399,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures										300	1,600
Operating Segments | Franchise operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									467,500	484,400	494,700
Gross profit (loss), by segment									303,400	339,700	355,700
Depreciation and amortization									10,800	10,600	10,400
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets									531,600	0	0
Total assets	1,202,600				1,608,700				1,202,600	1,608,700	1,643,900
Operating Segments | Rental operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									121,400	123,000	127,700
Gross profit (loss), by segment									30,800	31,500	33,100
Interest expense									10,500	11,800	13,500
Depreciation and amortization									12,000	12,400	12,800
Total assets	278,800				339,500				278,800	339,500	324,500
Operating Segments | Company restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									7,500	17,400	47,900
Gross profit (loss), by segment									(300)	(800)	(100)
Interest expense									200	400	400
Depreciation and amortization									100	400	600
Closure and other impairment charges									4,000	2,200	2,600
Capital expenditures									100
Total assets	0				126,800				0	126,800	166,100
Operating Segments | Financing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									8,400	9,200	10,800
Gross profit (loss), by segment									7,700	9,000	10,300
Total assets	$ 87,500				$ 88,200				87,500	88,200	97,400
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss), by segment									$ (767,000)	$ (226,300)	$ (230,400)