Ashton Kutcher "came along and saved" the cast of "Two and a Half Men" ... this according to one of the stars of the show.

Conchata Ferrell -- who plays the straight-talkin' housekeeper -- was out in L.A. yesterday, when a photog asked about what life is like on "Men" in the post-Charlie Sheen era.

It's clear Ferrell has nothing but love for The Warlock ... but Ferrell is no dummy ... and knows without Kutcher, she might not have a job.


http://www.tmz.com/

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRv-wvkItPI7NHVePrf_GdcSk_SdtZyKLmrtvyIrpWi4fQG_VGwHA

Well it certainly has worked out well for Conchata since her character, Berta, is now a live-in housekeeper and is therefore around even more than she was before.